New-York tribune., 1912-03-17

wholesome country woman, holding to her
side this delicious bit of womanhood. Aoa;n
that pang that was like homesickness sbot
through her, and she smiled at the child with
a face as shy as her own; but. fearful a
frightening her, she made no other sign and
walked on in silence beside Merry until thew
came out on the thick green turf about The
house. A woman was sweeping off a side
porch, and to her Miss Penelope spoke in her
low, clear voice.
GAN you tell me if Mr.. James Brompton
~ lives here?' For she had resolved 10
win answer to her suspicious by one bold
question. This woman with the strong
kindly face must be Mrs. Brompton. She
had asked; but in her mind She was quite
convinced.
The woman leaned on her broom and re.
garded the slight, fair haired woman in the
riding habit curiously. "He did" she said.
"but he doesn't now You, Pen, what are
you doing there? You see she added
rather apologetically to Miss Penelope, ~her
mother died last week, and she's been let run
a little wild since"
Miss Penelope threw her arm about little
Penelope with sudden loving gesture. She
knew what it was to be mothercss. "You
poor baby" she cried. "Who's going to look
after her now?'
The browS of the woman on the porch
drew together in little worried frown.
"That's just what's bothering us ALL" she
said. "Of course when Mr. Brompton was
killed." Miss Penelope gave little choked
exclamation; but the woman had not no.
ticed, Mrs. Brompton just stayed on here:
but she never was strong, and she seemed to
go right to pieces after they brought him
home that day, and last week she went, sud.
den like
"How was Mr. Brompton killed." asked
Miss Penelope little unsteadily. Her heart
was bounding at a sudden glimpse Of a de-
licious possibility, a possibility that took her
breath away; but she would not welcome it
yet.
"Hc was thrown from his horse, replied
the neighbor, "and it killed him straight out;
so o course he didn't have time to appoint
trustees or anything His will just left every.
thing to his wife. SO here's this poor child
with lot of property on her hands and not
a relation in the world that anyone knows
Of"
a sense Of disappointment struck Miss
Penelope. She would have liked il better il
the little Pen had had nothing at all But
she had money enough Of her own not to
care for what people might say-and, after
all. did anything but the child matter:
"Do YOU know where | can get something
to eat for my horse and MYSELF She asked
and flashed a smile at the worthy Mrs. Cum.
mings which transformed her into hos.
prtable housewife on the moment.
"If you'll wait until I've closed up this
house III take YOU straight over to my
house." she said. Il just brought Pen over
this morning while | swept up bit. We're
keeping her till the lawyers decide what tc
do with her; though my husband doesn't
like it, for he thinks I've too much 70 do now
Land knows six children are a care"
Miss Penelope murmured something sym.
pathetic and watched her hustle away Six
children! She glanced up at the little figure
within her arm, and met steady, deep blue
ewes. Suddenly her own shone, and she
drew her close in quick impulsive clasp.
"Do YOU think you could try to love me,
Dear" she whispered.
Think | do.' responded Penelope
promptly, and leaning down she dropped a
fairylikc kiss on Miss Penelope's ear The
latter gasped. Emotions were coming thick
and fast today, and she was not accustomed
to having them arise unbiddcn.
As she followed Mrs. Cummings across
the fields TO her own modest cottage she Won
dcred how she would broach the plan re.