The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-03-29

dencei Father couldn't say a word;
he Just nodded, and gulped. Che has
a little fever, and the doctors say we
may need to work with her part Of
the night. Father said to ask II you
would 90 to bed now. 10 you can get
up early In the morning and help us.
7 am to stay with Prudence tonight,
hut you may have to take turns in the
morning. And you'll have to get break
fast, too. so father thinks you would
better go to bed. VIII you do that,
twinniesT
"wni wei" And Carol added, "wiii
you kiss Prudence good night for us,
and tell her we kept praying all the
timef Prudence IL such n great hand
for praying, you know"
Fairy promised, and the twins crept
upstairs. II was dark in their room.
"weTl undress in the dark 80 as not
10 awake poor little Connie" whis-
pered Lark. Its nice she can sleep
like that. isn't itT'
And the twins went to bed. and fell
asleep after a while, never doubling
that Connie, in her corner of the room,
was already safe and happy in the OBJ
IIvion Of slumber.
But poor Conniei She had not wax.
ened when Fairy closed the dungeon
door. II was long afterward when she
sat up and began rubbing her eyes.
She did not know where she was. Then
she remembered! She wondered II
Prudence She scrambled to her
feet, and trotted over to the dungeon
door. II was locked; she could not
turn the knob. At first she thought of
screaming and pounding on the door.
'But that will arouse Prudence, and
Brighten her. and maybe kill her." she
thought wetchedly. 'T'll just keep
still until someone passes"
But no one passed for a long time.
and Connie stretched her aching body
and sobbed. worrying about Prudence,
fearful on her own account. She had
no Idea Of the time. She supposed II
was still early. And the parsonage
was deathly quiet. Maybe Prudence
had died! Connie writhed in agony
on the hard floor, and sobbed bitterly.
Sull she would not risk pounding on
the dungeon door.
Upstairs, in the front room, Prudence
was wrestling with fever. Higher and
higher II rose. until the doctors looked
very anxious. They held a brief con-
sultation In the corner Of the room.
Then they beckoned to Mr.. Starr.
"Hns Prudence been worrying about
something this winterf"
"Yes, she has
1T is that young man. isn't itr' In
quired the family doctor-a Methodist
member"
"Yes."
"Can you bring him here?"
"Yes--as soon as he can get here
from Dies Moines."
you'd better do II. She has worn
herself down nearly to the point OF
prostration. We think we can breal
this fever without serious conse
quences, but get the young man as soor
as possible. she cannot relax and res
until she gets relief"
So he went downstairs and over tn
telephone dictated a short message 4
Jerry: please come-Prudence."
When he entered the front bedroom
again. Prudence was muttering unin
telIigible words under her breath. Ill
kneeled down beside the bed and pu
his arms around her. She chung to hin
with sudden passion.
"Jerry! Jerry!" she cried. Her ia
Their carcssed and petted her. but di'
not speak.
"Oh. can't" she cried again.
can't. Jerry. can't" Again her voic
fell to low mumbling. "Yes, go. Go a
once. l promised. you know. The
haven't any mother promised
Jerry. Jerry!" Then, painting. sh
fell back on the pillows.
But Mr.. Starr smiled gently to hin
self. So that was the answer! Oh
foolish little Prudence! Oh. swee
hearted little martyr girl!
Hours later the fever broke an
Prudence drifted into deep sleel
EYkyPW