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

ask you a few questions?'
mo, indeed. Anything you like"
We'll, first are you Christian?'
mot the kind you are, Mr.. Starr.
| My parents were Christians, but I've
never thought much about it myself
| because l was young and full of fun.
I have never been especially directed
| to religion. I go to church and / be.
! lieve the bible-though l don't know
| much about it. l seldom read it. But
III get busy now, if you like, and real
ly study it and-try to come around
your way. l know Prudence would
make me do that" And he smiled
| again '".
do you drink?' j.. go.
Il did little, but, promised Pru-
, dence this morning 1 would quit it.
| never got-drunk, and have not form
! ed the habit. But sometimes with the
boys, I drink little But l do not
care for it and l swore off this morn
ing.-I smoke, too-not cigarettes, Of
course. Prudence knows it but she
did not make me promise to quit
that?" His voice was raised inquiring-
ly.
Would you have promised if she
had asked it?" This was sheer curl
osity.
| Il suppose I would" He flushed a
little. II know / was pretty hard hit
and it was such new experience that
would have promised anything she
asked But like smoking and don't
think it is wicked"
Never mind the smoking. I only
asked that question out of curiosity.
We're not as strait-laced as we might
be perhaps. The only things would
really object to are those things that
might seriously menace your happi-
ness, yours and hers, if the time does
come. But the next question-can you
pass a stirct physical examination? =
Yes, can. III go with you to our
physician tonight if you like. I'm all
right physically, l know" @&N
Tell me about your relations with
your, mother when she was living"
"She has been dead four years." Jer-
rold spoke with some emotion. 1--WE
were great chums, though her health
was always poor. | wrote her three
times week when l was away from
home and she wrote me a note every
day. When l was in school l spent all
my vacations at home to be with her
And l never went abroad until after
her death because she did not like
the idea of my going so far from her."
"Jerrold, my boy. do not want to
seem too severe, but-tell me, has
there been anything in your life, about
women, that could come out and hurt
Prudence later on?"
CHAPTER XII. (Continued)
Jerrold hesitated. "Mr. Starr, I have
been young, and headstrong, and i'm
| pulsive. l have done some things l
wish now hadn't. But believe there
lis nothing that l could not explain to
| Prudence so she would understand.
| If I had thought beforehand of a girl
like her there are things I would not
have done. But there is nothing, /
think, that would really hurt, after I
had chance to talk it over with her"
"All right If you are the man, God
bless you. I don't suppose you are
worthy of Prudence, for she is good
pure hearted. unselflsh girl-there
could be none better. But the real
point is just whether you will love
each other enough!A-I like your com
! ing up here like this. think that was
very decent and manly of you. And
do you mind if I suggest that you &C
a little slow with Prudence? Remem
| Der that she has been sound asleep
until this morning. l do not want hel
awakened too rudely."
Neither do t. said Jerrold quickly
"Shall I go down now? The girls have
invited me to stay for supper and Pru
dence says I am to come back tomor
row, too Is that all right? Remember
I'll be going home on Monday" =.
ut is all right, certainly. Spend as
much time here as you like. You viii
either get worse, or get cured, and
whichever it is, you've got to have {
chance like you, Jerrold. Prudence
Judges by instinct, but it does not OF
ten fail her."