Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1917 — Page 2

PRUDENCE of the PARSONAGE

” . CHAPTER Xll—Continued. — ls— - ’“You are mistaken, father. .Terry Is all right, and always was, I am sure. It is nothing like that. I told hiin to go, and not to come again. That is au.” v ■^ “But ir he should come back now —” j r - “it would be .lost the same. Don’t \ worry about it, father. It’s all-right*—j “Prudence." he said, more tenderly. " *vfe have been the closest of triends and companions, you and I. from the ver/beginning. Always you have come to «ie # with your troubles and worries. Have I ever failed you? Why, then, do you go back on me now, when you really need me?” Prudence patted his shoulder affectionately. but her eyes did not meet his. “I do not really need you now. father. It is ail settled, and lam quite satisfied. Tilings are all right with me just as they are.” Then he took a serious step, without her knowledge. He went to Des Moines, and had a visit with Jerry. He found Kim thinner, his face sterner, his eyes darker. When the office boy announced “Mr. Staff,” Jerry" ran quickly out to greet him. -Is she ail right?", he cried eagerly, almost before lie was within hailing distance. Mr. Starr did not mince matters. “Jerry,” he-said abruptly, “did you and Prudence have a quarrel? She declines to tell me anything about it, and after the conversations you and I Have had, I think I have a right' to know ■what Was happened.” “Does she miss me? Does*slie seem sorry that lam away? Does —” His voice was so boyish and so eager there was no mistaking his attitude toward Prudence. » “Look here, Jerry, I want to know. Why are you staying away?” . . “Won’t Prudence tell you ?” “No.” *Then I cannot. She made me promise not to tell you a woM: But 1f Is not my fault, Mr. Starr. I can tell you that. It is nothing I have done or said. She sent me away because she thinks it was right for her to do so, and—you know Prudence! It is wrong. I know. I knew it all the time. But I couldn’t make her see it. And she made me promise not to tall.” , In the end Mr. Starr went back to the parsonage no wiser than lie left, save that he now knew that Jerry was ' m really not to blame, and that he held himself ready to return to her on a moment’s notice, i The Ladies of the Methodist church were puzzled and exasperated. They went to the parsonage, determined to “find out what’s what.” But when they sat with Prudence, and looked at the frail, pathetic little figure, with the mournful eyes—they could only sigh with her and go their ways. The twins continued to play-in the great rnaplS, even when the leaves • were fallen. “It’s a dandy place. I tell you. Prudence.” cried Carol. “Jer—rydtdnT have-4 ime to pot up the -repebefore Connie pulled him down, but we’ve fixed it ourselves, and it is simpiy grand. Yon_cungo up and-swing any time you like —unless your joints are too stiff ? It’s a very serious matter geftlhf r 'up there —fbr stiff joints, of course, I mean. Lark and I get up easy enough.” For a moment Prhdence sat silent with quivering lips.. Then site burst out with unusual passion, “Don’t you ever, dare climb that tree again as long as you live, twins! Mind what I shy !” Lark looked thoughtfully out of the window, 'and Carol swallowed hard. It was she who said gently, “Why, of course. Prue —just as you say.” On the Christmas an insured package was delivered at the parsonage for Prudence. A letter was with it, and she read that first. “My dearest little sweetheart: I chose this gift for you long before I had tlie right to do it. I was keeping it until the proper monfbnt. ’ But the moment came, and went again. Still T want you to have the gift. Please wear it, for my sake, for I shall he happy knowing it is where it ought to be, even though 1 myself am.banished. I love you. Prudence. Whenever you send for me, lam ready to come. Entirely and, always yours, Jerry.” With trembling fingers she opened. the little package. It contained a ring, with a brilliant diamond flashing myriad colors before her eyes. And Prudence kissed it passionately, many tiines. Two hours later, she went quietly downstairs to where the rest of the family were decorating a Christmas tree. She showed the ring to them gravely. "Jerry sent it to me,” she said. “Do you think it is all right for me to wear It, father?” through the little group. “Yes. Indeed.” declared her father. “How beautiful it is! Is Jerry coming to spend Christmas with ns?” “Why, no, father—he |s not coming at all any more. I thought you understood thut.” ” ' An awkward illenee, and Carol came brightly to the rescue, ‘jit certainly is

