The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1915-08-05

Equipped With This COLLATION. Psnrod
Contributed HE Remaining Nickel to
Q Picture ohsw.
relative was shown and. finally, the
drunkard's picturesque behavior at the
portals Of q madhouse.
80 fascinated was Penrod that he
postponed his departure until this aim
came round again, by which time he
had finished bis unnatural repast and
almost. but not quite. decided against
following the profession Of drunkard
when b. grew up.
Emerging, sauatsd. from the theater.
. public umspiecs before q jewelers.
shop confronted him with an unex-
pected dial and imminent perplexities.
How was he to explain at home these
hours Of dalliancef There was
steadfast rule that he return direct
from Sunday school. and Sunday rules
were important because on that day
there was his father, always at home
and at hand. perilously ready for &C.
ton. One Of the hardest conditions of
boyhood 70 the almost continuous strain
put upon the powers Of invention by
the constant and harassing necessity
for explanations Of every natural act
Proceeding homeward through the
deepening twilight as rapidly as posi-
BILE at gait half skip and half canter,
Penrod made up bis mind in what
manner he would account for his long
delay and ~ he drew nearer rehearsed
In words the opening passage Of his
defense.
"Now, - here" he determined to
begin II DO not wish to be blamed
for things couldn't help nor any 9th
sr boy. was going along the street
BY q cottage and 9. lady put her head
out Of the window and said her hus-
band was drunk and whipping her
and her little girl. and she asked me
wouldn't come In and help hold him.
30 went In and tried to get hold Of
this drunken lady's husband where he
was whipping their baby daughter. but
hs wouldn't pay any attention. and
told her ought to be getting home,
but she KEEP on askin' me to stay
At this point he reached the corner
Of his own yard. where a coincidence
not only checked the rehearsal of his
eloQuencs but happily obviated all &C.
casiOn for It. A cab from the station
drew up In front of the gate. and there
descended q troubled lady in black
and q fragile little girl about three.
Mrs. SchO6eid rushed from the house
Ind EMBODIED both In hospitable arms.
They were Penrod's Aunt Clara and
cousin. also Clara. from Dayton. ILL.,.
and in the furry Of their arrival every
body forgot to put Penrod to the ques-
Hon. It h doubtful. however. II he felt
any relief: there may have been even
slight. unconscious disappointment, not
altogether dissimilAr to that Of an
actor deprived Of a good part
In the course Of some really necessa-
y preparations for dinner he stepped
from the bathroom into the pink and
white bsdchamber Of his sister and ad
dressed her rather thickly through a
towel
"When'd mamma ind out Aunt Clara
and Cousin Clara were comingf'
''Not till she saw them from the win
dow. She just happened to look out
u they drove up. Aunt Clara tele-
raphed this morning. but It wasn't
delivered"
~How long they soin' to stayr
Il don't know"
Psnrod ceased to rub his shining
face and thouGhtfuily tossed the towel
through the bathroom door. Uncle
John won't try to make 'em come back
home. ! guess. will her (Uncle John
was Aunt Clsra's husband. q success
full manufacturer Of stoves. and his
lifelong regret was that he had not en-
tered the Baptist ministry He'll let
EN- stay here quietly. won't her
what are you talking ab0utr de-
nanded Margaret turning from her
mirror. "Uncle John sent them here.
Why shouldn't hs let them stayT
Penrod looked crestfailen. "Then he
hasn't taken to drinkY
Certainly mott" She emphasized the
Denial with . pretty peal Of soprano
laughter.
Then why" asked her brother
gloomily, why did Aunt Clara look SO
worried when she got here7'
Good gracious! Don't people Worry
about anything except somebody's
drinkingi Where did you get such an
dear
well" he persisted. you don't
know It amt that"
She laughed again. whole heartedly.
spoos Uncao JeAni He won't even al
In hfa