The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-07-20


they want them for the suburban folks
evenings and mornings"
The sun gliuted through the chinks
III Selina's battered hat-a mans hat
bought ut the store for ten cents in the
haying season-and Leafy was near
sighted Mt the best. She listened. No
locomotive was in hearing. The short
cut was across II car platform. When
she climbed up to it, she said to her
self, 81 feel n mite dizzy guess I'll
sit right here on top of the steps and
rest little"
Penelope had gone with n heavy
heart, as has been said, to little Persis
Dowd's music lesson. Penelope was n
responsible person rs well as deeply
atectionate one, and since her father S
death she had felt herself to he in an
especial sense her mothers keeper.
Old Doctor Bemis, little puzzled
by nervous prostration, which was less
common i'll North Goshen than in
places whore people have more leisure
for 1T, had said very gravely that his
patient must not be crossed; aud Pene-
lope felt guilty that she had even been
tempted to cross her. The temptation
had been dutifully resisted; letter of
many pages to Sam Mute now lay
heavily in her pocket and still more
heavily upon her heart
1t had required many pages to tell
Sam that what he had asked her could
never be, because her duty TO her
mother forbade it, She had set forth
fully aud patheticalIy her mothers sad
and dangerous condition, the more SO
that she suspected Aunt Selma of hay
ing made light of it to Sam.
Penelope had to go Il little out of her
way to reach the postoliice, aud ut the
turning of the road she halted, her
resolution weakened by the Juggling at
her heart-striugs. Little Persis Dowd
really ought not to be obliged TO wait
ten minutes for her lesson; and to-
morrow would he soon enough to send
that letter. Old Captain Dowd, Persists
grandfather, drove Penelope home
around by the river-road, so the letter
was still in her poc& when she reached
home and found Aunt Selma frantically
footing the horn and ringing the din
ner-bell to raise an alarm
BE calm, Penelope, he calml'' i'm
plored Aunt Selma, Historically; "but
little Aaron Scattergood says he saw
her going across the field in the middle
of the afternoon, and my big hat and
the short handled dipper amt any
where, nor she aint! ] thought she
was taking nap in her room, and [
didn't ring the supper-bell, waiting
for her and you-O Penelope, don't
look like that! It's most likely she
has just gone to one of the neighbors. 8"
The two women stood looking at
each other, Penelope's white Tipped,
dry-eyed silence in strong contrast
with Aunt Selina's feverish excitement.
They both knew that Leafy never went
to the neighbors
Penelope hal heard that nervous
prostration sometimes developed into
The thought was too dreadful to en-
dure i'll silencel "The pond! Aunt
Selma, the pondl'' she gasped.
Now don't You go to thinking of
that, child! / haint let myself think
of that sobbed Aunt Selma ooh,
poor old Leafy! / don't know as / had
feeling enough for her sufferiugs--
though ] did know they want all
vain imaginations
Penelope felt the letter in her pocket.
an awful witness TO her guilt. She
thought that her mother had probably
discovered that Sam hal written to
her, and anxiety for the result had
driven her TO some dreadful deed.
4
Could You think I would be so heart
less as to leave you?" she cried aloud.
her self-restraiut giving away sudden
ly. Then she aroused herself to
action, on seeing little Aaron Scatter
good standing, highly entertained and
curling his bare toes with excitement.
in the gateway.
Run, Aaron, to every house i'm this
ncighborhoOd and ask if my mother
has been there or been scent said
Penelope, impcrntively
1--WE been, and she haiut. answered
little Aaron, concigely. ''Nobody saw
her 20 berryin' but just me. NIebbe n
bear cat her. he said, cheerfully:
'only there amt none Little Aaron's
heal dropped dciectcdly with % sense
Of the tameurss of life, and he modita
lively cssayed TO pick up stones be
tween his bare toes.
Aunt Selma, the pond must he
dragged AZ once! I'll go aud give the
alarm.
Penelope sped down the hill toward
the village, aud at the foot she met the
mess niger boy from tha centre with u
Telegram for Miss Penelope Todd.
which she opened with shaking fingers.
Your mother safe with friends.
Will return soon
The telegram was unsigned. n came
from Orinoco
Penelope drew long. sobbinp
broa.h of relief. but The mystery Oh.
pressed her Her mother must have
wandered away, aud tina. implied n
much gtcater degree OF mental weak
ness than she had hitherto shown.
~ am going 90 Orinoco at once. 81
she declared, whom she hal carried tho
Telegram home To- Aunt Selma.
But it's q large town, and yor
haven a mite Of clual I'd Just wal
/ patiently, seeing You know she's safe. 3
said Aunt Selma.
] Penelope, when she grew calmer