Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 March 1917 — Page 2

PRUDENCE OF THE PARSONAGE

CHAPTER Xlll^-Contipued. “Will wp!” And Carol added. “Will yon kiss Prudence good night for us, and telpher we kept praying all the time? Prudence is such a great hand for praying, you know.” ' Fatry promised, and the twins crept -upstairs. It was dark' In their room. “We’ll undress in the dark so as not .ta awake poor little Connie,” whispered Lark. “It's nice she can sleep like that, isn’t it?” And the twins went to bed, and fell asleep after a while, never doubting that. Connie, in her comer of the room, was already safe and happy in the -oblivion of slumber. But poor Connie! She had not wakened when Fairy closed the dungeon door. It was long afterward when she sat up and began rubbing her eyes. She did not know where she was. Then she remembered ! She wondered if Prudence — She scrambled to her feet, and trotted over to the dungeon door. It was locked; she could not turn the knob. At first she thought of screaming and pounding on the door. “But that wHI arouse Prudence, and frighten her. and maybe kill her," she thought wretchedly. “I’ll just keep Still until someone passes.” Bnt no one passed for a long ftffie. and Connie stretched her aching body and sobbed, worrying about Prudence, fearful on her own account. She had no idea of the time. She supposed it was still early. And the parsonage was deathly quiet. Maybe Prudence had died! Connie writhed in agony on the hard floor, and sobbed bitterly. Still she would not risk pounding on the dungeon door. Upstairs, in the front room, Prudence was wrestling with fever. Higher and higher it rose, until the doctors looked very anxious. They held a brief consultation in the eorner of the room. Then they beckoned to Mr. Starr. “Has Prudence been worrying about something this winter?” f “Yes, she has.” “It is that young man, isn’t it?” inquired the family doctor —a Methodist “member.” “Yes.” “Can you hrfftg him here?” “Yes —as soon as he can get here from s>es Moines.” “You’d better do it. She Ijas worn Jierself down nearly to the point of —prostration. We think we can break this fever without serious ’ consequences. but get the young man as soon r-as possibie. She cannot relax and rest ‘ until she gets relief.” So. he went downstairs and over the telephone dictated a short message to Jerry : “Please come —Prudence.” When he entered the front bedroom again. Prudence was muttering unintelligible words under her breath. He kneeled down beside /the bed and put his arms around her. She clung to him with sudden passion. , “Jen*y4 Jerry !” she cried. Her fa-.. — ther caressed gad-petted her, -but--did-npt speak. “Oh, I can’t,” she cried again. T can-t, Jerry, I can't!” Again her voice fell to low mumbling. '“Yes, go. Go at • onfce. 1 p”drals«T, you kfimvr—They haven’t any mother I promised. Jerry! Jerry!" Then, panting, she fell back on the pillows. But Mr. Starr smiled gently to himself. So that was the answer! Oh, foolish- little Prudence!, Oh, sweet* hearted little martyr girl! Hours later the fever broke and Prudence drifted into a deep .sleep. Then the doctors went downstuij-s with Mr._ Starr, talking in qtiiet, 'ordinary tones. “Oh, she is all right now, no danger at all. She’ll do fine. Let her sleep. Send Fairy to bed, too. Keep Prudence quiet a few days—that’s all. She’s all right.” They .did not hear the timid knock at the dungeon door. But after they had gone out, Mr. Starr locked the door behind them, and started back through the hall to see if the kitchen doors were locked... .He distinctly heard a soft tapping, and he smiled. “Mice!” be thought. Then he heard something else—a faintly whispered,

“Father!” 1 With a sharp exclamation he unlocked and opened the dungeon door, and Connie fell into his arms, sobbing piteously. And he did the only wise thing 4o -do under the circumstances. He sat down on the hall floor and cuddled the; child against his breast. He talked to her soothingly until the sobs quieted, and her voice was under

control. “Now, tell father,” he urged, “how did you jet*in the dungeon? The twin*—”. .. , c*;—„—v— ■-— “Oh, no, father, of course not; the twins wouldn't do such a thing as that. I went into the dungeon to pray that Prudence would get well. And I prayed myself to sleep. When I woke Suit, door was locked.” - *%Ut ydo precious child,” he whispered* “why didn't you call out, or pound .qu the door?” , j “I was afraid it would excite Prue make her worse,” she answered simply. And her father’s kl3h was un-

