Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1917-04-04

was already safe and happy in the OBJ
livion of slumber.
But poor Connie! She had not wax.
ened when Fairy closed the dungeon
door. It was long afterward when she
sat up and began rubbing her eyes.
She did not know where she was, Then
she remembered! She wondered II
Prudence She scrambled to her
feet, and trotted over to the dungeon
door. It was locked; she could not
turn the knob. At first she thought Of
screaming and pounding on the door.
But that will arouse Prudence, and
brighten her, and maybe kill her." she
thought wretchedly. It'll just keep
still until someone passes
But no one passed for q long time.
md Connie stretched her aching body
and sobbed, worrying about Prudence.
fearful on her own account. She had
no idea of the time. She supposed It
was still early. And the parsonage
was deathly quiet. Maybe Prudence
had died! Connie writhed in agony
on the hard floor, and sobbed bitterly.
Still she would not risk pounding on
the dungeon door.
Upstairs, in the front room, Prudence
vas wrestling with fever. Higher and
higher it rose, until the doctors looked
very anxious. They held brief con-
'ultation in the corner of the room.
Then they beckoned to Mr.. Starr.
HAS Prudence been worrying abou,
something this winter?''
yes, she has,
1T is that young man, isn't it?'' In.
CURED the family doctor-a Methodist
member
EYES,"
Can you bring him here?''
'1es-as soon as he can get here
from Des Moines."
you'd better do it. She has worn
herself down nearly to the point Of
prostration. We think we can break
this fever without serious conse-
quences, but get the young man as soon
as possible. She cannot relax and rest
until she gets relief
So he went downstairs and over the
telephone dictated short message to
Jerry: please come-Prudence."
When he entered the front bedroom
again, Prudence was muttering unin-
telligible words under her breath. He
kneeled down beside the bed and put
his arms around her. She chung to him
with sudden passion.
Jerry! Jerry!" she cried. Her fa-
Their caressed and petted her, but did
not speak.
"Oh, I can't she cried again. II
can't1Jerry, I can't!'' Again her voice
fell to low mumbling. Eyes, go. Go at
once. I promised, you know. They
haven't any mother-I promised.
Jerry! Jerry!'' Then, painting, she
fell back on the pillows.
But Mr.. Starr smiled gently to HIM
self. So that was the answer! Oh,
foolish little Prudence! Oh. sweet
hearted little martyr girl!
Hours later the fever broke and
Prudence drifted into a deep Sleep
Then the doctors went downstairs with
Mr.. Starr, talking in quiet, ordinary
tones.
'.Oh, she is all right now, no danger
at all. She'll do fine. Let her sleep.
Send Fairy to bed, too. Keep Prudence
quiet few days-that's all. She's all
eight
They did not hear the timid knock
a. the dungeon door. But after they
had gone out, Mr.. Starr locked the
door behind them, and started back
through the hall to see if the kitchen
doors were locked. He distinctly
heard soft tapping, and he smiled.
s'Mice!" he thought. Then he heard
something elsa family whispered,
"Father!'
With sharp exclamation he I'M.
locked and opened the dungeon door,
and Connie fell into his arms, sobbing
piteously. And he did the only wise
thing to do under the circumstances.
He sat down on the hall floor and
cuddled the child against his breast.
He talked to her sOothingly until the
sobs quieted, and her voice was under
control.
"Now, tell father" he urged, show
did you get in the dungeon? The
twins
"Oh, no, father, of course not; the
twins wouldn't do such thing as
that. I went into the dungeon to pray
that Prudence would get well. And
prayed myself to sleep. When I woke
up the door was locked"
"But you precious child" he whis.
pered, why didn't you call out, or
pound on the door?''
II was afraid it would excite Prue
and make her worse" she answered
simply. And her fathers kiss was un-
i, wontedly tender as he carried her up
stairs to bed
Prudence slept late the next morn.
Ing, and when she opened her eyes her
father was sitting beside her.
"All right this morning, father" she
said, smiling. Are the girls at
school?''
mo, this is Saturday.
"Oh, of course. Well, bring them
nm want To 500 them -