The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1915-09-17
PENELOPE
BY IA. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..


and, withal, so lithely graceful. The
pity of it. they did not tell her There
fore she drew her fine hair away from
her classic brow, and made herself
as nearly fright SIS healthy com
plexion and very good eyes permitted
| The joy of life for her centered in
the theater. Each week she bought
next weeks ticket-this to make sure
of an end seat. Judge, then, her
mental state when, all intent upon
seeing the star play If the winter.
she found her chosen and paid-for
seat occupied by an elderly man and
the row filed with what was evidently
family party-a sweetfaced, white
haired woman, two pretty girls,
young matron, vivacious and no-end
stylish, and very good looking young
man, evidently her husband Those
two were Enthusiastically urban, Pene-
lope instantly decided; the others had
provincial written all over them She
waited with a sort of grim satisfac-
ton the ousting Of the intruder.
The usher poke sharply to the old
man. Instantly the younger one
leaned across, showing a handful OF
checks. The usher studied them In
tently. The young man rose, stepped
out in front of her, looked at the check
the usher held, then said politely:
There's evidently mix-up. viii you
please take my seat?"
You live out of town. Penelope
asked
"A thousand miles," he laughed.
"So-of COURSE want to see all the
wonders"
You shall see this-at your ease
Penelope assured him smilingly. II
can come to see it any afternoon
And this Is his only chance, the
young man interrupted gratefully.
My people are leaving town tonight
else we should have waited for the
evening performance Still don't
like taking your seat Come with me
to the box office. please. 1t needs-a
good talking to-
Which | am quite equal to under
take by myself Sit down and see the
play" Penelope decided amazed at
her own self-possession She was
even more astonished when, in the.
lobby-to which he had followed her
ing deferentially: You must let me
have your name-here is my card. 1
simply cant thank you enough-dad's
heart was so set on this"
Penelope took the card without
loking at it, handing over her own,
face down, in return. Then, with a
quick Go right back to dad" she
darted outside, resolved to have it
out with the box office at a more
convenient season. She had had ex-
cftement enough for one day
Next afternoon she had surprise
the maid brought in cards for her
Mr.. and Mrs. Adriance had called to
see her Perhaps fate and provisions
something had inspired Pen
to curl her hair and get into a pale
violet afternoon frock that became
her wonderfully well. Thus it hap
pened she was all unlike the forbid
ding tailor-made self the visitors ex-
pected to find
The change put them all at their
ease. The Advances, 1t turned out.
had several friends who we're we'll
known to the Chesters. That had
them to come over and
ask Pen to make one of theater
party the following week, with lit.
tls supper afterward
This was but the first OF series or
happy outings-to dinners. to theaters,
TO concerts and many delightful en-
Iertainmeats. After six weeks of it
Pen took herself sternly to task-she
was growing too fond OF all this. She
lid not admit 1t even to herself. but
she knew sh. was growing fond Of
Frank Adrianco. He was not mar
led, 1t turned out-the gay young
natron who sat by his side at the
heater was his sister-in-law Her hus-
band was abroad on business and
hey were living at hotel for the
winter.
One day when she was at her worst
.sallow and hollow-eyed from her
mort to crush her growing fondness
or Frank-the affair came to a crisis.
10 ~ AoPPCACN, Su0 EdG dressed 0eT-
elf in a forbidding. slouchy green
at which even economy in
he person Of Grandma Hetton had
rfed out aghast. Yet when Frank
Adriance, unannounce1. came upon
er in the library. on her knees, sort
ng old prints and papers. he did
ot pause to see what fright she
ad made of herself He lifted her
D her feet. looking earnestly in her
ace, ana began, with husky tremor,
Pen-darling-I can't live without
came at this unearthly
cur to tell you"
'Me?' Pen cried incredulously.
Raging him toward big bookcase,
he doors of which furnished a dis
1rted mirrcr. ''Look. Such fright!
ou-you must be making sport of
lei"
"A fright! You're a goddess-just
ow, l admit. slightly .disguised,''
driance returned, fiizging his arms
bout her: Say yes. dearest,
lnt l.