- ■ ■■■■ ■ . ■ mm i A H | ' O O of the P A R S O N A G E By ETH EL H UESTO N (Hobba MrrrlH, (bpjrlfbt, 1910) MR " • PRUDENCE FINDS H E R S E L F B LUSHING AND B R E A TH L E S S EVERY TIM E SH E LOOKS INTO T H E EYES OF HER HANDSOM E RESCUER Mr. Starr, widower Methodist minister at Mount Mark. Ia.. has five charming daughters. Prudence, the eldest, keeps house for him. Fnlry Is a college freshman. Carol and Lark, twins, are In high school. Constance Is the "baby.** The activities of the Starr girls— Pru­ dence’s work, Fairy’s school affairs, the pranks o f the youngsters— and the family perplexities, make the story. It Is simply a recital of homely Incidents glorified by affection. The preceding Install­ ment described the accident suffered by Prudence when she went for an early-iuomlng bicycle ride and her rescue by a strange young man. CHAPTER V I 11—Continued. — 11— “Ob— whatever will Mattie Moore say to me? It’s borrowed. Oh, 1 see now, that it was just foolish pride that made me unwilliug to ride during de­ cent hours. What a dunce 1 was— as usual.” lie looked at her curiously. This was beyond his comprehension. She ex­ plained and theu was silent a while. “ Fairy’ll have to get breakfast, and she always gets father’s eggs too hard." Silence again. “ Maybe papa’ll worry. But then, they know by this time that something always does hap­ pen to me, so they'll be prepared." She turned gravely to the young man beside her. lie wus looking down at her, too. And us their eyes met, and clung for an instant, a slow, dark color rose in his face. Prudence felt a curious breathlessness— caused by her hurting ankle, undoubtedly. "My name is Prudence Starr— 1 am the Methodist minister’s oldest daugh­ ter.'’ “ And my name is Jerrold Mariner." He was looking away into the hickory grove now. "M y home is in Des Moines." “ Oh, Des Moines is quite a city, isn’t it? I ’ve heard quite a lot about it. l'ou might tell me about Des Moines. Is it very nice? Are there lots of rich people there? O f course, 1 do not really care any more about rich people than the others, but it al- wuys makes a city seem grand to have u lot of rich citizens, 1 think. Don’t you?” So he told her about Des Moines, and Prudence lay with her eyes half- closed, listening, and wondering why there was more music in his voice than in most voices. Her ankle did not hurt very badly. She did not mind it at all. In fact, she never gave it a thought. From beneath her lids, she kept her eyes fastened on Jerrold Harmer’s long brown hands, clasped loosely about his knees. And when­ ever she could, she looked up Into his face. And always there was that cu­ rious catching in her breath, and she looked away again quickly, feeling that to look too long was dangerous. “ I have talked my share now,” he was saying, “ tell me all about your­ self, and the parsonage, and your fam­ ily. And who is Fairy? And do you attend the college at Mount Murk? You look like a college girl.” “ Oh, I am not,” said Prudence, re­ luctant to make the admission for the first time in her life. “ I am too stupid to be a college girl. I left high school five years ago and have been keeping house for my father and sisters since then. I am twenty years old. How old are you?” “ I am twenty-seven,” and he smiled. “ Jerrold Ilarraer,” she said slowly and very musically. “ It is such a nice name. Do your friends call you Jerry?” “ The boys at school culled me Itol- die, and sometimes Ilummie. But my mother always called me Jerry. She isn’t living now, either. You call me Jerry, will you?" “ Yes, I will, but It won’t be proper. But that never makes any difference to me, except when it might shock the members. You want me to cull you Jerry, don’t you?” “ Yes, I do. And when we are better ncquainted, will you let me call you Prudence?” “ Call me that now. I can’t be too particular, you see, when I am lying on your coat and pillowed with your belongings. You might get cross, and take them away from me. Did you go to college?” “ Yes, to Harvard, but I wus not much o f a student. Then I knocked uround a while, looking at the world, and two years ago I went home to Des Moines. I have been there ever since except fo r little runs once In a while." Prudence sighed. "M y sister Fairy la going to college now. She’s very clever— oh. very. You'll like her, I am sure— much better than you do me, of course.” Prudence was strangely downcast. “ I am sure 1 won’t,” said Jerrold Hurmcr, with unnecessary vehemence. "I dou't care a thing for college girls. 