Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-04-03
PeneIOpe'S
Problem.
BY Constance D'Aroy Aaacksy.

a
. Copyrighted. 1907, by O. H. sutcliRe. 2
eseessssesessessOseeOeseS0
1t was nearing the first week OF
July. The sun blazed down on the
noisy, unshaded street where Penelope
Compton lived, and the air was rife
with the smell of heat parched brick
and pavement Penelope's sister,
Ruth, pale, gaunt young girl, spoke
from the sofa, where she lay propped
up with pillows.V
Don't you think there's any way
PeneiopeY
"None so far DEAR" said Penelope
cheerfully. But one never knows
what may turn up"
For at least n month Penelope had
been hunting n 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 summer cot
tage, 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 adj
vertisements, only to be disappointed.
And 1t was imperative that the two
invalids should have country air. Ruth
grew paler week by week, and Mrs.
Compton-but Penelope never dared
to think of that, for she needed all
the courage at her command. On this
particular afternoon the pathetic pa
tience of Ruth's question nerved Pencil
ope to further effort. Something must
be found! 1t was a 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 1t on with swift. nerv-
GUS gestures.
Are you going to try againT said
Ruth, the quickening Of hope In her
voice.
81 am going to take street car-any
car-and go out to the end Of the line
and then ask from door to door till l
find what ! want" said Penelope ve
hemently. do you feel strong enough,
dear to be left alone with mother"
ooh, yes" responded Ruth, brighten
Ing. as she always did at the expecta-
ton that their El Dorado might yet be
reached.
Penelope stumbled bllndly 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
ana took n downward grade in more
Bparsely 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
ed away In pleasant undulations. The
leaves of the trees rustled, 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-
tItu tllht lhtJ "tiC uil lGhtCus ~ wan
thriving community, and there were
no vacancies. Tears welled In Pencil |
ope's eyes, and she was forced to stop
and wipe away the brimmlng drops. |
II must find something" she said al |
most savagely. II must! | willW
A shady road opened before her |
She had not dreamed that 80 truly |
rural scene could be within easy dis |
lance of the city. Elms grew on either |
hand; bird song foated down to her,
drowsy with the heat; wild roses sent |
up sweet brlery 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 Il tree toad chirred. |
The peace Of 1t was balm to Penelope's |
tired nerves. She delighted In the flick |
erlng, 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 fine brick man |
sion and which now stood fire charred |
and desolatc A little way farther on |
Penelope came upon the barn belong |
ing to It, II was large, spacious |
structure, Its red paint storm worn |
and peelng. Its weathercock still twirl- |
Ing merrily as II In defiance to sun and |
rain.
Moved by an impulse she could |
scarcely define, Penelope tiptoed up to
1t and looked In Its window. The int.
rior was clean and airy. A few wisps |
of straw showed at the edge Of the
NOW; the stalls were dimly hospitable. |
But 1t was the great width down the |
center of the barn that made Penelope |
thrill with sudden resolve. II 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 rapture 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 Mr.. |
Frederick Carey was In charge Of the |
property. Back to the city went Pc
nelope, hunted up directory and aft
erward Mr.. Carey. To him she breath.
IessIy preached her plan. Would he
rent her the barn for the season.
Mr. Carey's lips twitched. Penelope
was so pretty. so desperately m ear
nest. Then as her words tumbled over
each other IN her eagerness he caught
n fieetlng glimpse Of her life. grim
with struggle against desperate odds.