Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-07-06


begin. II do not wish to be blamed
for things couldn't help nor any 9th.
or boy. / was going along the street
by a 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 1 come in and help hold him.
So went in and tried to get hold OF
this drunken lady's husband where ne
was whipping their baby daughter, but
he wouldn't pay any attention, and l
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
not only checked the rehearsal Of his
eloquence but happily obviated all oc-
casion for 1t. A cab from the station
drew up in front Of the gate, and there
descended a troubled lady in black
and a fragile little girl about three.
Mrs. Schofeld rushed from the house
and enfolded both in hospltable arms.
They were Penrod's 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-
don. It is doubtful, however, II 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 ad-
dressed her rather thickly through a
towel.
"When'd mamma find out Aunt Clara
and Cousin Clara were comingf"
mot 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 1t wasn't
delivered"
"How long they goin' to stayT
II 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, I guess, will he?' Uncle John
was Aunt Clara's husband, a success
full manufacturer Of stoves. and his
lifelong regret was that he had not en-
tered the Baptist ministry Hell lei
'em stay here quietly, won't hep
what are you talking about?' de
manded Margaret, turning from hel
mirror. Uncle John sent them here
Why shouldn't he let them stay?
Penrod looked crestfallen. "Then ht
hasn't taken to drink?"
Certainly notw She emphasized thu
denial with a pretty peal Of soprano
laughter.
"Then why" asked her brother
gloomily, "why did Aunt Clara look Sc
worried when she got here?
Good gracious! Don't people worry
about anything except somebody's
drinking? Where did you get such ar
ideaT
"Well," he persisted, "you dom
know 1t amt that"
She laughed again, whole heartedly
"Poor Uncle John! He won't even al
low grape juice or ginger ale in hi
house. They came because they were
afraid little Clara might catch thu
measles. She's very delicate, anG
there's such an epidemic Of measles
among the children over in Dayton the
schools had to be closed. Uncle Johr
got so worried that last night he
dreamed about 1t, and this morning ht
couldn't stand it any longer and pack
ed them of over here, though he
thinks it's wicked to travel on Sunday
And Aunt Clara was worried wher
she got here because they'd forgotten
to check her trunk, and 1t will have
to be sent by express. Now, what II
the name Of common sense put II
into your head that Uncle John had
taken to-
"Oh, nothingw He turned lifelesslJ
away and went downstairs, newborn
hope dying in his bosom. Life seems
80 needlessly dull sometimes.