Connecticut western news., 1915-06-03

thinking"
 Thinking what?" she asked sharply.
 ''I don't know."
 That won't dol"
 He took his left ankle in his right hand and regarded it help!essly.
 That won't do. Penrod Schofeld." she repeated severely. If that is all the excuse you have to offer I shall re port your case this instant"
 And she rose with fatal intent.
 But pcnrod was one of those whom the prccipice inspires. Well, have got an excuse
 ~Wen"-she paused impatiently- what is it?"
 He had not an idea, but he felt one coming and replied automatically in q | plaintfve tone:
 'T guess anybody that had been ] through what I had to 70 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."
 ''Wcll, I guess you'd sec" he re- turned, emphasizing the plaintive note. If you knew what I know"
 NOW. Penrod.' she said. in q kinder voice. T have q high regard for your mother and father, and it would hurt l ne to distress them, but you must ei- tler tell me what was the matter with you or I'll have to take you to Mrs. Houston"
 Well, ain't I going to?' he cried, spurred by the dread name. Its be cause I 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 ill that even you were kept up all night, how does it happen they let you come to school this morning."
 Tt wasn't illness." he returned, shaking his head mournfully. ''it was lots wOrsc'n anybody's being sick. It was-it was-welL it was jest awful"
 What wGs?" He marked with anxi ety the incrcdulity in her tone.
 Tt was about Aunt Clara" he said
 +Your Aunt Clarar' she repeated. Do you mean your mothers sister, who married MT. Parry of Dayton, In.?"
 "Yes-Uncle John,'' returned Penrod sOrrowfully. "The trouble was about him.
 Miss Spence drowned frown which he rightly interpreted as one of contin- ued suspicion. "She aud l were in school together" she said. "I used to know her very well, and I've always 1 heard her married life was entirely happy. I don't
 Yes, it was" he 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 tray cling men would coax him into q sa- loon on his way from work, and they got him to drinking beer and then alcs. | wines, liquors, and cigars"-
 "Penrodr'
 "Ma'amT'
 I'm not inquiring into your Aunt Claras private affairs. I'm asking you ! if you have anything to say which would paliiate"-
 That's what I'm tryin' to tell you about, Miss SpeHce," he pleaded, If you'd jest only let me. When Aunt Clara and her little baby daughter got to our house last night
 You say Mrs. Parry is visiting your mother?'
 "Yes'm-nOt just visiting-you see, she had to come. Well, of course. lit i 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 thatr' exclaimed Miss Spence, suddenly disarmed by this l scandal.
 "Yesm. And mamma and Margaret had to sit up all night nursin little Clara And Aunt Clara was in such q state somebody had to keep talkin' to her. and there wasn't anybody but me 1 to do it. So r. put NneIe NdS AOuI Ldlhel sht l cried.
 | "Ma'am?"
 Where was your father while"-
 Oh. papH?" Penrod paused, reflect ed. then frightened. "Why, he was down at the train waitin' to see if Uncle John would try to follow 'om and make 'em come home SOS he could 1 pcTsecute 'om some more. I wanted TO do that. but they said if he did l conc I mightn't be strong enough to 1 hold him. and''- The brave lad paus- | rd aGI;n nOdestly. Miss Spence's eX- pression 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. And so." he continued, "I had to sit up with Aunt Clara. She had some 1 ,,paf+r- I,fcr I,y,rfSnr n,,I bod +n'