(Bobhs-Merrill, Copyright, 1916)

a beauty! I thought it was very kind ■of Professer-Duck 10 to ££nd Lark and me si live-pound box of chocolates, but of course this is ever so much nicer. Jerry's a bird, I say.” “A bird !” mocked Fairy. “Such lan--guagm-’l— 3 ; Lark came to her twin’s defense, “yes, a -bird —that's just what lie is.” Carol smiled. “We saw him use his wings when Connie yanked hirmoiit of the big maple, didn’t we, Lark?” Then, “Did you send him anything, Prue?”' I’rudence hesitated, and answered without the slightest accession of color, “Y’es, Carol. I had my picture taken when I was in Burlington, and sent it to him.” “Your picture! Oh, Prudence! Where are they? Aren’t you going to give us one?” “No, Carol. I had only one made — for Jerry. There aren’t any more." “Well," sighed Lark resignedly. “It’s a pretty idea for my book, anyhow.” From that day on Prudence always wore the sparkling ring—and the women of the Methodist church nearly had mental paralysis marveling over a man who gave a diamond ring and never came a-wooing! And a girl who accepted and wore his offering, with nothing to say for the man! And it was the consensus of- opinion in Mountr Mark that modern lovers were mostly cfazy, anyhow t And springtime came again. Now the twins were always original in their amusements. They never followed blindly after the dictates of custom. And when other girls played “catch" with dainty rubber balls, the twins 'took unto themselves a big and heavy croquet ball —fdund in the Avery woodshed. To be sure, it stung and

And Springtime Came Again.

bruised their hands. What matter? At any rate, they continued endangering their lives and beauties by .reckless pitching of the ungainly plaything. One Friday evening after school they were amusing themselves on the parsonage lawn with this huge ball. When their father turned in, they rah' up to him .with a sporting proposition. “Bet you a nickel, papa,” cried Carol, “that you can’t .throw this ball as far as the. schoolliouse woodshed !- By the way; will yotf lend ipe a nickel,* papa?” He took the ball and weighed it lightly in his hand. “I’m an anti-betting society,” he declared, laughing, “but I very's t rongly J) e 1 ieve il will ca fry to the schoolhouse woodshed. If it does not, I’ll give you five cents’ worth of candy tomorrow. And if it does, you shall put an extra nickel in the collection next Sunday.” Then he drew back his arm and carefully sighted across the lawn, “I’ll send it right between the corner of the bouse and that little cedar,’N he said.. |ml then, bendjmgicjwrir'wTfizzed from *is hand. Lark screamed, and Carol sank fainting to the ground. For an instant Mr. Starr himself stood swaying. Then he rushed across the Ja#n. For Prudence had opened the front door and stepped quickly out on the walk by the corner of the* house. The heavy ball struck her on the forehead and she fell heavily, without a moan. CHAPTER XIII. N Fate Takes Charge. For hours Prudence lay unconscious, with two doctors in close attendance. Fairy, alert hut calm, \vas at hand to give them service. It, is a, significant thing that in bitter anguish and grief, Christians ftnd comfort and peace in prayer. Outsiders, as well as Christians, pray in times of danger and mental stress, pray, and pray, and pray again,. and -continue still in the agony and passion of grief, and fear. And yet they pray. But Christians pray, and find confidence

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, INP.

