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

PeneGOg2's
Problem.
By Constance darcy Mackay.

July. The sun blaZcd down on the
noisy, unShadud street where Penelope
Compton lived. and the air was rife
with the smell of heat parched brick
and pavement. Pcnclope's sister.
Ruth, pale. gaunt young girl, spoke
from the sofa, where she lay propped
up with pillows.
Don't you think there's any way,
Penelope?"
"None so far dear" said Penelope
checrfully. But one never knows
what may turn up"
For at least Il month Penelope had
been hunting a place in the country
that should shelter her widowed moth
er, her sister and herself and be with
in the compass Of her slender purse.
With two invalids boarding was out
of the question. and Il summer cot
tagc, no matter how small, had so far
been beyond the means of Penelope,
the breadWinner of the family. a
frail but determined girl. the idol of
the crowded city Schoolroom in which
she taught. Day after day since
school closed she had answered ad-
vertisements, only to be disappointed
And it was imperative that the two
invalids should have country air. Ruth
grew palcr week by week. and Mrs.
Compton-but Penelope never dared
to think of that for she needed all
the courage ut her command. On this
particular afternoon the pathetic pa
ticnce OF Ruth's question nrrvcd Pencil
ope to further effort Something must
be found. 1t was IL matter of life and
death.
Rising suddenly from her seat by
the window. Penelope caught up her
hat that lay on a chair near by and
began to pin it on with swift. merry
Gus gestures.
Are you going TO try again? said
Ruth. the Quickening of hope in her
voice.
Il am going to take a street car-any
car-and go out to the end of the line
and then ask from door to door till |
find what | want" said Penelope We
hcmcntly. "Do You feel strong enough,
dear, to be left alone with mother?
"Oh, yes" responded Ruth. brighten
ing, as she always did ut the eXpecta-
ton that their Eel Dorado might yet be
reached.
Penelope stumbled blindly upon the
first car that came. Beneath her brave
exterior she was weary and sick at
heart, but the keen rush of the air past
her as the car left the crowded streets
and took a downward grade in Il more
sparsely populated district was tonic
and refreshing, She began to feel less
tired, less hopeless. The car whizzed
on through suburbs with trim, fenced
in houses and green fields that stretch
cd away in pleasant undulations. The
leaves of the trees rustlel. silver green
in the afternoon light. When the end
of the line was reached Penelope got
out, her spirits rising. Surely among
the cottages dotted here and there
would be one that answered her re-
quirements But Penelope soon discov-
cred that they were all rented. 1t was
a thriving community. and there were
no vacancies. Tears welcd in Pencil
and wipe away the brimmng drops.
Il must find something" she said al
most Savagely. 81 must! | willr'
y shady road opened before her.
She had not dreamed that so truly
rural a scene could be within easy dis
tance OF the city. Elms grew on either
hand; Il bird song tlOatcd down to her,
y :
up sweet briery perfume from the
roadside. Cottages became fewer and
fewer. Finally there were none at all
1t became very still Now and then a
tWig dropped or a tree toad chirred.
The peace of 1t was balm to Penclope's
tired nerves. She delighted in the flick
ering, leafy shadows. the warm es-
sences of the earth. She paused to
lean on fence rails and look at bits of
views framed by swaying branches.
She fingered to gaze at the ruins Of
what had once been a fine brick man
sion and which now stood fire charred
ANA dcsolate. \ little way farther on
Penelope came upon the barn belong
ing to it. 1t was large. spacious
structure, its red paint storm worn
and peeling, its weatlercock still twirl-
ing merrily as if in defiance to sun and
rain
Moved by an impulse she could
scarcely define. Penelope tiptoed up to
it and looked in its window The inte-
rior was clean and airy. A few wisps
of straw showed at the edge of the
NOW: the stalls We're dimly hospitabe
But it was the great width down the
center of the barn that ma e Penelope
thrill with sudden resolve. If only her
idea were feasible. She wrenched at
the door. 1t was bolted and did not
yield. She looked in the window again
and then, fired with the rap, IRE of her
find, went back along the road whence
she had first come, her feet seeming
hardly to touch the earth By diligent
inquiry among the cottage colony she
learned that the barn belonged to peo-
pie by the name of Mason, but they
had been abroad for years. and a Mr..
Frederick Carey was in charge of the
property. Back to the city went Pc
nelope. hunted up a directory and aft
erward Mr.. Carey. To him she breath
lessly broached her plan. Would he
rent her the barn for the season?
Mr., Carey's lips twtched. Penelope
was so pretty, so desperately In ear
hest. Then rs her words tumbled over
each other in her eagcrness he caught
a ticcting glimpse Of her life. grim
with struggle against desperate odds.
a.. Ii, Il, Il