by ETHEL HUESION

lIXUSTRATrD BY W. C . lAN

wontedly tender as he carried her upstairs to bed. Prudence slept late the next morning. and when she opened her eyes her father was sitting beside her, “All right this morning, father,” she said, smiling. “Are the girls at school?” ■ . “No, this is Saturday.” “Oh, of course. Well, bring them ap.; I want to see them.' 1 r • .Just then the distant whistle of a locomotive sounded through the open window, but she did not notice her tattler’s sudd«n start. She nodded up at him again and repeated, “I want to see my girls.” Her father sent them up to her at once, and they stood at the foot of the bed with sorry faces, and smiled at her. “Say something,” whispered Carol, kicking Lark suggestively on the foot. But Lark was dLiub. It was Carol who broke the silence. “Oh, Prudence, do you suppose the doctors will let me come in and watch them bandage your head? I want to begin practicing up, so us to be reudy forthe next war.” • ' :r_ Then they Taughed,and the girts realized that Prudence was really iTtive and nuite as always. .They told her of Connie’s sad experience, and Prudence comforted her sweetly. “It just proves all over again.” she declared, smiling, but with a sigh close following, “that you can’t get along without me to look after you. Would I ever go to bed without making sure that Connie was safe and sound?” Downstairs, meanwhile, Mr. • Start was plotting with Fairy, a willing assistant. “He’ll surely be in on this train, and you must .keep him down here until I get through with Prudence. I want to tell her a few things before she sees him. Bring him in quietly, and don’t

But Mr. Starr Smiled Gently to Himself.

let him speak loudly. Ido not .want her to know he is on hand for a few minutes.. Explain it to the girls, will you?” After sending the younger girls downstairs again, he closed the door of Prudence’s room, and sat down beside her. “Prudence, I can’t tell, you how bitterly disappointed I am in you.” “Father!” “Yes, I thought you loved us—the girls and me. It never occurred to me that, you considered us a bunch of selfish, heartless, ungrateful animals!” “Father!” “Is that your idea of love? Is that » “Oh, father!**- ~~ ~ “It really did hurt me, Prudence. My dear little girl, how could you send Jerry away, breaking your heart and His, -and ours, too —just because you thought us such a selfish lot that we would begrudge you any happiness of

your own? Don’t you think our love for you is big enough to make us happy in seeing you happy? You used to say you would never marry. We did not expect you to marry, then. But we knew the time would come when marriage would seem beautiful and desirable to you. We were waiting for that time. We were hoping for it. We were happy when you loved Jerry, because we kncW he wqs good and kind and loving, and that be could give you all the beautiful things of life—that I can never give my children. But you thought we were too selfish to let "you go, and you sent him away.” : “But father! Who would raise the girls?; Who would keep the parsonage? Who would look after you?” “Aunt Grace, to be sure. We talked it over two years ago, when her husband died. Before that, she was not free to come to us. But she said then

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, INP.

I (hat whenever we were ready for her she would come. We both felt that i since you wefe getting along so magnificently with the girls, it was better ! that way for a while. But she said that when your flitting time came, She would come to us gladly. We had it all arranged. You won’t want to marry for a year or so, yet. You’ll want to have some happy sweetheart days first. And you’ll want to make a lot of those pretty, useless, nonsensical things other girls make when they marry. That's why l advised you to save your burglar money, so you would have it for this. We’ll have AunJ, Grace come right awqy, so you can i take a llttfe freedom to he happy, ahd to make your plans. And you can, initiate Aunt Grace into the mysteries of parsonage housekeeping.” A bright, strange light had flashed over Prudence’s face. Gut her eyes clouded a little as she asked, “Do you think they would rather have Aunt

