| Show economic r h l W eY Sil 11 lu p w 1 r J h economic I tI Al lY CHAPTER VII 14 14 14 I 1 In Jerrys Jerry's Citadel W announced a su sudden den desire to toon tot aunts in Mount Mark MarIe twin aria tr t lier the southeastern part of the theand n and ld Prudence wIth her usual lI to please acquiesced reluctance I Uh with secret nee e th 0 j Jerro irold Id said he lie could not poss possibly 11 u and pleaded d them ra a p liD any of their j reason on n In all the years Prudence had never Ic left f t II him I m mt t out ut reluctance cl nor returned to jO joya joy joy- a the hours bours rs of her bel earliest had assumed a solemn C HOIL oa OD Jerry t of t her ber mothers mother's responsibility It I I iii the ie aunts and anti for their hus- hus husI I ds and J d their children their homes their bank accounts Had 1 no not t I her heru leI tb u r brought them up Prudence Jerrold and Jerry as ns n a beautiful dispensation of n fI erous Toul and loving Io Providence and In infelt meU felt only an implicit confidence nc mar oy But hc her sisters were n a a sa- sa accepted In all nil solemnity retal retained ed with unfaltering fidelity i Jerry J rry In all an things p part rt and par pal her her mothers mother's life shared deeply that fEat that obligation almost before she d alk when Jerry said briskly By the J mother wed we'd letter tetter run down to rot and see what those twin rare up to Prudence could only C l was Jerrys Jerry's favorite a fact she kindly Intention to conceal m the general knowledge of the oily Ill Uy She loved the quiet hush of rols rol's life and md found thrill of a ex- ex lion iron In the knowledge of the gentle bood that followed the riotous ii th of ot the merriest and most mis- mis f oas us of ot all the aunts The tender merston version of ot her entire life Ufe In that Der bEr orphaned baby Julia after the vanities of her gay girlhood fed ed to Jerry n a thing divine B Baby Pty bj Julia herself now grown grown to a ar 1 r ej ed enwrapped dream-enwrapped Iri Jf of f fourteen had fascinated fascinate II Jerr Jerry Jerryo o the the first and never more than at l Ime me In the light of her new wis- wis d understanding Jerry looked looke i her Eger keenly noted the r may way a ay tone of or her lier v voice remarked u depths of her dreamy eyes shook ook her head ominously Too ou u keep an eye eje on that girl Aunt i p she said warningly You keep keepe Ie e on oa Julia Aad when Carol laughed at her bel teller tell tell- k l er that Julia had harl never given her herIous I f anxious Ious moment In all her life that that'd rould could d read rend her inmost soul like lile a n d I page Jerry grew only more us m that's the kind she said thing ething Int you think Is her inmost tut soul at al all Its It's just a n little I ed cloud put Cloud put on to hide what's b on like Inside Inside like a n smoke screen I tl that's not nice protested mother mother k f JulIa has nothing to fe from anyone She Is the most Est child fH the least deceitful the- the I It it I isn't llla's Jella's fault Jerry In- In quickly Dont think I am it t. t g a Julia JUlio by any my means She t t wow know what's going on Inside b J l wore ore than you ou do O Shell She'll In u 4 Jh surprised as ns anybody one 1 L e days d later r she h W said Perhaps after s m Just born born to be I a gorgon lady Indy i IDay cooly locks to feed the the fires of r. r Y else's talent en t. t Td d then ben her t It-t aunt lid did not unde- unde 7 d had said a d she did not enjoy enjo rid rid- he Fhe oJ thu h Ws Is manner I she's hes i got It e poor child The S ark arl l I It will trill burn II her upI up up uden I ce what hat In the thc world Is sh sire d I 1 r f for i r D Carol turned turne to her lIer herr enlightenment J dux j us i to tb Ib Went on Terr Jerry moodily r J lL lLe the e a only one De of f the tribe that tr bet tr earmarks S r but It II sticks s o out t all nil and j believe beleve me Aunt Carol the S 1 symptoms n. n t too such a pretty En t It a shame 1 bf VI course e slue she I I COm Is a genius said Complacently 11 7 P she's I ac he S been er E Everybody says tay Ook writing writing- poetry and P plas pla's V oven tragedies tr s t erL I tJ Iy Fier tYer dies and salce sal sal- r. r aloes nee ce It she could hold ait u a 1 knew it I saId i Jerry t It t the t t r Ie minute JC I T 1 look looked at h her her I have th the tI e ell measles m myself myself- just u Jc Ci t have hl e to make male the best rol roi t so BO tr try not to It It It worry c Ill I'll proves too much tot for totA A II I 11 learned e back net you 1 0 A And nd then sh she e one thin thing The r gods lull nl 1 I lavish rh their gOod good gifts w with h n hand 1 bu but I tell na you ou In ln full For r n Q human u ou hS henr sacrifice Blood mood I tr lart 8 bl blood A a mother mothel tr M n a f tau d sOmebody h has to p on 0 b be e the Clr altar 1 loo looked of every talent ed nt at J A Prudence Slue SheM s Ing tor V fo child You U ought to d dc de o l he economic W Jerry laughed Dont worry about me Im I'm no genius s and find thank God God for it Im I'm just a commonplace maker maker- over of of- other of-other other peoples people's houses and Im I'm glad of It and It-and and making money Into the bargain But I know what Im I'm talking about To keep a genius going n a human human hu