Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-05-01
CHAPTER xl.
She Orders Her Life.

That was the beginning of Pru-
dence's golden summer. She was not
given to self-analysis. She hadn't the
time. She took things as they came.
She could not bear the thought of shar-
ing with the parsonage family even the
least ardent and most prosaic of Jer-
rold's letters. But she meter asked
herself the reason. The days when
Jerry came were tremHidusly happy
ones for her-she was al sGdiVer when
she heard him swinging Brkkly up the
ramshackle parsonage walk and her
breath was suffocatingly hot. But she
took it as matter of course. She
knew that Jerry's voice was the sweet
est voice in the world. She knew that
his eyes were the softest and brightest
and the most tender. She knew that
his hands had thrilling touch quite
different from the touch of ordinary,
less dear hands. She knew that his
smile lifted her into q sjirium of de-
light. Prudence never thought of that.
She just lived in the sweet ecstatic
dream of the summer, and was well
and richly content.
So the vacation passed and Indian
summer came.
1t was Saturday evening. The early
supper at the parsonage was over, the
twins had washed the dishes, and still
the daylight fingered. Prudence and
Jerry sat side by side, and closely, on
the front porch, talking in whispers.
Fairy had gone for a stroll with the
still faithful Babbie. Connie and the
twins had evidently vanished. All
not quite that! Carol and Lark came
swiftly around the corner of the par
sonage.
"Good evening"" said Lark politely,
and Prudence sat up abruptly. The
twins never wasted politeness They
wanted something.
do you mind If we take Jerry
around by the woodshed for a few min
utes, Prue?"
Prudence shifted suspiciously. what
are you going to do to him" she de-
handed.
1--WE won't hurt him." grinned Carol
impishly.
Maybe he's afraid to come" said
Lark. ''for there are two of us, and
we are mighty men of valor."
That's all right" Prudence an
swered defensively. I'D sooner face a
tribe of wild Indians any day than you
twins when you are mischief-bent"
"Oh, we just want to use him a few
minutes" said Carol impatiently.
Upon our honor, as Christian gentle
men, we promise not to hurt hair of
his head"
"Oh, come along, and cut out the
comedy" Jerry broke in, laughing.
Then the twins led him to the wood
shed. Close beside the shed grew a
tall and luxuriant maple.
do you see this board?" began
Lark. exhibiting with some pride q
solid board about two feet In length.
We'll, we found this over by the Av-
cry barn. We've found perfectly
gorgeous place up in the old tree where
we can make a seat. We thought you
could nail this on to the limbs-there
are two right near each other, evident
~ put there on purpose for US. See
what dandy big nails we havei"
From the Avery's woodshed, sup
pose" he suggested, smiling.
"Oh. they are quite rusty. We found
them in the scrap heap. We're very
good friends with the Averys, very
good, indeed" she continued hastily.
'They allow us to rummage around at
within the barn."
"And see this rope" cried Carol.
isn't it dandy?"
"Ahl The Avery barn must be mex
haustible in its resources"
"How suspicious you are. Jerry"
mourned Lark. I'VE thought when you