Connecticut western news., 1915-06-10

nothing could nave been more 1 impressive than that sinister mere emptiness. The accepted theory was that Penrod had been arrested. How breath taking then the sensa- tion when at the beginning of the second hour he strolled in with mimi table carelessness and, rubbing his eyes, somewhat noticeably in the man. her of one who has snatched an hour of much needed sleep, took his place as if nothing in particular had happened. This at first supposed to be a superhu- man exhibition of sheer audacity, be- came but the more dumfounding when Miss Spence, looking from her desk, greeted him with Q pleasant little nod. Even after school Penrod gave numer- ous maddened investigators no relief. All he would consent to say was:
 "Oh, I just talked to her." A mystification not entirely uncon- nected with the one thus produced was manifested at his own family dinner table the following evening. Aunt Clara had been out rather late and came to the table after the rest were seated. She wore a puzzled expres- sion.
 Do you ever see Mary Spence now adays?" she inquired, as she unfold ed her napkin, addressing Mrs. Scho- field. Penrod abruptly set down his soup spoon and gazed at his aunt with fattering attention.
 "Yes, sometimes" said Mrs. Scho- field. She's Penrod's teacher"
 "Is she?" said Mrs. Parry. "Do you"- She paused. Do people think her little-queer these days?'
 "Why, nov' returned her sister What makes you say that?''
 ''She has acquired a very odd man. her," said Mrs. Parry decidedly. At | least, she seemed odd to me- I met her at the corner just before I got to the house a few minutes ago, and aft CT we'd said howdy do to each other she kept hold of my hand and looked as though she was going to cry. She seemed to be trying to say something and choking"-
 But 1 don't think that's so very queer, Clara. She knew you in school. didn't she?"
 US. DuC
 And she hadn't seen you for so many years I think it's perfectly nat ural she'-
 Wait! She stood there squeezing my hand and struggling to get her voice, and I got really embarrassed, and then finally she said in a kind of fearful whisper: Be of good cheer. This trial will pass.'"
 "How queerv' exclaimed Margaret. Penrod sighed and returned some what absently to his soup.
 "Well, don't k-sow," said Mrs. Scho- field, thoughtfully. "Of course she's heard about the outbreak of measles in Dayton, since they had to close the schools, and she knows you live | there''-
 But doesn't it seem a very exag- gerated way" suggested Margaret, ito 1 talk about measles?"
 "Waitr' begged Aunt Clara. After she said that she said something even queerer and then put her handkerchief to her eyes and hurried away"
 Penrod laid down his spoon again and moved his chair slightly back from the table. A spirit of prophecy was upon him. He knew that some one was going to ask a question which he felt might better remain unspoken.
 What was the other thing she said?" MT. Schofeld inquired, thus i'm mediately fulfilling his sons premoni- tion.
 "She said," returned Mrs. Parry slow | ly, looking about the table; ''She said, I know that Penrod Is a great, great comfort to you.'"
 There was a general exclamation of surprise. It was a singular thing, and in no manner may it be considered complimentary to Penrod that this speech of Miss Spences should have immediately confirmed Mrs. Farry's doubts about her in the minds of all his family.
 MT. Schofield shook his head pity ingly.
 "I'm afraid she's a goner," he went so far as to say.
 Of all the weird ideasr' cried Mar garet
 q never heard anything like it in my life!' Mrs. Schofield exclaimed. "Was that all she said?"
 "Every wordr'
 Penrod again resumed attention to his soup. His mother looked at him curiously, and then, struck by a sud