Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-08

cspy it during the summer months.
 When can you move in?"
 'The end of the week-by Saturday. said Penelope joyfully. e.
 Good! I shouldn't wonder if my
 wife and I were out that same after noon to look things over before my summer vacation. And, by the way, l wonder if you'd do us the kindness to store a Boston bulldog for us dur ing the summer months? He has healthy chest tones and teeth, and l don't think you'll be troubled by vaga. bonds."
 "A plucky girl" he unused to him self as he watched her retreating fig ure. Then he chucked softly. The rent she had offered to pay was quite sufficient in itself, but 1t would have been less than a bagatelle to the Ma sons, with their immense fortune. Mir. Carey's position was one of friendship as we'll as trust, which left him a mar gin for any altruism he choose, and he smiled inwardly as he thought of the Masons' amusement when they found to what uses their barn had beer put. [
 It was radiant Penelope who greet ed her family at nightfall, and a week later they were ensconced in their new home. The great floor of the barn was the living room. The stalls held cots, and the loft was stored with lin en and wearing apparel. Gay posters and magazine pictures decorated the walls. Bright calico cushions were piled on a sofa constructed of soap boxes. Bowls of wild flowers stood here and there. And Penelope, trip ping about with a new elasticity to her step, was like a wild flower her self, joyous with bloom.
 Every day the great doors of the barn were open, and air and sunshine rioted within. By night came cool, dewy odors of hedgerow and field. Week by week Penelope's mother grew stronger. Week by week Ruth lost her pallor and became more vivid. more full of life. They would stay till the sharp frosts drove them city ward, Penelope decided. As for her school-she would commute every day.
 It was on an afternoon late in Au- gust that a young man on horseback came to inspect their dwelling, anus ed appreciation glowing in his frank brown eyes. It was Aldrich Mason, Jr.
 q hope you won't think 1t imperti- nent of me-" he said. "but after the wonderful things that Carey told me when got back from the other side I felt I had to come and see for myself how unique it was"
 Shall I show you through?' said Penelope, laughing, and he dismounted and followed. As she gave him drink of his own we'll water he looked at her before he touched it to his lips. '"To the pluckiest, bravest girl in the world" he said.
 He came the next afternoon with books for her mother and the follow ing one with magazines for Penelope. After he had ridden away Penelope went and stood by her favorite fence rail looking off across the fields. There came a soft thudding of hoofs behind her. Aldrich Mason was back again.
 Don't think me an internal bound CT" he pleaded, "but you know it's going to be a whole week before I see you again. and in the meantime I'd like to ask If I'm-if I'm cutting in on some one else?" '#-e r.-aI
 "No," Penelope said. with a smile.
 'If write to you will you"-
 Perhaps" said Penelope demurely.
 Good" he cried buoyantly and rode away second time.
 Penelope watched him go with a happy hutter at her heart. The fairy prince had come at last. and it prom ised to end as all good stories and good fairy tales should. and Penelope, with a feeling that her arid life was, since her barn discovery. all touched with rainbow colors, stood looking off across the fields till the evening star and the purpling shadows warned her 1t was time to make the homeward way.