Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1917 — PRUDENCE of the PARSONAGE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PRUDENCE of the PARSONAGE

By ETHEL HUESTON

(Bobhs-Merrill, Copyright, 1916)

” . 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

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

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

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.) &

And Springtime Came Again.