Miss Prudence eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 417 pages of information about Miss Prudence.

Miss Prudence eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 417 pages of information about Miss Prudence.

After several moments of self-contained sobbing Miss Prudence raised her head.  “I’ve never told any one, but I feel as if I wanted to tell you.  It is so long that it makes me feel old to speak of it.  It is twenty years ago since it happened.  I had a friend that I love as girls love the man they have chosen to marry; father admired him, and said he was glad to leave me with such a protector.  Mother had been dead about a year and father was dying with consumption; they had no one to leave me with excepting this friend; he was older than I, years older, but I admired him all the more for that.  Father had perfect trust in him.  I think the trouble hastened father’s death.  He had a position of trust—­a great deal of money passed through his hands.  Like every girl I liked diamonds and he satisfied me with them; father used to look grave and say:  ‘Prudie, your mother didn’t care for such things.’  But I cared for mine.  I had more jewels than any of my friends; and he used to promise that I should have everything I asked for.  But I did not want anything if I might have him.  My wedding dress was made—­our wedding tour was all planned:  we were to come home to his beautiful house and father was to be with us.  Father and I were so contented over our plans; he seemed just like himself that last evening that we laughed and talked.  But he—­my friend was troubled and left early; when he went away he caught me in his arms and held me.  ‘God bless you, bless you’ he said, and then he said, ‘May he forgive me!’ I could not sleep that night, the words sounded in my ears.  In the morning I unburdened myself to father, I always told him everything, and he was as frightened as I. Before two days we knew all.  He had taken—­money—­that was not his own, thousands of dollars, and he was tried and sentenced.  I sent them all my diamonds and everything that would bring money, but that was only a little of the whole.  They sent him—­to state-prison, to hard labor, for a term of five years.  Father died soon after and I had not any one nearer than an aunt or cousin.  I thought my heart broke with the shame and dishonor.  I have lived in many places since.  I have money enough to do as I like—­because I do not like to do very much, perhaps.  But I can’t forget.  I can’t forget the shame.  And I trusted him so!  I believed in him.  He had buried a young wife years ago, and was old and wise and good!  When I see diamonds they burn into me like live coals.  I would have given up my property and worked for my living, but father made me bind myself with a solemn promise that I would not do it.  But I have sought out many that he wronged, and given them all my interest but the sum I compelled myself to live on.  I have educated two or three orphans, and I help every month several widows and one or two helpless people who suffered through him.  Father would be glad of that, if he knew how comfortably I can live on a limited income.  I have made my will, remembering a number of people, and if they die before I do, I shall keep trace of their children.  I do all I can; I would, rather give all my money up, but it is my father’s money until I die.”

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Project Gutenberg
Miss Prudence from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.