Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-08-19

visual examination of PenrOd, faVOrlng
him with an estimating scrutiny which
lasted until he literally wiggled. Final
ly she spoke.
''Where do you buy your ties" she
asked
"What?'
where do you buy your neckties!
Papa gets his at Skoone's. You ought
to get yours there. I'm sure the one
you're wearing isn't from Skoone's."
"Skoone's Penrod repeated
"Skoone's?'
ION Fifth avenue" said Fanchon.
tits very smart shop, the men say"
"Men?" echoed Penrod in a hazy
whisper. Menu
where do your people go in sum-
mer?'' inquired the lady. 1--WE go to
Long Shore, but so many middle class
people have begun coming there NAM
ma thinks Of leaving. The middle
classes are simply awful, don't you
think?"
"What?'
They're so boorjaw. You speak
French, of course?"
"Me?
1--WE ran over to Paris last year. It's
lovely, don't you think? Don't you
love the Rue de la Paix?"
Penrod wandered in labyrinth.
This girl seemed to be talking, but her
words were dumfounding, and Of
course there was no way for him to
know that he was really listening to
her mother. 1t was his first meeting
with one of those grownup little girls,
wonderful product Of the winter apart
ment and summer hotel, and Fanchon,
an only child, was star Of the brand.
He began to feel resentful.
II suppose" she went on, "I'l find
everything here fearfully western.
Some nice people called yesterday,
though. Do you know the Magsworth
Bittses? Auntie says they're charm
ing. Will Roddy be at your party?'
81 guess he WILL" returned Penrod.
finding this Ineligible. 1.-THE mutt!'
"Reallyw Fanchon exclaimed airily.
aren't you great pals with him?'
whats 'pals'?'
Good heavens! Don't you know
what it means to say you're great
pals with any one? You are ar odd
child!'
It was too much.
ooh, bugsw said Penrod.
This bit of ruffianism had a curious
effect. Fanchon looked upon him with
sudden favor.
II like you, Penrod," she said in an
odd way, and whatever else there may
have been in her manner there certain
ly was no shyness.
ooh, bugs!' This repetition may
have lacked gallantry, but it was ut
tered in no very decided tone. Penrod
was shaken
Eyes, | dor She stepped closer to
him, smiling. your hair is ever so
pretty"
Sailors parrots swear like mariners.
they say, and gay mothers ought to re-
alize that all children are initiative, for
as the precocious Fanchon leaned to-
ward Penrod the manner in which she
looked into his eyes might have made
a thoughtful observer wonder where
she had learned her pretty ways.
PenrOd was even more confused
than he had been by her previous mys-
teries, but his confusion was of a dis
tinctly pleasant and alluring nature.
He wanted more of it. Looking inten
tionally into another persons eyes is
an act unknown to childhood, and Pen
rods discovery that it could be done
was sensational. He had never
thought of looking into the eyes of
Marjorie Jones.
Despite all anguish, contumely, tar
and Maurice Levy, he still secretly
thought of Marjorie, with pathetic
constancy, as his beau" though that
is not how he would have spelled it.
Marjorie was beautiful; her curls were
long and the color of amber; her nose
was straight. and her freckles were
honest; she was much prettier than
this accomplished visitor. But beauty
is not ALL
81 dor breathed Fanchon softly.
She seemed to him a fairy creature
from some roster world than this. So
humble is the human heart it glori-
fies and makes glamorous almost any
poor thing that says to it, II like
your
Penrod was enslaved. He swallow
ed, coughed. scratched the back OF his
neck and said disjointedly:
"Well-I don't care-if you want to.
l just as soon."
"We'll dance together" said Fan
chon, "at your party"
II guess so. just as soon."
Don't you want to. Penrod"
"Well, I'm willing to-
mo. Say you want tor
"Well"-
He used his toe as a gimlet, boring
into the ground, his wide open eyes
staring with intense vacancy at but.
ton on his sleeve. His mother appear
ed upon the porch in departure, call
ing farewells over her shoulder to Mrs.
Gelbraith, who stood in the doorway.