The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1915-07-29
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK }


Despairingly he doned his mantle and
looked down upon himself for a last
sickening assurance that the stockings
were as obviously and disgracefully
Margarets as they had seemed In the
mirror at home. For q moment he was
encouraged; perhaps he was no worse
than some Of the other boys. Then he
noticed that safety pin had opened;
one of those connecting the stocking
with his trunks. He sat down to fasten
1t. and his eye fell for the nrst time
with particular attention upon the
trunks. Until this instant he had been
preoccupied with the stockings.
Slowly recognition ia wned In his
eyes.
The Schofields' house stood on
corner at the Intersection Of two main
ira veled streets. the fence was low and
the publicity obtained by the washable
portion Of the family apparel on Mon
lays had often been painful to Penrod
for boys have a peculiar sensitiveness
In these matters. A plain. matter Of
fact washerwoman. employed by Mrs
Schofield. never left anything to the
lima gination Of the passerby. and Of all
her calm display the scarlet Haunting
" his fathers winter wear had most
abashed Penrod. One day Marjorie
Jones. all gold and starch. had passed
when the dreadful things were on the
line: Penrod had hidden himself. shud.
dering. The whole town. he was con.
WINGED. knew these garments intimate.
ly and derisively.
And now. as he sat IN the janitor's
chair. the horrible and paralyzing
recognition came. He had not an In
stant's doubt that every fellow actor
rs well as every soul In the audience.
would recognize what his mother and
sister had put upon him. For as the
awful truth became plain to himself
II seemed blazoned to the world. and
far. far louder than the stockings. the
trunks did fairly below the grisl,
secret: whose they we're and what
they were.
Most people have suffered in a dream
the experience OF finding themselves
very inadeQuately clad In the midst
IT a crowd Of well dressed people. and
such dreamers' sensations are compar-
able to PenrOd's. though family. be-
cause Penrod was awake and in much
too full possession Of the most active
capacities for anguish.
A human male whose dress has been
damaged, or reveals some vital lack.
suffers from a hideous and shameful
loneliness which makes every second
absolutely unbearable until he Is again
as others of his sex and species, and
there Is no act or sin whatever too
desperate for him In his struggle to at
tain that condition. Also. there Is alb
solutely no embarrassment possible to
woman which Is comparable to that
Of man under corresponding cir
cumstances, and in this a boy Is a
man. Gazing upon the CHASTITY trunks.
the stricken PenrOd felt that he was
degree worse than nude. and great
horror of himself filled his soul
"Penrod SchOfeld.
The door into the hallway opened,
and a voice demanded him. He could
not be seen IrOu Tue uduWoyp uoS euC
hue and cry was up, and he knew he
must be taken. 1t was only Ques-
ton Of seconds. He huddled in bis
chair.
! "Peprod Schofield!' cried Mrs. LOra
Rewbush angrily.
The distracted boy rose. and a. ne
did SO a long pin sank deep into his
back. He extracted 1t frensiediy.
which brought to hts ears q protracted
and sonorous ripping, too easily 10
Gated by Anal gesture Of horror.
"Penrod Scholeld" Mrs. Lora Rev.
bush had come out into the hallway.
And now In this extremity, when all
seemed lost indeed. particularly IN
Guiding honor, the dilating eye OF the
outlaw fell upon the blue overaiis
which the Janitor had left hanging
upon a peg.
Inspiration and action were alnest
simultaneous.