1 like home giris." Jerrold flipped over aeiuptly, and lay on the grass, his face on his arms turned toward her face. They were quiet for u while, but their glances were clinging. “ Did you play football at college? You nre so tall. Fairy's tall. too. Fairy’s very grand looking. I’ve tried my best to cat lots, and exercise, aud make myself bigger, but— I nm a fizzle.” “ Yes, I played footbull. But girls do not need to be so tull as men. Don’t you remember what Urlaudo said about Rosalind— ‘Just as tall ns my heart?' I Imagine you come about to my shoulder. lVe’11 measure as soon as you are on your feet again." “ Are you going to live in Mount Mark now? A re you coming to stay?" Prudence was almost quivering as she asked this. It wus of vital impor­ tance. “ No, i will only be there a few days, but I shall probably be back every week or so. Is your father very strict? Maybe he would object to your writing to me.” “ Oh, he isn't strict at all. And he will be glad for me to write to you, I know. Is Des Moines Just full of beau­ tiful girls?” “ I should say not. I never saw a real beautiful girl In Des Moines In I’"!'* Saturday »ale. That's Prudence, all over. Oh. father, I did forget your eggs again, I am afraid they lire too hard. Here, twins, you curry In the oatmeal, and we will eat. No use to wait for Prudence, It would be like waiting for the next comet." Indeed, it was nearly noon when a small, one-horse spring wagon drove Into the parsonage yard. Mr. Starr was In his study with a book, but lie henrd a piercing shriek from Connie, and a shrill “ Prudence!“ from one of the twins. He was downstairs In three leaps, nnd rushing wildly out to the little rickety wagon. And there was Prudence! “ Don’t be frightened, father. I've Just sprained my ankle, and It doesn't hurt hardly any. But the bicycle Is broken, and we’ll have to pay for it. You can use my own money In the bank. Poor Mr. Davis had to walk all the way to town, because there wasn’t any room for him In the wagon with me lying down like this. Will you carry me In?" Connie's single bed was hastily brought downstairs, and Prudence de­ posited uiH»n It. "There's no use to put me upstairs," she assured them. "1 won't stay there. I want to be dowu here where I can boss the girls.” The doctor came in, aud bandaged the swollen purple ankle. Then they hud dinuer— they tried to remember to call it luncheon, but never succeed­ e d ! A fter that, tin* whole parsonage family grouped about the little single bed in the cheery sitting room. "\\ hose coat is this, Prudeuce?” asked Connie. "And where in the world did you get these towels and silk shirts?” add­ ed Fairy. Prudence blushed most exquisitely, "They are Mr. Harmer's,” she said, and glanced nervously ut her father. “ Whose?” chorused the family. " I f you will sit down und keep still. 1 will tell you ull ubout it. But you must not interrupt me. What time Is it. Fairy?” “ T w o o'clock.” “ Oh, two. Then I have plenty of time," and in her own frank way, she told the story. "Theu Mr. Davis came nlong with his curt,” she concluded, “ and Jerry— or— Ilarmer, you know, helped put me in, and the cart wus so small they both had to walk.” “ Where is he now?" “ Is he young?" "Is he handsome?" "Did he look rich?” “ Don’t be silly, girls, lie went to the hotel, I suppose. Anyhow, he left us as soon as we reached town. He said he was in a hurry, und nnd some­ thing to look after. Ills coat was un­ derneath me In the wagon, und he wouldn’t tuke it out for fear of burt- I Ing my ankle, so the poor soul Is prob- T H E S E SHOES W EAR 25 YEARS They Are Made of Grass and Are Still Worn by Natives in Parts of Portugal and Spain. Esparto shoes, or shoes made o f the l toughest and strongest