The Huttig news., 1917-02-24


 sonage, reading yery little. sitting most of her leisure time staring out tie Win- dows.
 Fairy had tried to win her confi- dence, and had failed You are a sarling, Fairy, but real no, indeed, it is all my own fault. 1 told him to go, and not come again. ] No, you are wrong, Fairy, 1 do not re- ] gret it. 1 do not want him to come any more"
 MT. Starr. too, had tried. Prudence" le said gently, you know very often men do things that to women seem wrong and wicked. And maybe they ire! But men and women are differ 9nt by nature, my dear, and we mast 'emember that. I have satisfied myself l hat Jerry is good. and clean, and man. 1 y, I do not think you should let any ifoolshness of his in the past come be- tween you now.'
 ''You are mistaken, father. Jerry is all right, and always was, l am sure. l It is nothing like that 1 told him to i go, and not to come again. That is all"
 But if he should come back now" sTt would be just the same. sDon't worry about it, father. It's all right. Prudence" he said. more tenderly, Eve 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 1 ever failed you? Why, then, io you go back on ne now, when you really need meY
 Prudence patted his shoulder affec- tionately, but her eyes did not meet his. II do not really need you now, father. It is all settled, and 1 am quite satisfied. Things are all right with me just as they are"
 Then he took a serious step, without her knowledge. He went to Des Moines, and had visit with Jerry. He found him thinner, his face sterner, his eyes darker. When the office boy announced MT. Starr," Jerry ran quickly out to greet him.
 ''Is she all right?, he cried eagerly almost before he was within hailing distance.
 Mr. Starr did not mince matters. "Jerry," he said abruptly, did you and Prudence have quarrel? She de 1 elines to tell me anything about it. and after the conversations you and 1 have had, 1 think 1 have a right to know what has happened
 Does she miss me? Does she seem sorry that l am away? Does" His voice was so boyish and so eager there was no mistaking his attitude toward Prudence.
 Look here, Jerry, l want to know. Why are you staying away?"
 Wont Prudence tell youY
 "No."
 ''Then I cannot. She made me prom ise not to tell you Il word. But it is not my fault, MT. Starr. 1 can tell you that It is nothing have done or said. She sent me away because she thinks it was right for her to do so, and-you know Prudence It is wrong, 1 know. knew it all the time. But l couldn't make her see it. And she made me promise not to tell"
 In the end Mr. Starr vert 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 moments notice.
 The Ladies of the Methodist church were puzzled and eXasperated. They went to the parsonage, determined to lind out what's what" But when the. 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 dandy place. tell you, Prudence" cried Carol. "Jer- " 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 stiffl It's very serious mat ter getting up therefor stiff joints, of course. I mean. Lark and 1 get up easy enough"
 For d moment Prudence sat silent with quivering lips. Then she burst out with unusual passion, Don't you ever dare climb that tree again as long as you live, twins Mind what I say"
 Lark looked thoughtfully out of the window, and Carol swallowed hard. It was she who said gently, "Why, of course, Prue-just as you say"
 On the day before Christmas an in- sured package was delivered at the parsonage for Prudence. A letter was with it, and she read that first.
 My dearest little sweetheart: l chose this gift for you long before l had the right to do it. l was keeping it until the proper moment. But the moment came. and went again. Sdil | want to have the gift Please wear il. for my sake, for l shall hs