Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-06-03

rigid.
Il want an answer. Why did you
shout those words at me?''
"Well," he murmured, 81 was just
thinking
Thinking what?'' she asked sharply.
81 don't know"
THAT won't dor
He took his left ankle in his right
hand and regarded it helplessly.
THAT won't do, Penrod Schofeld,"
she repeated severely eff that is all
the excuse you have to offer l shall re-
port your case this instant!'
And she.roSe with fatal intent.
But Penrod was one of those whom
the precipice inspires. "Well, / have
got an excuse"
"WeI'-she paused impatiently-
what is it,"
He had not an idea, but he felt one
coming and replied automatically in
plaintive tone:
81 guess anybody that had been
through what had to go through last
night would think they had an ex
cuse''
Miss Spence resumed her seat,
! though with the air of being ready to
leap from it instantly.
"What has last night to do with your
insolence to me this morning?"
''Well, 1 guess you'd see," he re-
turned, emphasizing the plaintive note,
eff you knew what know"
"Now, Penrod," she said, in kinder
voice, II have high regard for your
mother and father, and it would hurt
me to distress them, but you must Ell
Their tell me what was the matter with
you or I'll have to take you to Mrs.
Houston"
well, amt 1 going to-" he cried,
spurred by the dread name. "It's be-
cause l didn't sleep last night"
"Were you ill?' The question was
put with some dryness.
He felt the dryness. Nom;
wasn't"
'Then if some one in your family
was so i'll that even you were kept
up all night, how does it happen they
let you come to school this morning?"
''It wasn't Illness" he returned,
shaking his head mournfully. ut was
lots worse'n anybody's being sick. 1t
vast was-well, it was jest awful"
what WASP" He marked with anxi-
ETY. the incredulity in her tone.
ut was about Aunt Clara" he said.
"Your Aunt Clarav' she repeated.
"Do you mean your mothers sister,
who married Mr.. Fairy of Dayton,
In.?"
"YeS-Uncle john" returned Penrod
sorrowfully. "The trouble was about
him.
Miss Spence froWned frown which
he rightly interpreted as one of contin-
ued suspicion. "She and 1 were in
school together" she said. II used to
know her very well, and I've always
heard her married life was entirely
happy. l DON'T
Eyes, it Was," he interrupted, until
last year when Uncle John took to
running with travelling mem
"WhatY'
"Yes'm." He nodded solemnly 'That
was what started it. At first he was
good kind husband, but these trav-
cling men would coax him into a sa-
loon on his way from work, and they
got him to drinking beer and then ales,
wines, liquors, and Cigars
"Penrodw
"Ma'am?"
I'm not inquiring into your Aunt
Clara's private affairs. I'm asking you
if you have anything to say which
would palliate"-
That's what I'm tryin' to tell you
about, Miss Spence" he pleaded, eff
you'd jest only let me. When Aunt
Clara and her little baby daughter got
to our house last night
''You say Mrs. Fairy is visiting your
mother?"
'Yes'm-not just visiting-you see,
she had to come. Well, of course, lit
tie baby Clara, she was so bruised up
and mauled, where he'd been hittin'
her with his cane''-
"You mean that your uncle had done
such a thing as that!' exclaimed Miss
Spence, suddenly disarmed by this
scandal
"Yes'm. And mamma and Margaret
had to sit up all night nursin' little
Clara. And Aunt Clara was in such a
state somebody had to keep talkin' to
her, and there wasn't anybody but me
to do it. So r.
But where was your father?' she
cried.
"Ma'am?'
where was your father while''-
ooh, papa?" Penrod paused, reflect
ed, then frightened. "Why, he was
down at the train waitin' to see if
Uncle John would try to follow 'em
and make 'em come home SOS he could
prosecute 'em some more. l wanted
to do that, but they said if he did
come I mightn't be strong enough to
! hold him, and"- The brave lad paus-
ed again modestly. Miss Spence's ex
preston was encouraging. Her eyes
were wide with establishment, and
-. Il