By ETHEL HUESTON

and serenity,, .Sorrow may remain, but anguish is stilled. Mount Mark, considered this a unique parsonage family. Their liveliness, their gayety, their love of fun, seemed a little jnapropos in the setting of a Methodist parsonage. ' “They ain’t sanctimonious enough by half,” declared old Harvey Reel, the bus driver, “but, by Jings! I tell you they are dandies 4 ”^^ But as a matter of fact, every one of the family, from Connie up, had a characteristic parsonage heart. When they were worried, Or frightened, or grieved, they prayed. Fairy passing up the stairs with hot water for the doctors, whisper*! to her father as he turned in to his own room, “Keep on praying, father. I can’t stop now, because they need me. But I’m praying every minute between errands!” And Mr. Starr, kneeling beside his bed, did pray—and the stony despair in his out, and he came from the little room quiet, and confident, and calm. Connie, seeking a secluded corner to “pray for Prudence,” had passed the door of the dungeon, and paused. A fitting place! So she turned in at jpnee, and in the farthest and darkest corner, she knelt on the hard floor_and prflypd, nnrLsnhhed herself ta Sleep. Lark remained loyally with Carol until consciousness returned to her. As soon as she was able to walk, the two went silently to the barn, and climbed into the much-loved haymow. There they lay flat on the hay, faces downward, each with an arm across the other’s shoulder, praying fervently. After a time they rose and crept into the house where they waited patiently until Fairy came down on one of her numerous errands. “Is she better?” they whispered. And Fairy answered gently, “I think she is a little better.” Then the twins, in no way deceived, went back to the haymow again. Fairy prepared a hasty supper, ams arranged it on the kitchen table. She drank a cup of hot coffee, and went in search of her father. “Go and eat, dadsie,” she urged. But he shook his head. “I am not hungry, but send the girls t<Tthe table at once.” On their next trip into the house, Fairy stopped the twins. “Get Connie and eat your supper. It’s just a cold lunch, and is already on the kitchen table. You nqist help yourselves—l can’t edme now.” twins did not speak, and Fairy went hurriedly up the stairs once more. “I do not think lean eat,” said Carol. “We’d better Take away about half of this food, and hide it. Then she will think we have already eaten.” This novel planjwas acted upon with promptitude and the twins went back to the haymow. When it grew dark they slipped into the kitchen and huddled together oh the woodbox beside the stove. And down to thpm presently came Fairy, smiling, her eyes tearbrightened. “She is better!" cried Carol, springing to her feet. “Yes,” said Fairy, dropping on her -gnees and'Jurying her face in Lark’s Jap, as she still sat on the woodbox. “She’s better. She is better.” Lark patted the heaving shoulders in a motherly way, and when Fairy lifted i her face again it was all serene, though her lashes were wet. “She is conscious,” said Fairy, still on her knees, but with her head thrown back, and smiling. “She regained consciousness a little while ago. There is really nothing serious the matter. It was a hard knock, but it missed the temple. When she became conscious, she looked up at father and smiled. Father looked perfectly awful, twins, so pale, and his lips were trembling. And Prudence said, ‘Now, father, on your word of ‘‘honor, did you knock me down with that bay on purpose?’ She spoke very low and weak, but—just like Prudence ! Father couldn’t say a word; the just-nodded, anil gulped. She has a little fever, and the doctors say we -may need" tor work With herpart of the night. Father said to ask if you would go to bed now, so you can get up early in the morning and help us. I am to stay with Prudence tonight, but you may have to take turns in the morning. And you’ll have*to get breakfast, too. So father thinks you Would better go to bed. Will you do that, twlnnies?” , (TO BE CONTINUED.) &

Never Out of Date.

We ore inclined to smile at the quaint costumes that our grandparents wore, and at-their rather stilted, formal rqaiiners. We dispense with a great many things which were considered important- a hundred years ago. But patient, 'plodding perseverance, sticking to a thing till you finish it, is held in as high esteem in the twentieth century as it was in the eigteenth. Industry and patience are never out of -date.-- * '

Rains have delayed the grinding of the Dominican sugar crop from ttfro t< three weeks. y

Whole Empire to Take Part in War Council

Representatives of British Dominions to Sit With Uoyd' , George’s*Advisers. WILL SHAPE FUTURE POLICY Everything Affecting Conduct of War and Negotiations for Peace Will Be Considered by Colonial - i Premiers Sitting With Inner War Board. London. —Vast changes for King George V’s far-fiung dominions, indeed for the whole world, are bound up in the great congress of the British empire to be held here. Representatives of the British empire’s leading elements have met before, but more us a matter of ceremony and form. This time they come to London to do things. They will consider and decide all important policies now at issue having to do both with present problems and with those which are expected to come up at the close of the couflict. In this unprecedented meeting, as in the several military and economic councils of the entente allies and even in the similar gatherings of the Teutonic nations and their allies, experience is being gained which will do much to further the world-wide co-op-eration now the goal of most construcJive. thinkers. Premier David Lloyd-George has promised that the representatives qf the dominions shall sit with the inner British war board of five members — not in the sense that a visitor is invited to sit beside a judge on the bench, but as voting equals. The Welsh leader’s far-seeing eye has discerned that in this way lies safety for Britain —that only by making the world-girdling empire an organization of peers can real co-opera-tion and the full development of British strength be attained. Will Sit in Council. Here are the men who will sit In tblK'Unposing COUnciT: For Great Britain: David Lloyd

William M. Hughes, Premier of Australia.