o f the coarse 1 esparto fibers, are still worn In Iberia J and parts of Portugal. There Is no | shoe made which will outlast them, not excepting leather shoes. Indeed, one I pair o f esparto shoes has been known | to outwear a dozen tanned hide soles. Tills is due to their faculty o f picking up and retaining in their Interstices stony particles. As fast as the pebbles are worn out they arc replaced auto­ matically by others. Thus a self-soling process is constantly going on. It Is not uncommon in .some parts of Spnin “ Do Your Friends Call you Jerry?” or Portugal to hear the natives boast my life. Or any place else, for that o f wearing a p »ir o f esparto shoes for matter, until I came— You know when 25 years or more. you 'oine right down to It, there ure mighty few girls that look—just the In Constantinople. way you want them to look.” Constantinople, even in war time, Is Prudence nodded. “ That’s the wny “ the epicure's most golden cornucopia,” with men, too. Of ull the men I have in the view o f a contributor to Hurp- seen in my life, I never saw one be­ er’s Monthly. fore that looked Just the way 1 want­ No sweets In Europe can compare ed him to.” with the Turkish, he says. As for pud­ “ Before?” he questioned eagerly. “ Yes,” said Prudence frankly. “ You dings, “ mahelllil, a firm, white pudding said to he made of the pulverized look Just us I wish you to.” white meat o f fowl delectably sweet­ ened, gets a curious bold on the C H APTE R IX. stranger.” “ Ous koumrl” Is described as "sure­ Father Starr Reads the Signs. And in the meanwhile, at the par­ ly one o f the finest fish in the world.” sonage, Fairy was patiently getting One gets the Impression, however, that breakfast. "Prudence went out for most Turkish dishes contain too much an early bicycle ride, so the members sugnr to prove agreeuble to the aver- wouldn’t catch her,” she explained to ugo western palate. the family. “ And she Isn’t back yet. She’ll probably stny out until after­ The Spanish city of Seville, once the noon, nnd then ride right by the gro­ most famous in the world for its silk, cery store where the Ladles have their Is planning to revive the Industry, Don’t Have Catarrh ably wandering around ibis town In his shirt sleeves." Already, In the eyes o f the girls, this Jerry or Ilarmer, bad taken unto One efficient wny to remove himself all ill» Interest o f the affair. nasal catarrh is to treat its cause "lie 'll have to come for Ills coat,” which in most cam ’ s is physical said Lark. “ We're hound to see hliu." weakness. T h e system needs "Where does he live? What was lie more oil and easily digested doing In the hickory grove?" Inquired liuuid-food, and you should Mr. Starr with a strangely «Inking heart, for tier eyes were alight with take a spoonful of new und wonderful radiance. “ lie lives In . Des Mollies, lie whs just walking Into town, mid took a short cut through the grove.” "Walking I From l>e« Mollies?" Prudence flushed uncomfortably. "I didn't think o f that." «he said. "But 1 do not see why he should not walk If he likes, lie's «irong nnd athletic, und fond o f exercise. I guess lie's after each meal to enrich your plenty able to walk If bo wants to. blood and help heal the sensi­ ¡in sure lie’s no trump, father. If that tive membranes with its pure 1« what you are thinking.’* “ I am not thinking anything of the oil-food properties. kind. Prudence, ’ he said with dignity. T h e results o( this S c o ff's "But I do tl>luk it rather strange Hint Em u la io n tre a tm e n t w ill a young man should set out to walk surprise those who have used from Do« Moines to Mount Mark. And irritating snuffs and vapors. why should he be ut it «o early In the morning? Doesn't lie require sleep, as the rest of us do?" “ How should I know? I guess if be likes to tie out lii the morning when It , J » , J ! I. »• • • I*4 |iXin|ik very nice on this This famous salts is made from the bed. Work bard, girls, nnd get every­ acid of grapes and lemon Juice, com- i hlned with llthia, and is harmless to thing looking fine. He’ll be here at , flush clogged kidneys and stimulate four, he