American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-04-12


filled with grave concern. She re.
malned almost constantly In the par
sonnge, reading Very little. sitting most
OF her leisure time starring out the win
dOws.
Fairy had tried TO win her conf
dence, and had failed.
"You are a airing, Fairy, but real
~ do not want 10 talk about II. on,
no. indeed. Il Is all my own fault. /
told him 10 60. and not come again.
No. you are wrong. Fairy, ! do not re-
greet II. ! do not want him to come any
more"
Mr.. Starr. too, had tried. prudence"
be said gently. you know very often
men do things that 10 wOmen seem
wrong and wicked. And maybe they
ire But men and women are differ
ent by nature, my dear, and we must
remember that. have satisfied myself
that Jerry Is good, aud clean, and man
". do not think you should let any
%foolishness Of his Ia the past come be-
tween you now"
you nre mistaken. father. Jerry Is
all right. mud always was, | IN sure.
Il Is nothing like that. | told him to
90, and not 70 come again. That Is
an"
but II he should come back low"
1T would abe just tho snme. Don't
worry about II, father. It's all right"
prudence" he said, more tenderly,
'we have been the closest Of friends
and companions, you and !, from the
very beginning. Always you nave come
10 me wnh your troubles and worries.
Have l ever failed your Why, then,
10 you 20 back on me now, when you
really need met"
Prudence pattcd his shoulder anec-
uonntely, but her eyes did not meet
his. Il do not really need you now,
father. II Is all settled, and | am quite
satisfied. Things ARE all right with me
just as they are
Then he took Il serious step, without
her knowledge. lie went to Des
Moincs. and had a visit with Jerry. He
found him thinner. his face %sterner,
his eyes darker. When the office boy
announced mir. Starr" Jerry ran
quickly out TO greet him.
rs she all right3' he cried eagerly,
almost before he was within hailing
distance.
Mr.. Starr did not mlnce matters.
Jerry" no said abruptly. "did you and
Prudence have a quarreli She de-
cllnes 10 tell me anything about II, and
after the conversations you and | have
had. l think / have II right to know
whit has happened"
Does she miss me7 Does she seem
sorry That | am nway1 Does" His
voice was so boylsh and so eager there
wns no mlstaklng his attitude toward
Prudence.
Look here. Jerry, | want to know.
Why nre you staying awayY"
won't Prudence tell your
"No"
+rhrn / cannot. She made me prom
ise not 20 tell you "a word. but Il Is
not my fault, Mr.. Starr. can tell you
that. IL rs nothing I have done or said.
She sent me away because she thinks
10 was right for her 20 do So, and you
know Prudencel Il Is wrong. l know.
I knew Il all the time, But | couldn't
mike her see Il. Aud she made me
promise not a. tell"
In the end Mr.. Starr went back TO
the parsonage n0 wiser thuu he left,
save that he now knew hat Jerry was
really not to blaine, and that he held
himself ready to return to her on IA
moments notice.
The Ladies' Of the Methodist church
were puzzled and exasperated. They
went 10 the parsonage, determined to
"hnd out what's what" But when they
sat with Prudence. and looked at the
frnll, pathetic little figure. with the
mournful eyes-they could only sigh
with her and go their ways.
The twins continued 10 play In the
great maple. even when the leaves
were fallen. IT'S n 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 II ourselves. and It is sim
ply grand. You can go up and swing
amy time you llke-unless your joints
are too stlnl It's Il very serious mat
ter getting up therefor stin Joints.
OF course, l meat Lark and l get up
easy enough"
For "A moment Prudence sat silent
with quiyerlng lips. Then she burst
out with unusual passion, Don't you
yer dare climb that tree again as
long rs you live. twins Mind what
/ say 70
Lark looked thoughtfully out OF the
window. aud Carol swallowed hard.
Il 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 Il, and she read that first.
My dearest little sweetheart: l
chose this gift for you long before l