Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-05-08
CHAPTER Xl-continued.

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 q 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 chung 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.
20. 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
smile, she swayed little. Jerry took
her in his arms. Sweetheart he
whispered. Little sweetheart Do
do you love me so much, dearestT'
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,
end saw Prudence and Jerry! Then
they saw Connie, staring at them with
interest and amusement.
81 think we'd better so to bed, all
three of u.s." declared Lark sturdily.
And they set off heroically around the
house. But at the corner Carol
turned.
Take my advice and go into the
wOOdshed." she called, "fOr all the Az
.erys are looking out of their windows"
Prudence did not hear, but he drew
her swiftly to the darkest corner of the
side pOrch-and history repeated it.
self once mOreI
At twelve, Jerry went upstairs to
he'd, his lips tlngling 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. pure, sweet, unself-
ish little angel" he whispered and his
voice was broken, and his eyes were
yet, "and she is going to be my wife +!
oh, God, teach me how to be good to
Der, 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 her. With the first pale
streaks of daylight stealing into his
room he awOke. 1t was after four
O'Clock. A little later-just few min
utes later-he heard a light tap on his
door. 1t came again, and he bounded
out of bed.
"Prudencei Is anything wrongs"
flush, Jerry, not so loud? And
what strange and weary voice. "COme
downstairs, will you? 1 want to tell
you something. I'll wait at the foot
of the stairs. Be quiet-dO not wake
father and the girls VIII you be down
IsOOn?"
ain two minutes u
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
mel honestly Oh, l didn't think
what l was saying last night. You were
so dear. and l was so happy, and for
n while L really believed we could
belong to each other. But l can't, you
know. I've promised papa and the
girls dozen times that would never
marry. Don't you see how it is? /
must take it back"
Jerry smiled little, it 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 be happy. And you can't be
happy without me, can your"
Suddenly Sh" crushed close to him.
"Ok, Jerry" sha sobbed, 81 will never
be happy again. know. Butt is
right for me to stay here and be the
mother in the parsonage. 1t is wicked
of me to wanG you more than all of
them. Don't you see 1t is? They
haven't any mother. They haven't
anyone but ma, OF course, they would
not allow ii, hut they will not know
anything about 1t. l must do it my
self. And father especially must
never know. 1 want 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 not write to me any more. For,
oh, Jerry. If 1 see you again 1 can
never let you so, know it. VIII you
do this fC' met"
you are nervous and excited" he
raid tenderly. Let's wait until after
breakfast. Then Wen talk it all over
with your father. and it shall be as he
says. Won Jhat De DetterF"
"Oh, no. For father will say what
ever he thinks will make me happy. He
must not know a thing about it. Prom
Use, Jerry, that you will never tell him
one word"
81 promise. of course, Prudence. /
will let you tell him"
But she shook her head. He will
never know. oh, Jerry! l can't bear
20 think of never seeing you again.
and never getting letters from you. and
il 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 rub
your face q little. You're feveriSh. You
are sick. Go TO bed. won't you. sweet
hearth We can settle this later on"
You must go right away, or 1 can
III