said. You twins mny wear them to normal uctlvlty. It also neu­ your white dresses, and Connie must tralizes the acids in the urine so It no put on her blue ami wear her blue longer irritates, thus ending bladder hows. Fairy, do you think it would he disorders. Jad Salts is harmless; inexpensive; ull right for you to wear your silk dress? O f course, the silk is rather makes a delightful effervescent llthia grand for home, hut you do look so water drink which everybody should take now and then to keep their kid­ beautiful In It. Father, will you put neys cloon, thus avoiding serious COB on your black suit, or nre you too busy? plications. And don't forget to wear the penrl cuff A well known local druggist says he buttons Aunt Grace sent you." sells lots of Jad Salts to folks who be­ lieve in overcoming kidney trouble while It is only trouble. Do you think that the stranger Is what he says he Is? In that To keen clean and healthy take Dr. case, why should he be walking Bierce’s Pleasant Pellets. 'I hey regu­ from Des Moines to Mount Mark, late liver, bowels und stomach. and why out so early? Might he Trying to Oblige. not be an adventurer? "W h a t’s your name, my poor man?" asked the kind-hearted woman. I’l'U UK C O N T IN U E D .) "L ad y,” replied Plodding Pete, un blushlngly, “ mo natno is ’Lord Itegl He Hit Something, Anyway. I nald Courtenay Thorpe.’ ’’ A citizen o f northern Maine Is a bit "A re you sure that’s your name?" sensitive on the subject of shooting "No. I Jos’ thought It ’ud bo a nice bears, lie was employed one summer name fur you to iibo If you wanted to to watch a lumber camp, a proceed­ put do fact dat you had given mo a ing made necessary by Bruin's fond­ sandwich an’ a cup o’ tea In do soci­ ness for the pork and molasses stored ety uews."— Washington Star. there for winter use. The bears hud GIVE “ S Y R U P OF FIGS" iiecti more or less troublesome during TO C O N S TIPA TE D CHILD the summer, and ihe watchman threat­ ened the next one that came prowling Delicious “ Fruit Laxative” can’t harm about ids camp w ith dire destruction. tender little Stomach, liver and bowels. One night tie heard a hear, lie seised his rifle and fired. The hear lied Into Ix>ok at tho tongue, mother! If the darkness, but a gug-gug-g-g g be­ trayed a fatal wound. The sound could coated, y r little one’s stomach, liver and bowels need cleansing at once. be distinctly heard for some time— gug- When peevish, cross, listless, doesn't gug-g-g-g. In the morning the would- sleep, eat or act naturally, or is fever­ be hunter found the bullet had missed ish, stomach sour, breath bad; has the hear and penetrated the kerosene - sore throat, diarrhoea, full of cold, barrel. The gug-gug-g g-g was caused give a teaspoonful of "California by the escape o f 52 gallons of good oil | Syrup o f Figs," and In a few hours which lay spilled on the ground.—Lew ­ all the foul, constipated wnste, undi­ gested food and Hour bile gently moves iston Journal. out of its little bowels without grip lng, and you have a well, playful child "Natural Bread.” again. Ask your druggist for a 60- A new method of making bread has cent bottle of "California Syrup of been adopted In Italy. It Is found that Figs,” which contains f i l l directions flfid pounds of grain produce 880 pounds for babies, children of all ages and for o f what Is termed “ natural bread.” In grown-ups. the process the grain is sifted nnd washed. It Is then left for from 48 to 00 hours In a warm hath, where It germinates and begins to sprout. When the germinating process has gone fur enough the grain Is crushed in a ma­ chine and made Into dough, which la passed Into the oven. scorn EMULSION Get the Genuine SCOTT’S «¡6 A SALTS FINE FOR ACHING KIDNEYS A llc o c k PLASTERS Locust Probably Extinct. There lias not been n serious general outbreak o f the Rocky mountain lo­ cust since 1880, and this particular grasshopper has censed to be a pest o f any great Importance. A factory In Spain Is making paper and pulp from esparto grass. Th* World*» (irtateit External Ktrntdy. Pain In S id e, R h e um atis m , Backache, — Any Local Pain.