The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-02
Eoening Story
The Guardian of Prudence.
BY r. RAY BAKER.

son old, for he was not more than
thirty. He was old in wisdom born of
rowing the world. suffering hardship
IN many lands, making money and los
ing IT, losing health and regaininE it.
AT thirty Benson had settled down"
IN the wild west, choosing Hermono-
SIDE as his permanent abode. Her
monoside was west geogra phicaliy It
was not wild because of COWBOYS and
pad men, but due to the dense forests
and the mountain ridge that isolated it,
Hermonoside consisted of TWENTY
five crude frame dwellings and a trio
or stores that were little more than
trading posts, grouped on lower
slope of Mount Kennedy. The trap
ping industry was to blame for Her
monoside's coming into existence and
1t was named after the man who
founded the colony.
But the trapping industry was too
industrious, and the government
stepped in with some laws Intended to
prevent the fur-bearing animals from
becoming extinct Hermonoside did
not die, however. because its popula-
ton consisted principally of people
who never felt a desire to rove. or who.
like Benson. had roved to their hearts
content and were willing to spend the
remainder OF their spans of life far
away from bright lights.
OF course there is a girl in the story.
Her name was Prudence Wilding, and
she was Benson's ward, made so by the
last expressed wish of her father as he
lay on his dcathbed in his Hermono-
side shanty.
That was four year sage. when he
was twenty-EiX and looked ten more.
Prudence at the time was sixteen.
Benson's first act as guardian was to
arrange for a widow of the colony to
serve as a companion and teacher.
The widow had once taught in a GIRLS
school in the east, coming west on
the advice of her physician. With the
aid of two strong hands, a hammer.
by Jake WildinG, Benson built a warm,
comfortable dwelling and installed
Prudence and her companion in it,
In the succeeding four years the
Wflding money gave out and Benson
replenished it from his~own snug little
hoard, which he had brought with
him to Hermonoside. Now he earned
a subsistence by tilling his twenty-five
acres of soil
In those four years Benson changed
little, except that gray hairs became
more plentiful and he developed
moody spells and took ~ gazing
gloomily out the window and smoking
quantities of dark. smelly tobacco.
Prudence changed a great deal.
From promising bud she had de-
veloped into a rosy spring blossom.
and the Fermonoside youths Began
casting shy appraising glances in her
direction. Soon the glances became
less shy and Benson became more wor-
ried.
Benson was in love with his, ward.
1t would never do to harbor serious
thoughts concerning D Prudence and
himself, because of his age and his
guardianship. Nothing could ever
come of it, of course, he told himself
repeatedly, and he never allowed him
self to think of marriage. Hence the
moody spells and the gloomy gazing
from the window.
Benson was reasonable. He knew
Prudence was bound to have love af-
fairs and to marry some day, but he
dreaded that day. 1t had got to the
point where Benson lived for his ward
Prudence made a confidant of Ben
son, as she had of her father. She told
him about her feelings toward the
young men of Hermonoside, of whom
there were few and still fewer who
could be classed as desirabies. In fact,
the number bad simmered down to
Finally came the Gay in Prudence's
life that would have been considered
an important day in the life of almost
any girl. She received proposals. only
three hours apart, from both of the
two desirables. That evening she came
to Benson's cabin and told him about
''Whatn do?" she implored, on the
verge of tears.
only one thing to do" said Benson,
filling his pipe, which had been idle
half an hour while he partook of his
evening meal. THE only thing to do
is to accept the one you think the most
of and reject the other
And you-you-' Prudence asked
falteringly, would you approve )of
cither?'
MY dear girl" Benson replied.
"either Sam johnson or Mark Hatha-
way would be regarded as desirable by
any girl in Hermonoside. Sam has a
big farm and Mark, I am told, is an
expert machinist, if he'd only go out
in the world and follow his trade"
Mark is planning to go east" she
said, land he wants me to go with
him I don't know what to do. I like
sam better than Mark, but I do so
desire to see the world
Maybe we can arrange it, Prudence
Perhaps If you went east you would
see somebody you liked better than
either of these young men. Now, I
nave pretty fair little sum hidden
away. and I've been thinkingsit would
be the proper thing to send you to
some girls school,
Prudence's eyes lighted up. but she
became downcas st immediately.
TITS fine of you" she told him. "bu-
I couldn't accept your money for any
thing like that. Besides. I don't care
so much about going to college. I
have a pretty good education now.
What / want to do is have a home
out IN the world somewhere. But I
couldn't accept money from you-not
with you being my guardian"
Benson gave her a quick look How
many times he had wished he was not
her guardianl But of course he was
too old. anyhow. and she could never
think of him that way.
He resumed his survey of the small
part of the terrestrial globe within
range of his window
7 wish-I-wfsh-'' Prudence said
haltingly. 81 wish could make some
body understand things. I wish you
were not rly guardian"
Benson turned to her and forgot to
draw on his pipe.
Why"
"Because-bccause we'll Benson
can't you see thru anything? Cant
your see I'm-don't you suppose I think