Grace than me?” “Of course not. But what has that to do with it? We love you so dearly that we cap only be happy when you "are happy. We tnve ymr w dearly that we can be happy with you away from us, just. knowing that you are happy. But you—you thought our love was such a hideous, selfish, little make-believe that —” “Oh, father, I didn’t! You know I* didn’t!— But —maybe Jerry won’t forgive me now?” “Why didn’t ydu talk it over with me, Prudence?” “I knew you too well, father. I knew it would be useless. But—doesn’t it seem wrong, father, that —a girl—that I —should love Jerry more thun—you and the girls? That he should come first? Doesn’t it seem —wicked?” “No, Prudence, it is not wicked. After ail, perhaps it is not a stronger and deeper love,. You were -willing to sacrifice him and yourself, for our sakes! But it is a different love. It iw tfie love bf woman for man. that.i3 v ery di lie rent, from sister love: amlfa—ther love. And it is right. And it is beautiful.” “I am sure Jerry will forgive me. Maybe if you will send me a paper and pencil, I can write him a note now? . There’s no use waiting, is there? Fairy will bring it, I am sure.” But when a few minutes later,, she l hoard a step in the hall outside, she laid her arpi across her face. Somehow she felt that the wonderful joy and love shining In her eyes should be kept hidden, until Jerry was there to See. She heard the door open, and close again. --- -- “Put them on the tabie,~Fairy dearest, and, leave me for a little while, will you ? Thank you.” And her face was still hidden. Then the table by the bedside was swiftly drawn away, and Jerry kneeled beside her, and drew the arm from her -face. ... . ■ .IJ. J “Jerry!” she whispered, half unbelievingly. Then joyously, “Oh, Jerry !” She gazed anxiously into his face. “Have you been sick? How thin you are, and so pale! Jerry Harmer, you need me to take cure of you, don’t you?” But .Terry did not speak. He looked earnestly and steadily into the joyful eyes for a iflomenti and then ne pressed his face to hers. THE END.

LIVED UNDER SIX SOVEREIGNS

Aged Resident of New Brunswick Ascribed Long Life to His Activity and Early Retiring. T ~ Aftproosingfor bis picture on his one hundredth 1 and fifth birthday anniversary, Levi W. Richardsun..saulto he the oldest man in New Brunswick, died before lie had falrly-started-his-A T p> prmdrcrifh and sixth year. He : had been ill for only about ten days. Mr. Richardson ascribed his long life and remarkable preservation of his faculties to going to bed early and being active. . He had followed the operations of the war with the most careful attention, and his only ambition for the last year, says the Mutual Star, had been to live long enough to see Great | Britain and its allies successful, for lie had lived un,der six sovereigns and had watched with interest the expansion of the empire: —— More than 80 children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren survive him.

Didn't Get the Umbrella.

_ One of Clmuncey Mitchell Depew’s best stories is the story of the spotted dog which, as a boy, he bought from a local dog dealer. “The next morning it was raining,” he says, “and I took the dog out into the woods,, but the the spots off. I trotted the dog back to the dealer. '— - —“-‘Look at this animal-1 said. ‘The spots have all washed off.’ ... “Great guns, boy!’ he replied, ‘there was an umbrella went with that dog. Didn’t you get the umbrella?”’

Proof Positive.

“You can’t fish here,” said the farmer to an angler who was gloomily making his preparations to quit the post. “Don't you see that sign, ‘Nj Trespassing’?”. “Oh. yes. I see the sign,” replied the fisherman, “bat I wasn’t convinced that I couidn’t fish here until i had waited nearly seven hours without getting a nibble.” -

Where the Paint Was.

Regular Customer (who has just entered restaurant)—“Strong smell of paint here, William.” Waiter (coughing apologetically apd indicating young women about to leave table) —“Yes, Sir; ‘soon pass off, sir; they’re just going.”—London Punch.

Beware the Married Male Flirt

I’ve thought thee—l’ve . thought of thee— Through change that teaches to forget; Thy face looks from every-sea, In every star thine eyes are set. £ I think of thee—l think of {hee— • O lady, halst thou thought of me? It Is had enough for a girl to form an attachment for a fickle lover —a

with Ills sweetheart he should not marry the girl. Between you and me, it is not possible for a man Who loves beauty, if It be art or nature in the shape of beautiful women, to shut his eyes as they flit before him. His error lies in the fact that he allows his wife to observe his admiration. Far be it froth me to counsel deception, but there must be some truth to float the old saying, “What the eyes don't see, the heart don’t grieve over.” The man who has the flirting propensity bred in the 15phe is pretty apt to talfe a eruel delight in making his beTf-pr half lealaiis. He wants her to realize that she has a prize whom other women covet. In his blindness regarding women’s nature he is of the opinion that she will appreciate him the more. It does not occur to lufth for an Instant that quite the reverse is the case. He usually flhds out too , late that suspicion and torment can

Talc of a Pin

By DR. SAMUEL G. DIXON.