George, premier; Justin Chamberlain, secretary of state for India; Walter Huinu Long, secretary of state for-the colonies. • For South Afriea: Gen. Jan Christian Smuts (serving In placc~tsriTg=mier Louis Botha). For Canada: Premier Sir Robert Borden. ~~

TRACTOR HEATS THIS HOTEL

Odd Use for the Shambling Engine of the Fields in Carlisle (Pa.) Hostelry. Carlisle, Pa. —What is believed to be the most novel and satisfactory solution of-furnace' trouble is seen in the heating of the Cumberland hotel here with an outside traction engine. When the steam heating plant “went on a strike” the guests of the hotel sered no inconvenience, according to the statement of the owner, W. B. Kline, because a sfeam traction engine was steered to the side of the hotel and pipes attached to the steam pipes in the building -and the problem "was solved. The entire building’s 30 rooms have regular heat now, and the furnace can be repaired without ipterruption. Proprietor Kline says if the engine were a permanent fixture and not unsightly, outside of hiring an extra man for engineer, he’d as soon have it as u furnace. He does not recommend its extended use, however, on account of the scarcity of engines in some; places.

Digs Up Old Shell.

York, Pa—A relic of the battle of Hanover, an unexploded shell which fell on the Gltt farm near Plum Creek the engagement between the forchg Of Kilpatrick and Stuart bn June 30, 1863, was dug up recently from the place 'lff which Jt hadlTaih' buffed as a precautionary measure since that date.

la a new type of submarine the conning tower may be detached. In case of accident the crew gets into the tow<?r, wtflch', 'by reason of its buoyancy, rises to the surface.

For New Zealand: (Premier William Ferguson Massey. For Australia: Premier William Morris Hughes. For India: Two members of the privy council, one a Hindu and one a Mohammedan. i What the council will consider was very clearly "stated hv Premie*: Lloyd. George Iff a statement to the Australian Universal * Cable service, a news syndicate In which th.e leading Antipodean newspapers are members. He said: c “This council will deal with all general questions affecting the war. The

General Jan Christian Smuts.

prime ministers or their representatives will be members of the war council, and ..we. propose to arrange that all matters of first importance shall be considered at its meetings. “Nothing affecting the dominions, the conduct of the war or the negotiations for peace Will be excluded from the scope of its authority. There will, of course, be domestic questions which each part of the empire must settle for itself. Such domestic matters will be our only reservation. But we propose that everything else shall be, so to speak, on the table. Entitled to a Say. - “You do not suppose that our overseas! nations can raise apd place in the field containing a preponderant portion of their best manhood and not want to have a say, a real say, In determining the use to which they are to be put? That seems to us an impossible and undemocratic proposition!! “Up to the present we,have shouldered practically alone responsibility for the policy of the war. We now wish to know that in our measures for prosecuting the war to a finish, in our negotiations for peace and in tlys proto? lems arising from the war and following its close we shall be carrying out: a policy agreed to by the representatives of the entire empire, sitting together in plenary council. “Things can never be the same after the war as before it. Five democracies, all parts of one empire, cannot shed thefr blood and spend their treasure with a heroism and disregard

LOSE ONE DOLLAR TO WIN ONE KISS

Boston. —The Harvard Lam-. , poon has discovered a way to ' cut down the high price of kiss- ; ing. Smacks can be had at $1 ] per, if a formula evolved at Har- ; vard is followed. It Is easier \ than rolling off a log, and much <. more pleasant, according to late ] reports. j Here’s the scenario, clipped ] from the Harvard Lampoon: j “First select a girl (a pretty , ohe), then bet her a dollar that ' you can kiss her without touching her. [This sounds impossi- ; ble and will appeal to ner sportini’ blood.] “Next kiss her and pay the ■ dollar like a good loser.” Who wins?

