The Paonia newspaper., 1911-02-17
An Ice Maiden
By VIRGINIA BLAIR
cop,ri.h,, ,oII. b, As.oei...d Literary Press

marry your MIS- StAnIoro oenano
ed.
MY dear lady" Danford said Ian
suidly. do you know Penelope Dun
bar?'
"of course do" Mrs. Stanford re-
sponded; land she is a dear"
Il don't think that name quite ap-
Piles" Danford murmured. 'She Is
a goddess. and a wonderfully. but
should never dare call her dear
Penelope"
Mrs. Stanford surveyed him scorn-
fully. That shows how little you
know about a woman. Jenelope Dun
bar is as tender and as sweet as
girl can be. yet you think OF her as
an ice maiden"
YES" Danford agreed. You have
found the name for her; she matches
the atmosphere OF today. She Is like
one OF the icicles hanging on the
porch out there or the frost on the
window pane"
IF couldn't call a girl something
else besides the frost on the window
pane" Mrs. Sanford said. Il should
stop trying. Imagine beginning a
AetlSI W cnciopc. bchf Sbc~
the Window Pane"
Il should not dare under any cir
cumstances write to her," said Dan
ford.
You're a coward" Mrs. Stanford
accused.
Danford shrugged his shoulders.
Dear lady" he said. Il can face a
lion. but not Penelope Dunbar"
III you loved her you could not
help telling her"
1T is because I love her that ! do
not tell her. I am afraid that my
blood would be CONCEALED within
me-"
SILLY" was Mrs. Stanford's re-
sponse.
Then she went on seriously. Put
her to the test" she said. You see
her only on the surface. l know 1t is
her pride that makes her cold. She
Is afraid to show her feelings. and
you're afraid to tell her the very
thing that would make her show
them. II you should say. Penelope.
] love you-I love you.' you'd see her
light up. but you don't believe me.
and I can't make you"
Your Intentions are good" Dan
ford said. but your wisdom is at
fault Penelope never loved any
thing"
"Oh. you don't know herr"
Danford rose. Il must be going"
he said. Il shall ride around and sec
Penelope. That is the strange part
Of It. I can't keep away from her.
although she freezes the soul within
me. think II is the memory OF what
she was when she was a little girl.
She was friendly little soul then"
She is friendly now" Mrs. Stan
ford insisted. but you can't expect
her TO meet you more than half
way"
After Danford had gone Mrs. Stan
ford talked II over with her husband
IF he could see Penelope as l have
seen her. grooming luliabies to the ba-
bies up In the nursery. he'd believe In
her tenderness"
We'll. why can't he sec herr" Stan
ford demanded.
Then and there Ms. Stanford
made a plot 1t was very simple
little plot. and Penelope walked
straight into the trap.
IF you don't mind" Mrs. Stanford
said plainuvely over the telephone,
''if you don't mind. Penelope. I'd like
to have you come and stay with the
babies tonight, while Jack and I 20
to the Country club. I know II is an
imposition to ask you. but It is the
cooks night out. and the nurse
wants to 20 with her. and Jack will
be desperately disappointed II we
miss the dinner at the club"
I'D love to come" Penelope re-
sponded.
Il don't think you will be lonely, ("
Mrs. Stanford said wearily that
night as. gorgeous in black velvet
and pearls. she told Penelope goodby.
The babies always sleep soundly,
and there is the phone in the library,
and I've asked Roy Danford to come
around and see II you're all right"
"Oh!" Penelope said distressfuiiy,
you needn't have done that"
We'll. I did," Mrs. Stanford insist,
ed. Il didn't like to think Of you abb
solutely alone. There are some oys-
ters In the refrigerator. and II you get
hungry you mighe give Roy . chafng
dish supper"
III she doesn't show him her do
mestic side." Mrs. Stanford said. as
she and her husband were whirled
| away tOgeth0r in their hiO cor .r,,,