Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-15
CHAPTER XIV. (Continued.)

IL Then she went to her fathers door.
Z breakfast is ready, papa she called
clearly. She turned the knob softly
And peeped in. May l come in min
s6te?" Standing close beside him, she
l0ld him all she knew of what had
happened. .- .-t .- -.
If Prudence is CHASTITY, father, just
NASTY. And she can't talk about 1t
Yet. so be careful what you say, Will
stou?'' ,...m. :.
And 1t was due to Fairy's kindly ad-
gShonitions that the parsonage family
took the departure of Jerry so calmly.
Fairy says Jerry took the morning
skfain,'' said Mr.. Starr, as they were
2Sassing the cream and sugar for the
atmeal. That is too bad! But 1t IS
laxt the worst of being business
6an-one, never knows when one
must be up and away And of course,
ne can not neglect business inter,
s.-The oatmeal is unusually good
EEhis morning, Prudence" This was
4 Nothing short of heroic on MS part
HI her eyes upon. her fathers lace
rere so wide and dark that the lump
'l his throat would not stay down.
That was the beginning OF Pru-
3ence's bitter winter, when the
iGhtest sunshine was cherries ana
u rsary. and when even the laughter
ssG6 her sisters smote harshly upon her
fs. She tried to be as always, Dut
II her eyes the wounded look llnger-
RI, and her face grew so pale and thin
Hat her father and Fairy, anxiously
4 vatching, were filled with grave con-
i Urn. She remained almost constant
II ii the parsonage, reading very little,
Sitting most of her leisure time staring
hut the windows. "a.
Fairy had tried to win her conn
Nence and had failed. -
on are darling, Fairy, but real
IN do not want to talk about it.-Oh,
"a. indeed, it is all my own fault.
hid him to go, and not come again
No, you are wrong, Fairy, do not re-
! ret it. l do not. want him to come
!, NV more" a 5a-za.E y E-.1fr z 5f2S'
And Fairy worried What in the.
World had happened to separate In
HE morning sthese3two who had been
Kissing So frankly in the back yard
HE evening ,before?5, 2.s1 7=&i...@:I :
II II. starr, too; had tried. "Prut
Hence, he said gently, d. you know
keiry often men do things that to Won
81 seem wrong and wicked. And may
4 Be they are! But men and women are
INHERENT by nature, my dear, and we
must remember that. have satisfied
myself that Jerry is good, and clean,
Ind manly. do not think you should
let any foolishness of his in the past
Dome between you now
E.You are mistaken, father. Jerry Is
I'M right, and always was, am sure.
IKE is nothing like that. l told him to
III, and not to come again. That is
But If he should come back now
"It would be just the same. Don't
worry about it, father. It's all right"
Prudence" he said, more ,tenderly,
we have been the closest Of friends
and companions, you and l, from. the
very beginning. Always you have
come to me with your troubles, and
worries. Have I ever failed YOU?
why, then, do you go back on me
now. when you really need me?'
Prudence patted his shoulder affec-
honately, but her eyes did not meet
his. Il do not really need you now,
father. 1t is all settled, and + am quite
5Satisned. Things are all right with
me just as they are"
Then he took a serious step, with
but her knowledge. He went to Des
Moines and had a visit with Jerry. He
found him thinner his face sterner,
his eyes darker. When the Office boy
announced Mr.. Starr, - Jerry ran
nuickly out to greet him.
she. all rtght?" he cried eagerly,
almost before he was within hailing
distance. ..
Mr.. Starr did not mince matters.
FERRY he said abruptly, did you
and Prudence have quarrel? She de-
ciines to tell me anything about it,
Ind after the conversations you and