The pin is born with millions of brothers and sisters, whc> leave home to Travel to all parts of tire world. Oh their journey they come in contact with us human beings and it might be interesting to take up, what sometimes happens when they do so. Suppose a pin found its way into shirt manufacturer. We would be likely to hoardflfThrst lifThe mouth of one of those folding the shirt and preparing it for shipment. Tins pin, as well as others, might perhaps be making !ts first intimate acquaintance with • the germ that produces sore throat. The shirt gets to the consumer who smarts to make it ready for use. For the second time the poor pin finds the human mouth again, its abiding place. Possibly this time, it gets into an ulcerated mouth, thence it gets into the pin

SOME SMILES

No Chance. “What have you there?" ujusl fl littlg :: answered the amateur poet: . _ “Aqd you want to get it published, -Of course? 0 "=*==3.-.-“I hope some editor will accept it and pay me a fair price.”* 4 “Umph! That’s another ‘little flight of fancy.’ Domestic Tragedy. “So Glithery’s wife has left him forever. How sad!” “Isn't it!” “Did she leave him any mementoes?” “Yes—three children.” '""Would Like One. Too. ~ “Thefre’s man’s best friend,” he said, pulling a cigar from his pocket-. - “Well,” replied his companion, wistfuliy. “I hate to see a man have only one friend.” Highly Insulted.

. • Didn't Count. “You say there was parental objection to the match?*!— “Yes, but it didn’t amount to much.” “Why so?” “Her father was doing all the obr jecting.” _ Airing a Grievance. “Is Meddlers a successful man of as-. fairs?” * " ' V V “I don’t know how he manages fils own affairs and other peoples’ affairs, but he has certainly made a mesa of mine.” '

By LAURA JEAN LIBBEY.

man attracted to every pretty face that drifts across his path. But it is still for her if she commits the folly of marrying him. Of all tantalizing men none can keep a woman in hot water so completely as the married flirt. H*e may go no further than to look admiringly at pretty women but that’s quite enough. If he i s no t thorough 1 y suited

“I tried to explain to m.v grocer what is meantby.calories in food." • ' ‘'Yes?” “But he cut me f short-by beeoming- | indignant and saying that he had made it a life-long practice to sell anything that was not in perfect condi- ' tion.” .

tyear out and eventually oust Hie most' romantic love. True love exists only where there are pea.ce of mind and content.' The woinarf who has* a flirting mate Is fearful of growing old and losing her charms. She Is always on the. keen edge of worry, trying to guard against heart stabs. This sours her disposition and congeals her womanjy lpve_fpr_other women. No matter how greatly some beautiful 'Woman's [personality may appeal 'to her, she Is more than apt to repel that other woman’s appeal for friendship. \She knows why. Front the altar to the grave, the wife of the flirting husband knows little peace. When a girl has a falling out with her flirting beau aadhe- turns from her to the charms of another, she may cry out in agony that heaven was unkind to her, whereas heaven was ffiost kind in saving her from an after life full of torturd, had she been granted her heart's desire. The flirt should marry a girl who is not averse to the flirting game herself. Thdy could take turns on keeping tabs on each otly?r. He w'ould know that she could not flirt long after arriving at that turnstyle—fair, fat and forty. She could not have that assurance regarding him. He might cast sheep’s eyes wen at eighty. , (Copyright, 1917.)

cushion or some similar receptacle. The persons who handle these cannot recognize disease germs by the naked eye, and therefore the pin with its cargo of germs is ready for a new service. This time, perhaps, by a dressmaker, If she has the bad habit) already alluded to, she fills her mouth with these pins while she cuts with her patterns and tits various pieces together. This time for variation, the pin may have found lodgment in a healthy mouthT Nevertheless it is not a pleasant fault, when you know the pin’s history thus far, to think of anyone making such use of them. Many a mother who uses pins in fastening a child’s dress together, does the same thing, lly this time, in the pin’s life history, it is quite well armed with spores of germs and really is accountable for much harm along its path of travel. And now as it is getting old and about ready to close its life, a little child may be stricken with “toffsilltis or diphtheria of even scarlet fever, because some of these diseases are easily communicable from throats so recently affected by the disease that the danger is not recognized. The presence of the germs that have been referred to on the pin, is a real danger, as the physician or laboratory worker knows be can take these germs from pins in everyday use, and plant them in foodstuffs that will make them grow and multiply in giteat numbers; colonies can be seen by the naked eye and they can be injected into other living beings and produce disease. The habit of putting pins into the mouth would not continue for a moment if everyone knew this. The moral of this little stofy is, never hold pins in the moulh as they spread disease, even fatal disease.

