anything, but--it's such a bother! I'm too young for beaus, and since
I'm never going to get married it's just a waste of time."

And Fairy screamed with laughter, but told Prudence she must solve her
own love problems! And Prudence, unwilling to give offense, and
preferring self-sacrifice, endured his company until a gay young
college lad slipped in ahead of him. "First come, first served," was
the motto of heartless Prudence, and so she tripped comfortably away
with "Jimmy," laughing at his silly college stories, and never thinking
to give more than a parting smile at the solemn face she left behind.

After Jimmy came a grocery clerk named Byron Poe Smith, and after him
somebody else, and somebody else, and somebody else. And Prudence
continued to laugh, and thought it "awfully amusing, Fairy, but I keep
wondering what you and the twins are laughing about!"

But it was Fairy herself who brought a real disturbing element into the
life of Prudence. One of the lightest-minded of the many light-minded
college men, had been deeply smitten by the charms of dignified Fairy.
He walked with her, and talked with her,--this young man was a great
deal of a talker, as so pathetically many college men are! He planned
many little expeditions and entertainments for her amusement, and his
own happiness. His name was Eugene Babler.

"Oh, he talks a lot," said Fairy coolly, "but he certainly shows one a
good time, and that's the point, you know!"

She came in from college one afternoon and rattled off this little tale
to Prudence.