The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-08-26
VII.
Fidelity of a Little Dog.

nothing could have been more
impressive than that sinister mere
emptiness. The accepted theory was
that Penrod had been arrested.
How breath taking then the sensa-
ton when at the beginning of the
second hour he Strolled in with mimi
table carelessneSS and, rubbing his
eyes, somewhat noticeably in the man
ner Of one who has snatched an hour
OF much needed sleep, took his place as
II nothing in particular had happened.
This ut first supposed to be "A superhu-
man exhibition Of sheer audacity, be-
came but the more d~umfounding when
Miss Spence. looking from her desk,
greeted him with a pleasant little nod.
Even after school Penrod gave numer-
Gus maddened investigators no relief.
All he would consent to say was:
"Oh, l just talked to her"
\ mystiication not entirely uncon-
nected with the one thus produced was
manifested at his own family dinner
table the following evening. Aunt
Clara had been out rather late and
came to the table after the rest were
seated. She wore a puzzled express
sion.
do you Yer see Mary Spence now
adayS?' she inquired, as she unfold
ed her napkin, addressing Mrs. Scho-
field. Penrod abruptly set down his
soup spoon and gazed at his aunt with
tiattering attention.
Yes, sometimes" said Mrs. Scho-
field. She's Penrod's teacher"
rs sheT' said Mrs. Fairy. "Do
YOU She paused. do people think
her a little-queer these days?"
why, no" returned her sister.
What makes you say thatY"
"She has acquired a very odd man
ner," said Mrs. Fairy decidedly. AT
least, she seemed odd to me. / met
her at the corner just before / got to
the house a few minutes ago, and aft
er we'd said howdy do to each other
she kept hold Of my hand and looked
as though she vas going to cry. She
seemed to be trying to say something
and choking"-
But l don't think that's so very
queer, Clara. She knew you in school,
didn't She"
Eyes, but
"And she hadn't seer you for so
many years l think it's perfectly nat.
ural she"-
wait! She stood there squeezing
my hand and struggling to get her
voice, and l got really embarrassed,
and then finally she said in a kind Of
fearful whisper: BE of good cheer.
This trial will pass"
How queer" exclaimed Margaret.
Penrod sighed and returned some
what absently to his soup.
well, l don't know" said Mrs. Scho-
field thoughtfully. "Of course she's
heard about the outbreak of measles
in Dayton, since they had to close the
schools, and she knows you live
there
But doesn't it seem a very xag
gerated way" suggested Margaret, ITO
talk about measles"
wait" begged Aunt Clara. after
she said that she said something even
Queerer and then put her handkerchief
to her eyes and hurried away"
Penrod laid down his spoon again
and moved his chair slightly back from
the table. A spirit Of prophecy was
upon him. He knew that some one
was going to ask a question which he
felt might better remain unspoken.
What was the other thing she
said?' Mr.. Schofeld inquired, thus i'm
mediately fulfilling his sons Fremont
ton.
"She said" returned Mrs. FAIRY slow
ly, looking about the table; she said.
I know that Penrod is a great, great
comfort to you"
There was a general exclamation Of
surprise. 1t was a singular thing, and
In no manner may it be considered
complimentary to Penrod that this
speech of Miss Spence's should have
Immediately confirmed Mrs. Farry's
doubts about her in the minds Of all
his family.
Mr.. Schofeld shook his head pity
ingly.
I'm AFRAID SneS a goner,' ne went
SO far as to say.
"Of all the weird ideas!' cried Mar
garet.
Il never heard anything like it in my
life!' Mrs. Schoield exclaimed. "Was
that all she said?"
Every word"
Penrod again resumed attention to
his soup. His mother looked at him
%curiously, and then. struck by a sud-
den thought, gathered the glances Of
the adults Of the table by a significant
movement of the head, and, by anoth-
er, conveyed an admOnition to drop the
subject until later. Miss Spence was
PenrOd's teacher. 1t was better, for
many reasons, not to discuss the sub
ject Of her Queerness before him. This
was Mrs. Schofeld's thought at the