hu- man heart must feed the sacrificial fires And if Im I'm not much mistaken poor dear little Julia will be calling for kindling one of these da days clays s Carol and Julia went with them to the country to visit Lark and Jim on their lovely Iowa lown farm Larks Lark's three children Jerr Jerry Inspected with solicitous Interest pronounced them very nice ulc very healthy and quite human thank God and washed shed her hands of them But nut she hovered constantly over Julia with a passionate pity which sent the aunts off Into peals of merry merry laughter and exasperated Julia Julla herself herselt into seething fury It was pleasant to be In Mount Mark among the old friends In the old home horne discussing old da days s 's and deeds with the tho mischievous ous members of ot t the e par par- parsonage family They tall talked at Fairy of-Fairy Fairy and Gene they talked of Connie and Prince and their miraculously golden trafficking in oil The twins said It seemed strange that Connie had remained away when Jerry was In n New York that she had gone one so suddenly and remained so long And when she was alone with her sisters Prudence said slowly You mustn't think Connie was neglecting neglecting neglecting neg neg- Jerry girls girls n in any finy wa way You see ee they had been talking of making that trip anyhow so so-I so I Just wrote and begged them to go at once once and and to linger as long as possible The twins stared then laughed then lightly shrugged their shoulders We might have known It was what they said But Prudence protested Lark when she had thought It over she could have made U It so pleasant for Jerry J Jerry erry didn't go go to be pleasant Prudence defended herself She went to be free and she said herself herselt she couldn't be free fre If we put her In ConDie's Connes Conne's Connie's Connies Con Con- Dies nie's care Besides Besides If If her lieI life lay there chore sl she e would have found It But If there was nothing for her In New NewYork York York York-I I wanted her hack back And n none none m n. mone one one but Jerry could find that out Prudence and Jerry had left Des DesMoines DesMoines Moines on the early morning train about half past six or seven At half past nine that same morning Jerrold called Duane Dunne Into the office Hows business he lIe cheer cheer- fully Fine Im I'm learning the trade from the ground up I picked up four tools and a can of oil yesterday esterday said Dunne Duane Prudence and Jerr Jerry have gone down to Mount Mark to visit the aunts and cousins How would you like to come up Ul to the house and stay with me In their absence I can only admit admit admit ad ad- mit with all nil due modesty that we have a good cook Duane Dunne flushed with pleasure Id like lIlee Illicit It It If youre you're sure I wont won't be beIn beIn bein In the way he said with great eagerness eager eager- ness Not a bit Im I'm glad to have you The house Is like a morgue without them they them they talk S so much You know I dont don't i really know Jerry Jerr very well Duane Dunne explained cautious cautious- I ly Iy r. r Im only in love with her that's all Youre sure of that ar are you ou Sure Its It's not just a little infatuation that lingers on on from from because because she remains recalcitrant Duane shook h ills his s head Im sure Eure Surer than death since I met Pru Pru- dence And then on a sudden thou thought ht he lie said You You you are sure Prudence will not mind PI Prudence suggested It my boy Prudence Prudence Pru Pru- dence deuce suggested it t And he lie added dryly I When youve you've known Pru Prudence ence as long as 1 I have you'll know that she has a n nast natty nasty habit of thinking of ot things first They riley went over o to the hotel at once and ancl m got Jot Duanes Duane's bags and then drove out the lovely avenue 3 toward the greathouse great greathouse greathouse house showing broad and lU white anon among the bare maples that hed hedged c It on ever every side Jerrold led the way Into the ln Jl living room where Duane had sat once before before before be be- fore with with Prudence and and called cuned Katie Were going to nave have Mr Allerton with us while the family's s away he lie explained nl Now look 1001 after Jim Im nicely and ami make him comfortable And tell Mary Ive I've been bragging about her cool cooking Mr DIr Allerton is a n particular par par- titular friend of Miss Jerrys Jerry's you know Katie smiled broadly I know she said Paid with the respectful tul friendly familiarity fa fa- familiarity of at long an and anil devoted service e I heard her tell you ou about him over the telephone Both Loth Coth men laughed and Duane Dunne I blushed boyishly Well hes he's a Q friend of at mine ony- ony d how bow BO so be bp good to him said laId Jerrod Jerrold economic And An mind yon you say Bay nothing to anyone anyone any any- one one one- Oh no DO Mr I Harm Hornier Harmer l I She smiled toward Dunne Duane wIth pleasant pleasant pleasant pleas pleas- ant sympathy and curious Interest Jerrold took tool Duanes Duane's bags and led the tho way up the wide comfortable stairs This den en In the end of the hall Is Jerrys Jerry's Idea he explained Indicating Indicating indicating In In- the beautiful lounge at the head of ot the staIrs She says says It seems so sordid Just to