The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-04-19
CHAPTER XII.
She Comes to Grief.

Fairy was one OF those buoynnt, |
warm-blooded girls to whom sleep Is |
indeed the great restorer. Now she |
stood in the kitchen door, tall, cheeks
glowing, eyes sparkling. and smiled mt
her sisters solemn back.
"You are the little mousey. Prue,"
she said. In her full rich voice. 81
didn't hear you come to bed last night,
and | didn't hear you getting out this
morning. Why, what is the mntter?"
For Prudence had turned her face to-
ward her sister, and 1t was so white
and so unnatural that Fairy was
shocked.
prudence! You nre sick! Go to
bed and let me get breakfast. Here,
get out of this, and will"
There's nothing the matter with me.
I had headache. and did not sleep.
but 1 AIN all right now. Are the girls
up YETI"
Fairy eyed her suspiciously. Jerry
Is out unusually early, too, isn't hef
His door is OPEN"
"Jerry has gone. Fairy" Prudences
back was presented to view once more,
and Prudence was stirring the oatmeal
with vicious energy. ale left early
this morning. suppose he is halfway
to Des Moines by now."
"Oh." Fairy'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 greedlly.
Nothing OF the sort. And don't keep
q, staring ut Prue. either. And do not
keep talking about Jerry all the time.
You mind me, or l will tell papa"
"That's funny" said Carol thought
fully. 1--WE saw them kissing each other
like mad in the back yard last night
and this morning he has gone to return
no more. They are crazy"
kissing! In the back yard! What
are you talking aboutT
Carol explained, and Fairy looked
still more thoughtful and perturbed.
She opened the door, and called out
to them In a 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 n whisper, "And don't you
mention 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 min
ute?' Standing close beside him, sh,
told him all she knew of what had hap
pened.
|. prudence is CHASTITY. father, JUS
> CHASTITY. And she can't talk about 1
yet, SO be careful what you say, vii
/ you?"
| And 1t was due to Fairy's kindly ad
D monitions that the parsonage fariil!
took the departure of Jerry so calmly
That was the beginning of Prudence
) bitter winter, when the brightest sun
v. shine was cheerless and dreary, ant
IL when even the laughter of her sister
4. smote harshly upon her ears. She trle,
ID to be as always, but In her eyes tn
wounded look fingered, and her fac
ST grew so pale and thin that her fathe
I'd and Fairy. anxiously watching. wer
Id filed with grave concern. She re
ID mained almost constantly In the par
~ sonage, reading very little, sitting mos
ye of her leisure time staring out the wiz
J" dOws.
k. Fairy had tried to win her conf
lr dence. and had failed.
I'd "You are -arling, Fairy, but l rea
ly do not want to talk about II. Oh
n no, indeed 1t Is all my own fault.
st told him 20 go, and not come agnir
SO No, you are wrong, Fairy. do not r'
gret 1t. do not want him to come an
II, more"
ne Mr.. Starr, too, had tried. prudence,
he said gently. "you know very ofte
,r. men do things that to women seei
tie wrong and wicked. And maybe the
are! But men and women are diffel
*. ent by nature. my dear, and we mus
ELL remember that. have satisfied myse
Il that Jerry is good and clean, and maj
ee ly. do not think you should let an
he foollshness Of his In the past come b.
lst tween you now"
MS CTo BE coNTINUEp)