EX-MAYOR IS SCREEN ACTOR

Former Los Angeles Executive to Depict His Sensational Career for Movies. Los Angeles, Cal. —Charles E. Sebastian, whose sensational career carried him, within a few years, from policeman to mayor of Los Angeles, today is rfot only a “soda squirt,” but a motionpicture actor. Sebastian resigned from otftce seTefai mdntfi's ago and, afferoperatlng a rural grocery store for a while, he became manager of a “buffeterla” In a hall, where he mixes soft drinks and conducts patrons to their seats. He has now contracted to uct in a feature filih depicting his own life. >

of cost beyond aU praise and in a common cause.without establishing a unity such as never existed until now.” Although the British empire now presents a united front to Jhe Teutons such a spirit of union has not always marked its histqry. / War has united the, empire; first, the Boer struggle, and, second, the present titanic conflict. . Were Object Lessons. The two wars Were object lessons for the provincial Londoners. In this war mort than q million fine soldiers have already left their homes to fight for their Mag ,ln France, in East Af"rica. in Mesopotamia, in Egypt afld on the Gallipoli peninsula. On the latter . spot they died by the. ten thousand In a hopeless attempt to take* impregnable positions. * The caliber of the colonial leaders who will come here is not inferior to that of the British leaders with whom they will confer. Perhaps the strongest and most interesting personality among them is Premier Hughes of Australia. ' When he visited England for the first time a year ago he impressed Englishmen deeply. Hughes weighs less than 100 pounds, has chronic dyspepsia, and shows about tern times as much energy as an ordinary 200-pound man Iq full health. He started life as a;t itinerant schoolmaster lfi Australia, carrying a pack about the country and teaching frontiersmen’s children. Then he opened up a little goneral store near the wharves in Sydney, became acquainted with the dock laborers and heade'd the trades union movement He rose rapidly to be a Labof member of the assembly of New South Wales, then a member of the Australian commonwealth parliament, then minister of external affairs, and finally premier in the. first Labor cabinet the nation had ever known. 7T v Some of the Others. T Premier Massey of New Zealand is an Irishman born, who west to the Antipodes when six years old, and was engaged In farming before turning to statesmanship. General Smuts was one of the best Boer leaders in the war against Great Britain 17 years ago. Today he is one of King George’s most loyal and energetic subjects—a wonderful tribute to the conciliatory ability of the British empire. Premier Botha, for whom he is a substitute at the imperial council table, is also a former famous Boer leader. Rnfhn cannot confe to London, partly

Sir Robert Borden, Premier of Canada.

because he Is engrossed with a great scheme to solve the annoying” raceproblem in South Africa by laying out certain territories where the black men will be in control and barring the negroes from participation in public affairs in certain other districts. He also does not desire to leave because his wife is grtHrely 111.

PLAN TO STOP SMUGGLING

“Honor to Be Given a Trial in the United States Cus- • toms Service. . San Francisco. —The “honor system” is to be given a trial in the United States customs service. W. H. Tidwell, special agent of the treasury department, is about to appeal to department stores and milliners in an effort to discourage' thq illegal entry into this country of aigrettes, birds of paradise feathers and other plumage prohibited importation by federal law. x: ir Tldweft says rare. feathers are almost as plentiful as ever, despite the passage of a law several years ago excluding thep from entrance. He says the law seems to have Increased the demand and, as a result 4J»e pro-hibited-feathers are seen in open display in shop windows. He believes the storekeepers will co-operate in the enforcement of the law if they are properly approached. He says it is almost impossible to detect smuggling by women.

New State an New York Harbor.

New York. —Establishment of a.new state, the forty-ninth in the Union, out, of land bordering on New York harbor and neatby waters, was proposed here By Col. X B. Bellinger, quartermaster corps, U. S. A. It would be made up of parts of New York, New Jersfey uhd Connecticut. ■ -- 1 -

Manchurian farmers harvested a record crop of beans in the last season. * and as the. market was firm experienced unprecedented prosperity. Great quantities of. oU were shipped to • American Pacific coast ports.