Hit and Miss.

When a man falls in love he j may lie certain o”ne of Two"tliihgs ; ■ make his life a misery, or he wilt raake hers dhe. Most men seem to think they have a proprietary right to fit ery woman* but every woman knows she can only get a man on lease. A woman is jealous of a man not so much because she loves him but because she hates her sex. There is nothing like a man’s first love except his last one. A man may wear the trousers, but the woman controls them. A pretty girl may not have all the virtues, but, to make up, she gets all the men. The man who thinks he has a soft job when he falls in love will very soon find out his mistake. v ■ Most women are Puritans by and the other thing ■ by fact. '

Greatest Ship-Towing Feat.

». > To the United States government collier, l’romethetis, belongs the credit for performing the greatest ship-tow-ing feat ever undertaken. The task was the bringing of a sister collier, the Maumee, from the Mare Island navy yard, San Francisco, to the New York navy yard, where she is to be fitted out with new engines. For the long trip from the Pacific to the Atlantic a special towing device was planned. A powerful winding drum on the stern of the Prometheus held the steel towing cable in even coils. It could be let out or shortened as desired, and the distance between the two heavy vessels was so regulated that a minimum strain was kept on the cable. - ..

FAVORITE OF FILMDOM

Gypsy O'Brien.

Qne of several popular screen actresses appearing in “The Scarlet Runner.”., .. J. ’

“Sick” Pump Doctored at Long Distance by the Aid of Record Made on Phonograph

It is related that one of the big pumps at the Elk River XCal.) pumping station got ouit of order. Just what caused the difficulty no one at the station could teM. It had been made years before by a New York company. Now the question was, how to get it repaired. To call a man across the continent for the purpose would be expensive, and happily a better device was thought of. , A phonograph was called into requisition. The manager spoke into the receiver, describing the symptoms of the ailing pump, and further to indicate the case, he placed the-receiver so that the pulsations of the pump could be recorded. ~ ” Just as a physician listens to the action of. the heart or lungs in the human body tty means of a stethoscope, so the pump doctor listened by means of & phonograph to the throbs and pulsations of the pump thousands of miles away, and was enabled by that mean* to diagnose the disease. A number of persons listened to th« strange combination at the ??#Vv York office of the company. The voice of the Californian from the phonograph was heard first, giving in a clear, precise and distinct way, the symptoms of the pump. Then was heard the b-r-r-hang! b-r-r-r-bang! of the pump, and an occasional wheezing sound which might be made by escaping steam. . The engineer to whom the phonograph was submitted said that the whole record was so perfect that "he felt tempted to ask additional questions. The experiment proved absolutely successful. The proper remedy was suggested, and the pump was soon running “as good as new.”

Just How Limpets Stick.

. h familiar "f* 1 - “^"rr “to stick like a limpet,” but there are not so many who know how it is that a limpet is able to stick as it does to the rocks upon Which It passes Its existence. The creature is able, by means of the central portion of its body, which can be raised independently of the edge or frill which surrounds it, to create a vacuum, much in the same way that a piece of soft wet leather can be made to adhere to a smooth surface by pressing out all the air. Thus the so-called “strength” of the limpet is largely due to atmospheric pressure. It is not entirely so, however, for If they are closely examined It will be seen that the shells accommodate themselves round the edges to the surface of the rock upon which the limpet is located, and if removed to another spot the edge of the shell will probably ij.e found to be a very bad fit, and the creature’s power to adhere somewhat lessened. If taken by surprise with a sharp sidelong blow even a large Hmpet is easily enough dislodged, but given the slightest warning, its power of suction is instantly brought into play, and very often considerable force is then necessary ere it can be detached.

Harvard Is Losing Money.

Harvard university, as a corporation doing business of more than $2,000,000 annually, is shown to be a losing proposition by the annual report of the treasurer. The average net deficit in all departments of the university is shown to be $22,048, which only the proposed endowment of $lO,000,000 can overtake. The' 4.800 students who attend Harvard do not pay one-half of wbgyt It costs to run the university, It is shoWn, the Boston Post states. The figures for 1915-1(1, which have just ‘been made public, phow that Harvard received in tuition fees only $1,049,747, while the operating expenses were $2,701,654. The income from the present endowment of the university amounts to a. larger Item than, the Income from q£l tike students, for $1,186,332 la take* in from that source. [