Rocky Ford enterprise., 1893-11-23
smiling sadly as she Withdrew her
hand. ''you must not give me too warm
n welcomen

hand. ''you must not give me too warm
q welcome"
And now, having exchanged greet
ings with each member of the family,
Prudence again seated herself in the
chair at John Inglefield's right hand.
She was naturally q girl of quick and
tender sensibilities, gladstone in her
general mood, but with q bewitching
pathos interfused among her merriest
words and deeds. 1t was remarked Of
her, too, that she had o faculty, even
in childhood, OF throwing her own
feelings like spell over her compan-
ions such as She had been in the
days OF her innocence, SO did sne ap-
pear this evening. Her friends, in the
surprise and bewilderment Of her re-
turn, almost forgot that she had ever
left them, or that she had forfeited
any Of her claims to their affection.
In the morning, perhaps, they might
have looked ut her with altered eyes,
but by the Thanksgiving fireside they
felt only that their own Prudence had
come back to them and were thankful.
John Inglefeld's rough visage bright
ened with the glow of his heart as it
grew warm and merry within him.
Once or twice he even laughed till the
room rang again, yet seemed startled
by the echo Of his own mirth. Tho
grave young minister became as frol-
icsome as q schoolboy. Mary, too, the
rosebud, forgot that her twin blossom
had ever been torn from the stem and
trnmpled in the dust. And as for Rob-
ert Moore, he gazed at Prudence with
the bashful earnestness of love new
born, while she, with sweet maiden
coquetry. half smi ed upon and half
discouraged him
n short ~ Wac nna nf fhnce intar,
walls when sorrow vanishes in its own
depth of shadow and joy starts forth
in transitory brightness When the
clock struck 8, Prudence poured out
her fathers customary draught Of
herb tea, which she had been sleeping
by the freside ever since twilight
"God bless you, child" said John
Inglefield, as he took the cup from her
hand; "you have made your old father
happy again. But we miss your
mother sadly, Prudence, sadly. II
seems as if she ought to be here
now."
Now. father, or never" replied
Prudence.
1t was now the hour for domestic
worship, but while the family were
making preparations for their duty,
they suddenly perceived that Prudence
had put on her cloak and hood and
was lifting the latch of the door.
prudence. Prudence, where are you
going?" cried they all with one voice.
As Prudence passed out of the door
she turned toward them and flung back
her hand with gesture of farewell
but her face was SO changed that they
hardly recognized it Sin and evi
passions glowed through its comeli
ness and wrought q horrible deformity
O smile beamed in her eyes as a trium
phant mockery at their surprise anc
grief.
Daughter" cried John Inglefeld
Between wrath and sorrow, ''stay and
be your fathers blessing, or take hi
curse with you"
For an instant Prudence fingered
| and looked back into the fire-lightec
room, while her countenonce wore al
most the expression as If she wa
struggling with q fend, who hac
power to .ize his victim even within
the hallowed precincts Of her father
hearth. The fiend prevailed ant
Prudence vanished into the outer dark
| ness. When the family rushed to the
| door they could see nothing, but heart
the sound of wheels rattling over tht
frozen ground.
That same night, among the painted
beauties of the theater of q neighbor
| ing city, there was one whose dissolut
| mirth seemed inconsistent with an!