Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-05-28
Now tell me all about it, dear, she

Anu Penelope. U6f usual SIdlQ SELL
restraint swept away in a mighty
whirlwind of emotions, poured it all
out in a torrebt of sob-broken words.
1t was a queer tumble of pathos and
humor, of tragedy and comedy, but to
Penelope it was all tragedy. 1t was
not only of that day she told; un
knowingly she told of other days, too
With the utter abandon of a sensitive
nature meeting with an unexpected
wealth Of sudden love and sympathy,
she poured put all without reserva-
ton. Many expressions shone in
Helen's eyes as she listened. The
little calf brought a pitiful smile TO
them, and they were often filled with
sorrow; but there was anger, too.
deep anger, and scorn and disgust and
wonder.
But when the breathless, broken
voice ceased there was only love.
Penelope lay exhausted in her arms,
and a feeling of restful happiness
stole over her. "Aunt Helen" she
said earnestly, "you are heaps COM
fortabler than a bed"
Two minutes later Helen laid the
small sleeping figure down on the
sofa, covered it with a rug and sought
her sister.
Five minutes later still a bell was
pealing wildly from the boudoir, and
Mrs. Hardly was calling feebly for
Fielding and salvolatile. Helen, her
head high, her face pale, passed Field
ing on the threshold.
A good deal can be said in five
minutes.
She went back to the ~dining-room.
Penelope had vanished under the rug.
~''Penelope."
At her voice the scared face and
roughened hair emerged. Penelope
flushed. II thought just a minute l
was in the boxroom'-her eyes looked
up appealingly into Helen's face.
Never again, dear" Helen said
firmly; 81 am going to take you away
with me-
She was interrupted by a sudden
surprising disappearance of the
sedateness she had thought part and
parcel of her small niece. Penelope
flung herself upon with a choking cry,
with you-with you?"
Eyes, dear, for always" said Helen
gently.
"To-to live?" Penelope's voice
was beyond her control, it shrilled out
in %quavering excitement. But habit
was strong: she looked round
anxiously. "I-didn't mean to make
such a noise, she said alphabetically.
when you are with me, Penelope,
you shall make as much noise as you
like" said Helen recklessly.
Helen never did things by halves. It
was n of her attributes that Sir
Ralph Bennington dearly loved.
Penelope gasped. Then her arms
squeezed Helen's throat spasmodical-
ly. "I-In sweep your ROOM" she
burst out. the eagerness of her long
ing to give something in return al
most choking her voice. "I'n dig up
the weeds! I'll do your dresses what
do up at the back. I1l-IlI'-her im-
agination failed her, she halted.
Helen kissed her. You'll just play
and play and play!" she said.
"Oh!"
Penelope had an imagination. The
wonders which the idea of unlimited
play and noise called up held her
silent for a while.
Helen went to a side table AMI
found note paper and ink.
"P'raps," said Penelope ~nervously,
"P'raps you don't know l are very
stupid" a scarlet flush crept over her
small face.
NO" said Helen, 81 don't believe
it. Never mind if you are" =.
Penelope drew a big breath.
Almos, as she drew it she was over
come with sleep.
Then Helen hurried to the kitchen.
when does the last post go?" she
asked.
Seven twenty, miss, from the
'orfce."
Helen glanced at the clock on the
mantlepiece. Five minutes past Z.
She ran back to the diningroom and
dashed off a note:-
No time to write. Can you come
down to talk things over? [ have a
condition l want to tell you of.
I'm afraid you'll hate it. If, when [
have explained all about it to you,
you agree to it, | will marry you at
once. Yours, Helen.
She addressed it, and then, putting
on her hat as she went, took it to the
nnCtnffrn Che ooJoh+ tho 1oct rnCf
with a minute and a half to spare.
That night Penelope slept in a
warm bed close beside Helen.
And the little calf who had been the
cause of it al slept in a warm barn
beside his mother. Perhaps, after all,
he ought to have been punished. For
if he had not enticed Penelope from
the path of duty-but then we are
told that we must not do evil that
good may come. Maybe, though, the
laws are different in calfand. Any
how the little calf was not punished,
SO let it rest at that.
The next morning HaywoId was
electrified by the arrival of a tele-
gram from London. Helen received it
at 1920 o'clock. The time when it
was handed in at the London post
Office was 8:45. Sir Ralph Benning-
ton had received Helen's letter at $3.50
precisely.
Helen did not often 10 foolish
things, but when she read that tele-
gram she bowed her head and rested
her lips for a moment upon the
signature written some 10 minutes