Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-07-29

smiled persuasively.
But Miss Darthia flushed and folded
her little white hands and assured
him that there'd be too much talk II
she let him board there. and there
was just as nice places, lots Of them.
But she'd invite him there once in q
while with some desirable young la
dies he'd enjoy meeting. She would
do that, certainly. And why didn't
Mr.. Randolph try to get in over at
Johnson's7
So Hugh Randolph. high school pro
fessor. boarded across the street at
the Johnsons, and little Miss Darthia
promptly began to plan which one Of
the three Johnson girls he would mar
~. There was Cora, who sang beauti-
fully; and Nora, who was pretty as a
pink, and Lora, who made the most
delectable jellies and preserves and
buildings.
When Professor Hugh had been in
town week, little Miss Prentiss In
vited him to have tea with her. And
she invited Cora Johnson to come over,
too. And she played Cora's accom-
paniments on the little reed organ,
and she Joined her with her own alto
once in while, just to show Professor
Hugh how sweet and clear and beau
tiful the young girls voice was COM
pared with her own funny old quaver.
Hell notice all this when he's
away from Cora's home and environ
ment, with middle-aged lady around,
more" she told herself, as she set the
table. and practiced just how she
would bring 1t in nicely that Cora
johnson had the sweetest disposition
she had ever known.
The little lady noticed after that
that Professor Hugh used to go walk
ing Of Monday evenings with Cora.
So Miss Darthia decided it was time
that she invited Professor Hugh and
Nora over to tea.
And she sat In the full glare Of the
big lamp so that he would be sure to
contrast her tiny wrinkles with Morals
smooth round cheeks.
And after that the professor did
stroll about Of evenings with Nora.
And they often stopped at Miss OAR
thia's gate and chatted with her about
her heilyhock and bachelor buttons.
And once the little lady found the
courage to offer the professor a blue
button with white fringed edges and
express the hurried wish that he would
find some nice young girl to sew it on
for him. Then she had hung her head,
fearful that she had said too much.
But the mans voice was reassuring.
"I'm looking round, Miss Prentiss,"
he told her cheerily.
And Miss Darthia sighed expectantly.
And about week after that she had
Lora and the professor in for tea and
she took especial pains to tell her
guests that Lora had given her the
recipe for the marshmallow cream.
Only Lora had knack of cooking that
she could never get And Lora blushed
prettily. And Miss Darthia went on
to say that Lora had sent in the rasp-
berry preserves t. her last winter,
and she'd been keeping them for such
q festive occasion. For she never could
equal Lora Johnson in preparing
things to eat.
And the professor had looked very
happy that evening as he babe Miss
Darthia goodnight, and the little lady
noticed that he bent very close over
Lora, as If whispering something Of
great significance, as they walked
down her path together.
So little Miss Prentiss decided that
she had done all she could for the
present, and she would just wait.
Whichever girl Hugh Randolph chose
would be the most fortunate, ideally
happy with such husband.
Miss Darthia wound the old clock
in the corner and put out the lights.
Then she heard sound on the gravel
path, and in another moment she
heard a quick, masterful voice In the
doorway, telling her things.
1--WE Just told Losa and I've de-
cided! She is glad, too. The sweet
voice like a child's, filled with loving
and selHshness. The flowers and the
dainty wholesomeness all round.
want to board with you, Miss Darthia,
I want you to sew on my buttons, lit.
tie lady. Pretty as picture in your
gray and white here in the moonlight
with that pure white brow! want
to marry you. dear lady. It's you
love you, little Darthia Prentiss."
And Miss Darthia. trembling, knew
that in some strange, beautiful way
the right man had found her there In
her little home among the naples.