The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1918-01-16

would go to bcu now, so you can get
UP early in the morning and help us.
am to stay with Prudence tonight,
but you may have to take turns in the
morning. And you'll have to get break
fast, too. SO father thinks you would
better go to bed. VIII you do that,
twinnics?"
"Will wei" And Carol added, "NVin
you kiss Prudence good night for us,
and tell her we kept praying NIL the
time? Prudence Is such great hand
for praying, you know"
Fairy promised, and the twins crept
upstairs. 1t was dark in their room.
"We'll undrcss in the dark so MS not
to awake poor little Connie," whis-
pered Lark. TITS nice she can sleep
like that ism. it?"
And the twins went to bed, and fell
asleep after while never doubling
that Connie, In her corner of tho room,
was already safe and happy in the OBJ
livion of slllmber.
But poor Connie! She had not wax
cncd when Fairy closed the dungeon
door. II was long aftcrward when she
sat up and began rubbing her eyes.
She did not know where she was Then
She remembered! She wondered If
Prudence She scrambled to her
feet, and trottcd over to the dungeon
door. IT was locked; she could not
turn the knob. At first She thought of
screaming and pounding OF the door.
But that will arouse Prudence, and
frightcn her. and maybe kill her" she
thought wretchcdly. ''Ill just keep
still until someone passes"
But no one passed for long time,
and Connie stretched her aching body
and sobbcd, 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 dcathly quiet. Maybe Prudence
had died! Connie writhcd in agony
on the hard floor, and sobbcd bitterly.
Still she would not risk pounding on
the dungeon door.
Upstairs, In tho front room, Prudence
was wrestling with fever. Higher and
higher it rose, until the doctors looked
very anxious. They held Il brief con-
Sullation in the corner OF the room.
Then they bcckoned to Mr.. Starr.
"Tfas Prudence been worrying about
something this wntcr?"
Yes, she has"
ut is that young man, isn't IT." in
quircd the family doctor--a Methodist
member"
"YeS."
Can YOU bring him hcrc?"
"lrS--;lS soon as he can get here
from Dcs Aloincs."
you'd better do 1t. She has worn
herself down nearly to the point of
prostration. We think we can break
his fever without serious consc-
quenccs, but get the young man rs 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 Prudence"
When he entered the front bedroom
again, Prudence was muttcrng unin-
telligiblc words under her breath. He
kneclcd down beside the bed and put
his arms around her. She clllng to him
with sudden passion.
Jerry! Jerry!" she cried. Her fa.
thcr caresscd and pctted her, but did
not speak.
"Oh, can't" she cried again. ~
can't, Jerry, can't" Again her voice
fell to low mumbling. Eyes, go. Go nj
once. promised, you know. They
haven't any mother II promised.
Jcrryi Jcrry!' Then, painting, she
fell back on the pillows.
But Mr.. Starr smiled gently to him.
self. SO that was the answer! Oh,
foolish little Prudcncei Oh, sweet.
hearted little martyr girl!
Hours later the fever broke and
Prudence driftcd into deep sleep.
Then the doctors went downstairs with
MIR. 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 al
right"
They did not hear the timid knock
at the dungeon door. But after they
had gone out. Mr.. starr locked the
door behind them, ana Sturtca back
through the hall to see IL the kitchen
doors were locked. He distinctly
heard n soft tapping, and he smiled.
Mice" he thought. Then he heard
something clse-o family whispered,
"Fatherr"
With n sharp exclamation he un-
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 tho hill floor opd