The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-05-31
CHAPTER xI-continued.

CHAPTER xI-continued.
It did look horrible, from above a.
well as below. But Jerry. when he felt
the nrst light twinge as Connie lifted
the rope. foresaw what was coming
and was ready for It. AZ he went down,
he grabbed a 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.
20. K. Prue." he called, and then he
dropped. He landed on his feet, . lit
tie jolted, but none the worse for his
TALL.
He ran at once to Prudence. "rm
all right" he cried, really alarmed by
the white horror in her face. "Pru-
dence! Prudencel" Then her arms
dropped, and with . brave but feeble
smile, she swayed . little. Jerry took
her in his arms. "Sweetheartl he
whispered. Little sweetheart Do
do you love me 20 much. dearestY
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.
II think we'd better 60 to bed, all
three Of u.s." declared Lark sturdily.
And they set Of heroically around the
house. But at the corner Carol
turned.
take my advice and 60 into the
woodshed." she called. "for all the Av-
erys arc looking out Of their windows"
Prudence did not hear, but he drew
her swiftly to the darkest corner of the
side porch-aGd history repeated "it-
self once morei
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, pure. sweet, unself-
Lsh little angel" ne whispered, and his
voice 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 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 q light tap on his
door. It came again, and he bounded
cut Of bed.
prudence! Is anything wrong7"
Hush. Jerry. not SO loud!" And
what a strange and weary voice. "Come
downstairs, will you1 I want to tell
you something. III wait at the foot
Of the stairs. Be Quiet-do not wake
father and the girls. VIII you be down
soonr'
= IWO WluUIC0S
And in two minutes he was down.
agonixingly 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. didn't think
what was saying last night. You were
% dear, and l was 80 happy, and for
belong to each other. But can't, You
know. Eve promised papa and the
girls a dozen times that I would never
Iaarry. Don't you see how it is1
iuust take It back"
Jerry smiled a little. It must be ad-
mitted. This was 70 like his consci-
entious little Prudencei
Dearest" he said gently. you love
me. Your father would never allow
you to sacrifice yourself like that. The
girls would not hear Of 1t. They want
you to be happy. And you can't BE-
happy without me, can yOu?"
Suddenly she crushed close to him.
"Oh, Jerry" she sobbed, II 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 want you more than all of
them. Don't you see 1t is7 They
haven't any mother. They haven't
anyone but me. OF course, they would
not allow 1t, but they will not know
rnything about it. l must do it my
self. And father especially must
never know. want you to go away
this morning before breakfast and
never come again."
She cling to him as she, said this.
but her voice did not falter. "And you
must not write to me any more. For,