divide n R house with witha a so hull hull so presto presto presto-a a lounge Weve We've built the tho house over three times on Jerrys Jerry's account When she was born horn to make her a nursery When she grew up to get rid of at It t. t And the last time when somebody gave her The House Beautiful for a n Christmas present present present pres pres- ent to make the magazine look like thirty cents She says she did everything everything every every- thing that the magazine made fun of ot Just to show It up This Is s where we hang out lIe He led the way across to the wide bright charming room he be shared with Prudence and Dunne Duane looked about It with pleasure But Jerrold frowned Women Y well are well women are Sometimes Sometimes I think I dont don't know Prudence very well but then I what can you ou expect Weve We've been married only twenty years I Duane Dunne watched him laughing said I nothing while Jerrold stalked grimly out Into Jerrys Jerry's stairway lounge and returned draggIng with him a heavy bronze smoking standI stand I have man many bad habits Jerrold went on gloomily One Is that I will smoke e cr every morning before I get up Prudence doesn't approve of ot It So every morning In the two twenty years t I l e I f r JL hi d F 1 7 I 11 II rr In the Confident Assurance of the Joyous Joyous Joy Joy- ous Eyes He Saw Jerry of our connubial bliss bUss she has bas lugged m my smoking stand out in the lounge where she sa says s 's tt it belongs and every night I lug It back before I go to bed two Twenty-two years ems of ot It I Duane Dunne laughed In keen enjoyment Last thing she did before she left lert was to trot that stand out of the bed bed- room Knowing all the time the minute I got home Id I'd trot it back Prudence does not smoke I Infer Jerry doesn't either here either here said J Jerrold errold q quickly Mostly the nice women don't dont dont don't here It didn't seem seem to take In the Middle West Nest Jerry dIdIn did didIn didin In college a n few tew times for fun fun all nil the girls do do and she told told us she smoked a great deal In New York But nut she doesn't here We didn't tell her not to mind you Prudence says even eyen daughters daughters daughters daugh daugh- are free souls when they grow up She's got a stunning little stand that some sonic sculptor made for her In New York York York-u a beauty uses beauty uses It for pins And then with that gentleness of Instinct that made Jerrold the theman theman theman man that Prudence could adore throughout her life he lie saId J Jerrys Jerry's room across the hall Go on over and und have haye a n look while I 1 Itell Itell tell Mary Mm about dinner Its It's very cute Do Do do you mind Not a n bit Its It's worth seeing We did lid it over to suit her You her you know knowIn know know- In opposition to Tine Tiiu r IU House Beautiful Ill I'll be up in a n minute And lie he struck off downstairs do whistling blithely I Duane Duan r waited until a door closed behind be- be hind him somewhere below and then he clos crossed ed 4 o Jerrys Jerry's room Involuntarily he smiled How flow could he lie have failed to recognize the Incongruity incongruity in In- congruity of her gaudy black and orange surroundings In Reillys Reilly's s alley This room breathed of her It snug sling of at her soft her soft and warm subtly fragrant with some elusive perfume lIe He knew Instantly In spite of the presence of the tw two maids that Jerry was as expected expect expect- I ed to do her own room room The wastebasket waste waste- basket had not been emptied And Am 1 lying ln among the sm silken n cushions of the du day bed lay Iny n a soft rumpled bit oft of lavender lay lav ender und and lace lace u n handkerchief idly Idy tossed and carelessly left there there- lie He walked slowly up the three thle steps that led to the day bed bod a II pretty prett throne like like dais with hangings han of ro royal ul blue velvet und and he hc stood beside the lie silk and ond velvet couch that served as a 11 bed for Jerr Jerry at t night looking down nt at It He ne lifted the bit of linen and lace luce on and touched It to his lips und and smiled at his lils own foil folly telling himself he was getting to b be ba a u. u sentimental fool There were but two photographs Inthe inthe In Inthe the room those of Prudence P and Jer Jar Jerrold Jerrold rold gold handsomely framed in Hue flue t and nod gold No Nf Ct countless snapshots io to schoolgirl chums chulDs no penciled sketches Just the two pictured faces ohie ghe he lon loved d the tIle best Among the amber and golden gold gold- en articles on her ber dressing table lay a 8 economic strand of ot crystal bends beads bends bends' lightly I There was only one picture upon th tha delicately tinted walls and this ear bur him representing as It did the thought of one who had studied Art It was a great green and white ocean giant waves lashing themselves Into foam and spray There were built in book shelves all allover allover allover over the room and hundreds of books fairy fairy tales poetry philosophy love stories wild adventures Lie He smiled I at the breadth of interest displayed ed by bythe bythe bythe the assortment und and looking more closel closely closely close close- l ly he saw that It represented epochs epochs- new shelves having been added to |
