Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-17

Fairy promised, and the twins crep
upstairs. It was dark in their room
We'll undress in the dark so a
not to awake poor little Connie whis
pered Lark. TITS nice she can slee]
like that, isn't it,"
And the twins went to bed and fel
asleep after while, never doubtin,
that Connie, in her corner Of the room
was already safe and happy in thu
oblivion Of slumber.
But poor Connie! She had no.
wakened when Fairy closed the dun
geon door. 1t was long afterwart
when she sat up and began rubbing
her eyes. She did not know where she
was Then she remembered! She
wondered If Prudence She scram
bled to her feet and trotted over tc
the dungeon door. 1t was locked, she
could not turn the knob. At first
she thought Of screaming and pound
Ing on the door.
But that will arouse Prudence, and
brighten her, and maybe kill her." she
W1CLCuculy. i IL JUST hcCl
still until some one passes"
But no one passed for long time
and Connie stretched her aching little
body and sobbed, worrying about Pru.
dence, fearful on her own account.
She had no idea Of the time. She sup.
posed it was still early. And the par
sonage was deathly quiet. Maybe
Prudence had died! Connie writhed
in agony on the hard floor and sobbed
bitterly. Still she would not risk
pounding on the dungeon door.
Upstairs, in the front room, Pru-
dence was at that time wrestling with
fever. Higher and higher it rose, un-
til the doctors looked very anxious.
They held brief consultation in the
corner of the room. Then they beck
oned to Mr.. Starr.
Has Prudence been worrying about
something this winter?'
YES"
HAS she been grieving and fretting
for something's"
Yes, she has,
1T is that young man, isn't it," in
CURED the family doctor, Methodist
member"
yes"
Can you bring him here?"
"Yes-as. soon as he can get here
from Des Moines."
You'd better do it. She has worn
herself down nearly to the point of
prostration. We think we can break
this fever without serious conse-
quences but get the young man as
soon as possible. She can not relax
and rest until she gets relief"
So he went downstairs and over the
telephone dictated a short message to
Jerry. please come-Prudence"
When he entered the front bedroom
again, Prudence was muttering unin-
telligible words under her breath. He
kneeled down beside the bed and put
his arms around her. She chung to
him with SUDDEN passion.
Jerry! jerry" she cried. Her
father caressed and petted her, but
did not speak.
ooh, I can't" she cried again. IT
can't, Jerry, can't" Again her voice
fell to low mumbling Eyes, go. Go
at once. I promised, you know. They
haven't any mother. promised.
Jerry! Jerry" Her voice rang out so
wildly that Connie, down in the dun
geon, heard her cries and sobbed
anew, relieved that Prudence was liv-
ing, frightened at the wildness Of her
voice. <"Oh, I do want you-more
than anybody. Don't go!-Oh, yes,
go at once. l promised Father needs
me-" And then piercing shrriek, "He
is falling! Connie, drop that rope!"
She struggled up in the bed and gazed
wildly about her-then, painting, she
fell back on the pillows.
But Mr. Starr smiled gently to him.
self. So that was the answer! Oh,
foolish little Prudence! Oh, sweet
hearted little martyr girl!
Hours later the fever broke and
Prudence drifted into a deep sleep.
Then the doctors went downstairs
with Mr.. Starr, talking in quiet or
binary tones.
y. ooh, she is all right now, no danger
at all. She'll do fine. Let her sleep.
Send Fairy to bed, too. Keep Pru-
dence quiet few days-that's all.
She's all right"
h1'