News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-06-23

for explanations Of every natural act
Proceeding homeward through the
deepening twilight as rapidly as posi-.
BILE at a gait half skip and half canter
Penrod made up his mind in what
manner he would account for his long
delay and as he drew nearer rehearsed
in words the opening passage Of his
defense.
"Now, see here" he determined to
begin. ~ do not wish to be blamed
for things I couldn't help nor any 9th
er boy. was going along the street
by cottage and 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 l come in and help hold him.
So l went in and tried to get hold of
this drunken lady's husband where he
was whipping their baby daughter, but
he wouldn't pay any attention, and /
told her I 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
llOG ODly CIlcCheu tllc VI LIS
eloquence but happily obviated all oc-
casion for it. A cab from the station
drew up in front Of the gate, and there
descended troubled lady In black
and fragile little girl about three.
Mrs. Schofeld rushed from the house
and EMBODIED both in hospitable arms.
They were Periods 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-
ton. 1t is doubtful, however, If he felt
any relief; there may have been even a
slight unconscious disappointment not
altogether dissimilar to that Of an
actor deprived of a good part.
In the course of some really necessa-
~ preparations for dinner he stepped
from the bathroom into the pink and
white bedchamber of his sister and adj
stressed her rather thickly through a
towel.
"When'd mamma find out Aunt Clara
and Cousin Clara were eoming?"
"Not till she saw them from the win
dow. She just happened to look out
as they drove up. Aunt Clara tele-
graphed this morning, but it wasn't
delivered"
How long they goin' to stay?"
81 don't know"
Penrod ceased to rub his shining
face and thoughtfully tossed the towel
through the bathroom door. "Uncle
John won't try to make 'em come back |
home, l guess, will he?" Uncle John
was Aunt Clara's husband, success
full manufacturer of stoves, and his
lifelong regret was that he had not en-
tered the Baptist ministry Hell let
'em stay here quietly, won't he?"
what are you talking about" de-
manded Margaret, turning from her
mirror. "Uncle John sent them here.
Why shouldn't he let them stay?"
Penrod looked crestfallen. "Then he
hasn't taken to drink?"
Certainly not!' She emphasized the
denial with a pretty peal of soprano
laughter.
"Then why" asked her brother
"why did Aunt Clara look so
worried when she got here?'
"Good gracious! Don't people worry
about anything except somebody's
Where did you get such an
idea?"
"Well," he persisted, you don't
know it amt that"
She laughed again, whole heartedly.
'Poor Uncle John! He won't even al
low grape juice or ginger ale in his
house. They came because they were
afraid little Clara might catch the
She's very delicate, and
heres such an epidemic Of measles
among the children over in Dayton the
schools had to be closed. Uncle John
got so worried that last night he
dreamed about it, and this morning he
couldn't stand it any longer and pack
ed them off over here, though he
kinks it's wicked to travel on Sunday. !
And Aunt Clara was worried when
he got here because they'd forgotten
o check her trunk, and it will have
o be sent by express. Now, what in
he name of common sense put it
nto your head that Uncle John had
aiken to-
"Oh, nothingw He turned lifelessly
way and went downstairs, a newborn
lope dying in his bosom. Life seems
o needlessly dull sometimes.