Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-19
PRUDENCE
OF THE PARSONAGE
THE FAMOUS STORY 0FAHAPPY FAMILY
~ ByA7be/Auesfo1z a
cory,,cur 1915 Br TEE Bosss-Ms.asLL Co.

py 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 knew he was good
and kind and loving. and that he could
give you all the beautiful things Of
life-that can never give my chill
dren. But you thought we were too
selfish to let you go, and you sent him
away"
But father! Who would raise -
girls? Who would keep the parson-
age? Who would look after you?"
Aunt Grace, to be sure. We talked
1t over two years ago, when her hus-
! band died. Before that, she was not
free to come to u.s.. But she said then
that whenever we were ready for her
she would come. We both felt that
since you were getting along so mag
nificently with the girls it was better
that way for while. But she said
that when your fitting time came she
would come to US gladly. We had 1t
all arranged. You won't want to
marry for year or SO, yet. You'll
want to have some happy sweetheart
days first. And you'll want to make
lot Of those pretty, useless, nonsen-
steal things other girls make when
they marry. That's why advised you
to save your burglar money-so you
would have it for this. Well have
Aunt Grace come right away, so you
can take little freedom to be happy,
and to make your plans. And you
can initiate Aunt Grace into the mys-
teries of parsonage bookkeeping" 8
A bright strangeNlight had flashed
over Prudence's face But her eyes
clouded 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 can only be happy when you
are happy. We love you so 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 for.
give me now" m.
why didn't you talk it over with
me, Prudence?"
ri knew you too we'll, father. l
knew it would be useless. But
doesn't it seem wrong, father, that
a girl-that should love Jerry more
should come first? Doesn't it seem
wicked?'
"No, Prudence, it is not wicked.
After all, perhaps it is not strong
er and deeper love. You were willing
to sacrifice him and yourself, for our
sakes! But it is different love. It
is the love of woman for man-that
is very different from sister love and
father love. And it is right. And it
is beautiful" w.t.
~ am sure Jerry will forgive me.
Maybe II you will send me a paper
and PENCIL can write him note
now? There's no use waiting, is there?
Fairy will bring it, am sure" 81.
But when few minutes later, she
heard a step in the hall outside, she
laid her arm across her face. Some
how 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 table, Fairy dear
est 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 kneel-
ed beside her and drew the arm from
her face.
Jerry" she whispered, half unbe-
lovingly. Then joyously, "Oh. Jer-
ry!' She gazed anxiously into his
face. ''Have you been sick How thin
you are, and so pale! Jerry Harm
er, you need me to take care of you,
don't you?"
But Jerry did not speak. He looked
earnestly and steadily into the joyful
eyes for moment and then he press.
ed his face to hers.