The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1915-08-12

oluer boys ceased 10 De uedru-dnu
there was silence. Penrod. still affect
ing to be occupied with Lowell. was
conscious that Miss Spence looked at
him intently.
"Penrod." she said gravely. what
excuse have you to offer before re-
port your case to the principal?"
The word 'principal" struck him to
the vitals. Grand inquisitor. grand
khan, sultan, emperor, car, Caesar
Augustus-these are comparable. He
stopped sQuirming instantly and sat
rigid.
Il want an answer. Why did you
shout those words at met"
WELL" he murmured, II was just
thinking"
Thinking what?" she asked sharply.
II don't know"
THAT won't dol"
He took his left ankle In his right
hand and regarded it helplessly.
THAT won't do, Penrod Schofield,"
she repeated severely. "If that Is all
the excuse you have to offer shall re-
put YOUR vase ILLS ilotdAt.
And she rose with fatal intent.
But Penrod was one Of those whom
the precipice inspires. well. have
got an excuse"
"Well"-she paused impatiently-
what Is it?"
He had not an idea, but he felt one
coming and replied automatically in
plaintive tone:
II 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. I guess you'd see," he re-
turned, emphasizing the plaintive note.
'if you knew what know"
"Now. Penrod," she said, In kinder
voice, Il have a high regard for your
mother and father, and 1t would hurt
me to distress them, but you must ei-
Their tell me what was the matter with
you or I'll have to take you to Mrs.
Houston"
well, amt l going tor" he cried,
spurred by the dread name. Its be-
cause didn't sleep last night"
"Were you illT The question was
put with some dryness.
He felt the dryness. "No'm;
wasn't"
Then If some one In your family
was so LII that even you were kept
up all night, how does it happen they
let you come to school this morningf"
1T wasn't Illness" he returned,
shaking his head mournfully. ut was
lots worsen anybody's being sick. 1t
vast was-well, 1t was Jest awful"
"What WASP" He marked with anxi-
ETY. the inc"edulity In her tone.
TT was about Aunt Clara" he said.
"Your Aunt Clara" she repeated.
do you mean your mothers sister,
who married Mr.. Fairy Of Dayton,
HIP
"Yes-Uncle John" returned Penrod
sorrowfully. 1.-THE trouble was about
him."
Miss Spence frowned a frown which
he rightly interpreted as one Of contin-
ued suspicion. "She and were in
school together" she said. Il used to
know her very well, and I've always
heard her married life was entirely
happy. l DON'T
Yes, 1t was" be interrupted, until
last year when Uncle John took to
running with travelling mem
"What?"
"Yes'm." He nodded solemnly. "That
was what started It At first he was
a good, kind husband. but these trav-
cling men would coax him into sa-
loon on his way from work, and they
got him to drinking beer and then ales,
wines, liquors, and cigars
"Penrodr'
"Ma'am?"
I'm not inquiring into your Aunt
Clara's private affairs. I'm asking you
II you have anything to say which
would palliate"-
That's what I'm tryin' to tell you
about. Miss Spence" he pleaded, III
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
motherT
"Yes'm-not just visiting-you see,
she had to come. Well, Of course, Mt
tie baby Clara, she was 80 bruised up
and mauled, where he'd been hittin'
her with his cane
"You mean that your uncle had done
such thing as thaty' 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' %
her, and there wasn't anybody but me
to do 1t. So u
But where was your fatherT she
cried.
"Ma'am7"
Where was your father while
"Oh, papaf" Penrod paused, reflect
ed, then frightened why, he was
down at the train waitin' to see II
Uncle John would try to follow 'em
and make 'em come home SOS he could
prosecute 'em some more. wanted
to do that. but they said If he did
come l 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 astonishment and
there may have been in them also the
mingled beginnings Of admiration and
self reproach. Penrod, warming to his
work, felt safer every moment
fT. ho Continued Mott WoakN