The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-20
CHAPTER xI--contInuea.

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1t dld look horrible, from above us
well ns below. But Jerry, when he felt
the flrst light twinge as Connie lifted
the rope. foresaw what was coming
and was ready for 1T. Az he went down,
he grabbed 0rm hold on the branch
ON which he had stood, then he drop
ped 10 the next, ard held again. On
the lowest LIMB he really chung for
iifieen seconds. and took In his bear-
ings. Connie had dropped the rope
when the twins screamed, SO he had
nothing more TO fear from her. He saw
Prudence. white. with Wild eyes, both
arms stretched out toward him.
30. H.. Prue. he called. md then he
dropped lie landed on his feet, lit
fle Jolted, but none the worse FOR his
fall,
He ran al once to Prudence. 'Im
all right. he cried reilly alarmed by
the white horror ia her face. "pru-
siencei Prudence r. Then her arms
dropped. md with brave but feeble
SMILE she swayed little. Jerry took
her ID his arms. Sweetheart he
whispered. Little sweetheart Do--
Prudence raised her hands to his
face. and looked intensely into his
eyes. all the sweet loving soul OF her
shining In her own. And Jerry kissed
her.
The twins scrambled down from the |
maple, speechIess and cold with terror,
and saw Prudence and Jerryi Then /
they saw Connie. staring at them with |
interest and amusement.
II think we'd better go TO bed. all |
three Of u.s. declared Lark sturdliy. |
And they set of heroically around the
house. Bat at the corner Carol
turned.
stake my advice and go into the
woodsheA," she called, .'for all the Az
erys are looking out Of their windows.s
Prudence did not hear. but he drew
her swiftly TO the darkest corner OF the
side porch--and history repeated It.
self once more
At twelve. Jerry went upstairs to
bed. his lips tingilng with the feryent
tenderness Of her parting kiss. lie
stood at bis window, looking soberly
out into the moonllt parsonage yard
''She is an angel, a pure, sweet, unself
ish little angel" he whispered, and his
voice was broken, and his eyes were
wet, 'sand she Is going TO be my wife
Oh. God. teach me how 10 be good Il
her. and help me make her rs happy as
she deserves"
AT two o'clock. thinking again the
soft shy words she had whispered Ia
him. he dropped lightly asleep and
dreamed Of her. With the first pale
streaks 81 daylight stealing into his
room he nwoke. II was after four
o'clock. A little later-just few min
utes later--he heard light tap ON his
door. II came again. ana he bounded
out OF bed.
"Prudencel Is anything wrongr
Hush, Jerry, not so ioudl" And
what strange and weary voice. "Come
downstairs. win your / want to tell
you something. I'll wait at the foot
OF the stairs. BE quiet~-do not wake
father and the girls. WIN you be down
soon7"
Elm two minutes r.
And In two minutes he was down
agonizlugly anxious, knowing that
something was wrong. Prudence was
waiting for him. aud as he reached
the bottom step she elutched his hands
desperately.
Jerry" she whispered. "I-forgivs
mel honestly Oh, l didn't thinl
what was saying last night. You wer,
SO dear, and | was so happy. and fol
while / really believed we coulC
belong to each other But / can't, 70,
know. I've promised papa and thu
girls dozen times that l would neve
marry. Don't you see how It Is?
must take IL back"
Jerry smiled little, 1t must be ad
mitted. This was so like his consci
entious little Prudencel
dearest" he said gently. 'sYou low
me. Your father would never alloy
you to sacrifice yourself like that. Til
girls would not hear Of It. They wan
you TO be happy. And you can't b
happy without me, can your"
Suddenly she crushed close to hin
''oh, Jerry" she sobbed, II will neye
be happy again, / know. Butt
right for me TO stay here and be IA
mother In the parsonage. 1t is wicke
of me to want you more than all I
them. Don't you see it is? The
haven't any mother. They haven
anyone but me. OF course, they woul
not allow 1t. but they will not kno
anything about it. / must do it m
self. And father especially mu
never know. want you to go avs
this morning before breakfast al
never come again"
She chung to him as she said thl
but her voice did not falter. "And y,
must not write to nae any more. FL
oh, Jerry, If / see you again / c;
never let you go. know it. win y,
do this fe- me?n
aYou are nervous and excited"