Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-08-24


"When Margaret and / were trying
to scrub him." responded Mrs. Scho
field wearily. "he said everybody hat
been calling him names"
"Namesw snorted her husband. Lit
tie gentleman That's the vile epithe
they called him! And because Of 1
he wrecks the peace of six homes"
"Sh! Yes. He told us about It.
said Mrs. Schofield, moaning. HE tolt
US several hundred times. should
guess, though didn't count. He's go
1t fixed in his head, and we couldn'
get 1t out. All we could do was to pu
him I'm the closet He'd have gone on
again after those boys If we hadn't
don't know what to make Of him."
Hes a mystery to me-" said her hus
band. "And he refuses to explain why
he objects to being called little gentle
man. Says he'd do the same thing
and worse-if anybody dared to call
him that again. He said If the presi'
dent Of the United States called him
that he'd try to whip him. How long
did you have him locked up In the
closet?"
"Shw said Mrs. Schofield warningly
about two hours. But l don't think
it softened his spirit at all. because
when I took him to the BARRIERS to get
his hair clipped again on account OF
the tar in it Sammy Williams and
Maurice Levy were there for the same
reason, and they just whispered little
gentleman so low you could hardly hear
them-and Penrod began fighting with
them right before me, and it was real
ly all the barber and I could do to drag
him away from them. The barber was
very kind about it. but Penrod"-
IT tell you he's a lunatic!" Mr.. Scho'
field would have said the same thing
of Frenchman infuriated by the
epithet camel" The philosophy Of in
suit needs expoundiHg.
ash" said Mrs. Schofield. ut does
seem kind of frenzy"
"Why on earth should any sane per
son mind being called
Ssh. said Mrs. Schotield. Its be.
yond me!'
"What are you 'sh-ing' me for?" de
manded Mr.. Schoield eXplosively.
Ssh. said Mrs. Schofeld. Its Mr.
Kinosling. the new rector of st. 10
seph's."
"Where?"
Ssh! On the front porch with Mar
garet. He's going to stay for dinner.
do hope
Bachelor. isn't he?"
"Yes."
"Our old minister was speaking OF
him the other day." said Mr.. Schofeld
"and he didn't seem so terribly i'm
pressed"
"Sh! Yes: about thirty and, OF
course. SO superior to most Of Marga
ret's friends-boys home from college
She thinks she likes young Robert VII
liams, l know, but he laughs so much
OF course there isn't any comparison
Mr.. Kinosling talks so Intellectually
It's a good thing for Margaret to heal
that kind Of thing for a change. And
of course, he's very spiritual. He
seems very much interested In her.
She paused to muse. II think Marga
ret likes him. He's 30 different too
It's the third time he's dropped in thi'
week, and T.
"Well," said Mr.. Schofield grimly. IL
you and Margaret want him to come
again you'd better not let him see Pen
rod"
"But he's asked to see him. III
seems interested in meeting all th'
family. And Penrod nearly always be
haves fairly well at table," She paus
ed and then put to her husband Ques
tion referring to his interview witt
penrod upstairs. "Did you-did you
do it?"
"No," he answered gloomlly. mo
I didn't; but He was interrupted
by a violent crash Of china and meta
In the kitchen. shrek from Della ant
tho outrageous voice Of Penrod. Th
we'll Informed Della, Ill inspired to Sc
up for a wit. had ventured to address
the scion Of the house roguishly q
little gentleman, and Penrod by mean
Of the rapid elevation Of his right foo
had removed from her supporting
hands a laden tray. Both parents start
ed for the kitchen, Mr.. Schofeld com
pleting his interrupted sentence on tn
way.
"But will now!
The rite thus promised was hastil,
but accurately performed In that apart
ment most distant from the from
porch, and twenty minutes later Per
| rod descended to dinner. The Rev. MI
Kinosllng had asked for the pleasur
| Of meeting him, and 1t had been decid
| ed that the only course possible was t
cover up the scandal for the present
| and to offer an undisturbed and smi
ing family surface to the gaze Of tn
II
| visitor.
Scorched but not bowed, the smoldel
ing Penrod was led forward for the Sc
cial formulate simultaneously with tn
somewhat bleak departure OF RobeI
Williams, who took his guitar wit
him, this time. and went In forlor
unconsciousness Of the powerful force
already set in secret motion to be h1
allies.
The punishment just undergone ha
but made the naughty and unyieldin
soul Of Penrod more stalwart In revol
He was unconquered. Every time th
one intolerable insult had been offere
him his resentment had become tn
hotter. his vengeance the more instar
and furious. And. still burning wit
outrage. but upheld by the convicto
of right, he was determined to continu
to the last drop Of his blood the d.
fense Of his honor. whenever 1t shoul
be assailed, no matter how mighty
august the powers that attacked It !
al ways, he was very sore boy.
/ During the hEisf caEenopZ Ct lreee!