Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-15
PRUDENCE
OF THE PARSONAGE
THE FAMOUS STORY OLA HAPPY FAMILY
"a yEzbe/Hz1esfo11 @
,o,r,,eu4 1915 Br Tn. Bos,s-Ns,.,Il Co.

l have had, think I have right to
know what has happened"
Does she miss me? Does she seem
sorry that | am away? Does" His
voice was so boyish and SO eager there
was no mistaking his attitude toward
Prudence.
Look here, Jerry, I want to know.
Why are you staying away?"
Wont Prudence tell your
mo"
Then I can not. She made me
promise not to tell you a word But
is it not my fault, Mr.. Starr, I can
tell you that. 1t is nothing | have
done or said. She sent me away be-
cause she thinks it was right for her
to do so and--you know Prudence! 1t
is wrong, I know. | knew it all the
, time. But couldn't make her see it.
And she made me promise not to tell"
In the end Mr.. Starr went back to
the parsonage no wiser than he left,
save that he now knew that Jerry was
really not to blame and that he held
himself ready to return to her on a
moments notice.
The ladies of the Methodist church
were puzzled and exasperated. They
went to the parsonage determined to
find out what's what" But when
they sat with Prudence and looked at
the frail, pathetic little figure, with
the mournful eyes--they could only
sigh with her and go their ways.
The twins continued to play in the
great maple, even when the leaves
were fallen. ITS a. dandy place, l tell
you, Prudence" cried Carol. Jerry
didn't have time to put up the rope
before Connie pulled him down, but
we've fixed It ourselves and it is sim
ply grand. You can go up and swing
any time you like-unless your Joints
are too stiff It's very serious matter
getting up therefor stiff JOINTS of
course, I mean. Lark and l get up
easy enough"
For moment, Prudence. sat silent
with quivering lips. Then she burst
out with unusual passion. Don't you
ever dare climb up in that tree again
as long as you live twins! Mind what
! say!"
4 Lark looked thoughtfully out of the
window and Carol swallowed hard 1t
was she who said gently, why, of
course, Prue--just as you say -, '.
! For the first time, Prudence had
dealt with them harshly and unfairly.
They knew it. There was neither
sense nor justice in her command.
They kept their eyes considerably
away from her, and buried themselves
in julius Caesar-it must be remem-
bered the twins are sophomores now.
Five minutes later Prudence spoke
again, humbly.
CHAPTER XIV Continued)
a. 81 beg your pardon, twins-that was
a perfectly idiotic thing for me to
say. OF course. you may play in the
maple. whenever you like. But be
careful. You couldn't save yourselves
in falling as-as men can"
ave won't play there if you want
us not to-" said Carol kindly.
II do want you to play there" she
answered. Its very nice. place,
and great fun,- know. I might try it
myself if--my Joints weren't SO stiff!
Now, 60 on with your Latin. - -,
But Prudence did not pass under
the maple for many weeks without
clenching her hands, and shuddering.
The twins were not satisfied. They
marveled, and wondered, and ponder
ed over the subject Of Jerry's disap-
pearance. Finally they felt it was
more than human flesh could stand.
They would approach Prudence on the
subject themselves. But they bided
their time. They must wait until
Fairy was safely out of the house.
Fairy these days had an infuriating
way of saying. THAT will do, twins.
You'd better go and play now" 1t en-
ragged and distracted the twins almost
to the point of committing crime.
They had made several artistic
moves already. Professor Duke, of
their freshman biology class, had
written Carol a gay long letter. And
Carol was enthusiastic about It. She
and Lark talked of*"dear old Duck.
for two weeks, almost without paus-
ing for sleep.