Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-12
(CHAPTER XIII. (Continued.)

\
Prudence rushed around the parson
age. The twins shrieked wildly, as
there was a terrific tug and heave OF
e the limb beside them and then
q crashing of branches and leaves
Jerry was gone!
. It did look terrible, from above as
4 we'll as below. But Jerry, when he
felt the first light twinge as Connie
lifted the rope, foresaw what was com
Ing and was ready for it. AS he went
down he grabbed firm hold on the
\ branch on which he had stood, then
I he dropped to the next, and held
again On the lowest limb he really
chung for fifteen seconds and took in
his bearings. Connie had dropped the
& rope when the twins screamed, so he
had nothing more to fear from her
He saw Prudence, white, with wild
eyes, both arms stretched out. toward
Y him. sse ..- -
20. K, Prue," he called, and then he
u dropped He landed on his feet, a
little jolted, but none the worse for
his fall. XIV .a
He ran at once to Prudence. I'm
III right he cried, really alarmed by
I the white horror in her face. "Pru-
dence! Prudence" Then her arms
dropped and with a brave but feeble
smile she swayed little. Jerry took
her in his arms. "Sweetheart!' he
whispered. Little sweetheart! Do
do you love me so much, my dearest?'
Prudence raised her hands to his
( face and looked intensely into his
eyes, all the sweet loving soul of her
shining in her own. And Jerry kissed
her. .... .....
y The twins scrambled down from the
maple, speeches. and cold with ter
rpr-and saw Prudence and Jerry!
Then they saw Connie, staring at
them with interest and amusement.
81 think we'd better go to bed, all
three Of U.S. declared Lark sturdily
4 And they set off heroically around the
house But at the corner Carol turned.
Take my advice and go into the
Woodshed,'' she said, "for all the Az
erys are looking out of their win
8dows."
Prudence did not hear, but he drew
her swiftly into the woodshed. Now
woodshed is hideously unromantic
sort of place. And there was nothing
( for Prudence to sit on, that Jerry
might kneel at her feet. So they dis
pensed with formalities and he held
her in his arms for long time, and
kissed her often, and whispered sweet
meaningless words that thrilled her as
she listened. 1t may not have been
comfortable, but it was evidently en-
durable, for it Is fact that they did
not leave that woodshed for oyer an
hour. Then they betook themselves
I to the darkest corner of the side
porch history repeated itself
once more! @& al &>ra ii ~e ~ SO ..,.
At twelve, Jerry went upstairs to
bed, his lips tingling with the fervent
Tenderness of her parting kiss. At z
o'clock he stood at his window, look.
Ing soberly out into the moonlit par
sonage yard. "She is an angel, a pure,
sweet, unselish little angel" he whis-
pered, and his voice was broken, and
his eyes were wet. "and she is going
to be my wife! Oh, God, teach me how
to be good to her and help me make
her as happy as she deserves
At 2 O'Clock he lay on his bed, star
ing into the darkness, thinking again
the soft shy words she had whispered
to him. And he flung his arms out to-
ward his closed door, wanting her. At
% o'clock he dropped lightly asleep and
dreamed of her With the first pale
5streaks of daylight stealing into his
room, he awoke. 1t was after 4
20 clock. A little later-just few
minutes later--he heard light tap on
his door. It came again, and he bound
ed out of bed.
prudence! Is anything wrong?"
Hush, Jerry, not so loud!" And
what a strange and weary voice.
.Come down stairs, will you? I want
to tell you something I'll wait at the
foot OF the stairs. Be quiet-do not
wake father and the girls. Will you
be down soon 2"
In two minutes"
And In two minutes he was down,