The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-10

his iron gray hair. II his own daugh-
ter had lived she would have been
about the age OF Penelope. He cleared
his throat.
My dear Miss Compton. said he. Il
have always considered an empty barn
q menace to the public Sooner or lat
er It draws tramps or firehugS. So let
there be no talk OF rent 1t will be
laFor-a positive favor 10 the Mason
estate II you and your family will oc-
cupy IL during the summer months.
When can you move imp
The end of the weekly Saturday"
said Penelope joyfully.
Good. | shouldn't wonder If nv
wife and l were out that same after
noon TO look things over before my
summer vacation. And, by the way,
| 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
don't think you'll be troubled By vaga-
| bonds"
"A piucky girl" he unused to him.
self as he watched her retreating ag-
ure Then he chuckled softly The
/ rent she had offered TO pay was quite
! sufficient in itself. but it would have
been less than a bagatelle to the Ma
sons, with their immense fortune. Mr..
Carey's position was one of friendship
as well as trust. which left him mar
gin for any altruism he choose. and he
smiled inwardly rs he thought OF the
Hasons' amusement when they found
ID what uses their barn had been put.
1t was radiant Penelope who greet
ed her family at nightfal. aud a week
l9ter they were ensconced in their
rev home. The great floor of the barn
was the living room The stalls held
cots, and the loft was stored with lin
cn and wearing apparel. GAY posters
nnd magazine pictures decorated the
walls. Bright calico cushions were
piled on a sofa constructed OF soap
BOXES. Bowls of wild flowers stood
aere and there. And Penelope. trip
ping about with a new elasticity to
her step, was like wild flower her
self, joyous with bloom.
Every day the great doors Of tho
barn were open, and air and sunshine
rioted within. BY night came cool,
dewy doors 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
Scholastic would commute every day.
: 1t was on an afternoon late in Au-
gust that a young man on horseback
came to inspect their dwelling, anus
: cd appreciation glowing IN his frank
: brown eyes. 1t was Aldrich Mason. Jr.
: II hope you won't think it impertf-
nent of me-" he said. but after the
: wonderful things that Carey told me
, when I got back from the other side
felt / had to come and see for myself
t how unique it was"
) "Shall I show you through laid
; Penelope. laughing, and he disp ted
, and followed. AS she gave hiItd rink
5 of his own we'll water he looked at her
l before he touched it to his lips. ''ro
] the Quickest. bravest girl in the
J. world" he said
c He came the next afternoon with
d books for her mother and the follow
4 ing one with magazines for Penelope.
t After be had ridden away Penelope
2 went and stood by her favorite fence
e 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,
e err he pleaded. "but you know it's
/ going to be a whole week before / see
p you again. and in the meantime I'd
!; like to ask if Tm-if I'm cutting In on
J. some one else?"
NO" Penelope said. with smile.
:. "If | write to you win you
y Perhaps" said Penelope demurely.
y "Goodp he cried buoyantly and rode
+ away q second time.
:. Penelope watched him 60 with a
1t happy 1utter at her heart. The fairy
e prince had come at last and it prom
d ised to end as all good stories and
l. good fairy tales should. and Penelope
q with a feeling that her arid life WINS
g. since her barn discovery. all touched
s with rainbow colors, stood looking of
k across the fields till the evening stal
S and the purpling shadows warned hel
to it was time to make the homewarC
Of way.