The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-04-06

"There's nothing the matter with me!
l had headache, and did not sleep,
but am all right now. Are the girls
up YETI"
Fairy eyed her suspiciously. Jerry
Is out unusually early, too, isn't he?
His door Is open"
Jerry has gone, Fairy" Prudence's
back was presented TO view once more,
and Prudence was stirring the oatmeal
with vicious energy. "He left early
this morning-I suppose he is halfway
to Des Molnes by now."
"Oh!" FalFy's voice was noncom-
initial. "When Is he coming back?"
"He isn't coming back. Please
hurry, Fairy, and call the others. The
oatmeal is ready"
Fairy went soberly up the stairs,
Ostensibly to call her sisters.
"Girls," she began, carefully closing
the door of their room behind her.
Jerry has gone, and isn't coming back
any more. And for goodness sake,
don't keep asking questions about 1t.
Just eat your breakfast as usual, and
have little tact"
"A lovers quarrel" suggested Lark,
her eyes glittered greedily.
"Nothing Of the sort. And don't keep
staring at Prue, either. And do not
keep talking about Jerry all the time.
You mind me, or will tell papa"
That's funny" said Carol thought
fully. I'VE saw them kissing each other
like mad in the back yard last night
and this morning he has gone 20 return
no more. They are crazy"
kissing! In the back yard! What
are you talking abOutY
Carol explained, and Fairy locked
still more thoughtful and perturbed.
She opened the door, and called out
to them in loud and breezy voice
Hurry, girls, for breakfast is ready,
and there's no time TO waste in a par
sonage on Sunday morning." Then she
added in a whisper, "And don't you
Jerry, and don't ask Prudence
what makes her so pale, or you'll catch
i'll"
Then she went to her fathers door.
breakfast is ready, p pa" she called
clearly. She turned the knob softly,
and peeped in. MAY come in q min.
ute?" Standing close beside him, she
told him all she knew of what had hap
pened.
prudence is CHASTITY, father, just
CHASTITY. And she can't talk about ID
yet, so be careful what you say, will
your.
And it was due to Fairy's kindly ad- |
monitiOns that the parsonage family
took the departure of Jerry so calmly. |
That was the beginning of Prudences |
bitter winter, when the brightest sun
shine was cheerless and dreary, and |
when even the laughter of her sisters
smOte harshly upon her ears. She tried |
to be as always, but in her eyes the
look fingered, and her face |
grew so pale and thin that her father
md Fairy, anXiously watching, were
illed with grave concern. She re-
NAMED almost constantly in the par
'onage, reading very little, sitting most
If her leisure time staring out the win
lows.
Fairy had tried to win her conf
lence, and had failed.
"You are arling, Fairy, but l real
y do not want to talk about it. Oh,
10, indeed, it is all my own fault. |
old him 10 go, and not come again.
No, you are wrong, Fairy, l do not re-
ret it. do not want him to come any
nore."
Mr.. Starr, too, had tried. prudence"
lie said gently, you know very often
nen do things that to women seem
wrong and wicked. And maybe they
re! But men and women are differ
mt by nature, my dear, and we must
that. have satisfied myself
hat Jerry is good, and clean, and man.
Y. do not think you should let any
Oolishness of his in the past come be-
ween you now."
(TO BE CONTINUED.)