The Huttig news., 1917-02-17

heath the maple Then she gave a gleeful scream. Right before her lay a beautiful heavy rope. Connie had been yearning for a good rope to make a swing. Here it lay, at her very feet, plainly a gift of the gods. She did not wait to see where the other end of the rope was. She just grabbed what she saw before her, and started violently back around the house with it. yelling: Prudence! Look at my ropel"
 Prudence rushed around the parson- age. The twins shfieked wildly, as there was terrific tug and heave of the limb beside them, and then--a crashing of branches and leaves. Jerry was gonel
 It did look horrible, from above as well as below. But Jerry, when he felt the first light twinge as Connie lifted the rope. foreSaw what was coming and was ready for it. As he went down, he grabbed firm hold on the branch on which he had stood, then he drop ped to the next, and held again. On the lowest limb he really clung for fifteen 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.
 70. K. Prue," he called. and then he dropped. He landed on his feet, lit- tie jolted, but none the worse for his fall.
 He ran at once to Prudence. "I'm all right" he cried, really alarmed by the white horror in her face. "Pru- dencei Prudence." Then her arms dropped. and with brave but feeble slnile she swayed little. Jerry took her in his arms. sweetheart !" he whispered. Little sweetheart Do do you love me so much dearest?"
 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, speechleSs and cold with terror, and saw Prudence and Jerry Then they saw Connie, staring at them with interest and amusement.
 T think we'd better go te bed all three of us," declared Lark sturdily And they set off heroically around the house. But at the corner Carol | turned.
 Take my advice and go into the weodshed," she called. flor all the Av- erys are looking out of their windows
 Prudence did not hear, but he drew her swiftly to the darkest corner of the side pereh-and history repeated it. self once more
 At twelve, Jerry went upstairs to bed. his lips tingling with the fervent tenderness of her parting kiss He stood at his window, looking soberly out into the moonlit parsonage yard. "She is an angel, a pure, sweet, unself- ish little angel" he whispered and his Soice was broken. and his eyes were wet, "and she is going to be my wife Oh, God teach me how to be good to her and help me make her as happy as she deserves"
 At two o'clock, thinking again the soft shy words she had whispered to him. he dropped lightly asleep and dreamed of hor With the first pale streaks of daylight stealing into his room he awoke. It was after four o'clock. A little later-just few min- utes later-he heard a light tap on his door. It came again, and he bounded out of bed
 Prudence! Is anything wrong?"
 Hush, Jerry, not so loud,' And what strange and weary voice. Come downstairs, will you? 1 want to tell you something. I.i wait at the foot of the stairs. Be quiet-do not wake father and the girls. Will you be down soon?'
 Tn two minutes,'
 And in two minutes he was down. agonizingly anxious, knowing that something was wrong. Prudence was waiting for him, and as he reached the bottom step she clutched his hands desperately.
 Jerry" she whispered. "I-forgive me-l honestly Oh, l didn't think what l was saying last night. You were so dear. and was so happy, and for a while l really believed we could belong to each other. But I can't you know. I've promised papa and the girls dozen times that l would never marry. Don't you see how it is? l must take 1t back"
 Jerry smiled a little, 1t must be ad- mitted. This was so like his consci- entious little Prudence
 Dearest he said gently. You love me. Your father would never allow you to sacrifice yourself like that. The girls would not hear of it. They want you to he happy. And you can't be happy without me, can you?"
 Suddenly she crushed close to him. "Oh. Jerry she sobbed, "I will never be happy again, 1 know. But-it is right for me to stay here and be the mother in the parsonage. It is wicked of me to want you more than all of