American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-03-29

Hush, Jerry, not 80 LOUD Ana
what a strange and weary voice ~Come
downstairs. viii your I want 90 tell
you something. IN walt MT the foot
Of the stairs. BE quiet-do not wake
father and the girls. WIN yop be down
soonf"
In two minutes 7"
And In two minutes he was down.
ngonizingIy anxious. knowing that
something was wrong. Prudence was
waiting for him, and as he reached
the bottom step she clutched his hands
desperately.
"Ierry." she whispered. 1-forgive
mel honestly on, | didn't think
what | was saying last night. You were
no dear. and l was 80 happy. and for
a while l really believed we could
belong to each other. But ! can't, you
know. I've promised papa and the
girls a dozen times that | would never
marry. Don't you see how II ISL l
must take II back"
Jerry smiled a little. II must be adj
mitted. This was so like his conscl-
entious little Prudencel
Dearest" he said gently. "You love
me. Your father would never allow
you to sacrifice yourself like that. The
girls would not hear of IL. They want
you TO be happy. And you can't be
happy without me, can your
Suddenly she crushed close to him.
"Oh, Jerry" she sobbed, II viii never
be happy again, | know. Butt is
right for me to stay here and be the
mother In the parsonage. II is wicked
Of me to want you more than all OF
them. Don't you see II Isl They
haven't any mother. They haven't
anyone but me. OF course, they would
not allow II, but they will not know
anything about 1t. / must do II my
self. And father especially must
never know. l van you to go away
this morning before breakfast and
never come again"
She chung to him as she said this,
but her voice did not falter. "And you
must o write to me any more. For,
oh, Jerry. II l see you again l can
never let you 20, l know It. VIII you
do this fo" met"
"You are nervous and excited" he
said tenderly. Lets walt until after
breakfast. Then wen talk 1t all over
with your father, and 1t shall be as he
says. Won't that be betterT'
7 "Oh. no. For father win say what.
ever he thinks will make me happy. He
must not know a thing about II. Prom
Use, Jerry. that you will never tell him
!, one word"
/ II promise, of course. Prudence. ]
will let you tell him"
/ But she shook her heads HE will
never know. Oh, jerry l can't bear
to think of never seeing you again,
and never getting letters from you, and
It seems to kill me inside, just the
thought Of It,"
: .Sit here In my lap. Put your head
on my shoulder. like that. Let me rut
your face a little. You're feverish. You
5 are sick. Go to bed, won't you, sweet
I heart? We can settle this later on"
A you must go right away, or 1 can
y not let you go at all"
"Do you mean you want me to get
5 my things and go right nowr'
{ "Yes." She buried her face In his
a shoulder. Tiff you stay in you
& room until breakfast time l will loci
!, you In. SO you cannot leave me again
h l know 1t. / am crazy today"
, Don't you think you owe me some
n thing. as well IS your father aad sis
r ters? Didn't God bring us together
: and make us love each othef7 Don
9 you think he intended us for each 9th
d err DO you wish you had never me
v me7'
h "Jerryr"
'"rhen. sweetheart, be reasonable
G Your father loved your mother, an,
married her. That is Gods plan for al
brave and sweet daughter and sister
n | know. But surely Fairy Is old enougl
y TO take your place now"
+ "Fairy's going to be a professor. an,
the girls do not mind her very well
And she isn't as much comfort to IA
X Their MS am. It's just because l an
most like mother. you see. But any
= how, l promised. | can't leave them.
"Your father expects you to marry
8 and to marry me. l told him about I
myself, long ago. And he vas perfect
~ willing. He didn't say a wor'
a against H."
~Of course he wouldn't. That's jus
% like father. But still, l promised. Ant
r what would the girls say II l SHOULD
n 90 back on themY They have truste,
h me-. always. II | fail them. viii the!
ever trust anybody elsef II you low
me. Jerry, please 90, and stay away
But her arm frightened about his neck
o "ii walt here until you get you
Il things. and We can-say goodby. An,
don't forget your PROMISE"
"Oh. very well, Prudence" he an
> swered. half irritabH. III you insis
. on ordering me away from the hous'