Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1908-01-04

D
his throat.
My dear Miss Compton," said he, 81
have always considered an empty barn
menace to the public. Sooner or lat
er it draws tramps or tircbugs. SO let
there be no talk of rent. 1t will he Il
favor-a positive favor to the Mason
estate if you and your family will oc-
cupy it during the summer months.
When can you move in?'
"The end of the weekly Saturday"
said Penelope joyfuIly.
Good, | shouldn't wonder if my
wife and | were ont 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 he troubled by vaga-
bonds.'
"A plucky girl" he unused to him
self as he watched her retreating fig
urc. Then he chuckled softly The
rent she had offered to pay was quite
sufficient in itself, but it would have
been less than bagatelle to the Ma
sons, with their immense fortune. Mr..
Carcy'S position was one of friendship
rs well 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 been put
1t was a radiant Penelope who greet
ed her family Tt nightfall, and a week
later they We're 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 sofa constructed of soap
boxes Bowls of wild flowers stood
here and there. And Penelope, trip
ping about with 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,
dcwy 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-shc would commute every day.
1t was on an afternoon late in Au-
gust that q young man on horseback
came to inspect their dwelling, anus
cd appreciation glowing in his frank
brown eyes 1t was Aldrich Mason, Jr.
81 hope you won't think it imperti-
nent of me-" he said, but after the
wonderful things that Carey told me
when got back from the other side
felt l had to come and see for myself
how unique it was"
"Shall | show you through?" said
Penelope, laughing, and he dismounted
and followed. AS she gave him a drink
of his own well 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
er," he pleaded, but you know it's
going to be whole week before | see
you again, and in the meantime I'd
like to ask if Tm-if I'm cutting in on
some one else?"
"No," Penelope said, with 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 flutter 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
it was time to make the homeward
way.