Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-29

on at History In the Making SUI
preme act is recognizable at sight: il
bears the birthmark of Immortality.
But Penrod. that marvellous boy. had
begun to declaim, even with the ges-
ture of flnging Of his mantle for the
accolade:
Il first. the Child Sir Ianceiot du lake
VIII volunteer TO knighthooi take,
And kneelinc here before your throne
l to"
He finished his speech unheard Tho
audience had recovered breath. but had
lost self-control. and there ensued
something later described by a particle
pant as sort Of cultured riot
The actors in the pageant were not SO
dumfounded by Penrod's costume az
might have been expected They made
a brief. manful effort. But the ire
prcssible outbursts from the audience
confused them; every time Sir Lancelot
d. Lake the Child opened his mouth.
the great, shadowy house fell into an
uproar and the children into confusion.
Strong women and brave girls in the
audience went out into the lobby,
shrieking and clinging to one another.
Others remained. rocking In their seats.
helpless and spent The neighborhood
of Mrs. Schofield and Margaret became,
tactfully, desert Friends of the
author went behind the scenes and en-
countered hitherto unknown phase OF
Mrs. Lora Rewbush: they said. after
ward, that she hardly seemed to know
what she was doing She begged to be
left alone somewhere with Penrod
Schofeld for just a little while; but
they led her away.
The sun was setting behind the back
fence Though at a considerable dis
tance) as Penrod Schofield approached
that fence, and looked thoughtfully up
at ha fas. ftf 1.r hatr
in mind to climb up and sit there. De-
batting this. he passed his fingers gently
up and down the backs of his legs: and
then something seemed to decide him
not to sit anywhere. He leaned against
the fence, sighed profoundly and gazed
at Duke. his wistful dog.
The sigh was reminiscent; episodes
Of simple pathos were passing before
his inward eye. About the most pain
full was the vision of lovely Marjorie
Jones, weeping with rage as the Child
Sir Lancelot was dragged. insatiate.
from the postrate and bowling Child
Sir Galahad. after an onslaught deliv-
cred the precise instant the curtain be-
gan to fall upon the demoralixed
pageant. And then-oh, pangsi oh.
woman!-she slapped at the ruffian's
cheek, as he was led past her by a
resentful janitor; and. turning. hung
her arms round the Child Sir Galahad's
neck. Matrices little white boots and
gold taSSelS had done their work.
At home the late Child Sir Lancelot
was consigned to locked clothes
closet pending the arrival of his father.
Mr.. Schofield came and. shortly after.
there was put into practice an old pa
triarcha1 custom. 1t is custom of in
conceivable antiquity: probably primor-
dial. certainly prehistoric. but still in
vogue in some remaining citadels OF
the ancient simplicities of the republic.
And now. therefore, in the dusk, PEN
rod leaned against the fence and
sighed.
1t appears that he had at least some
shadowy perception of a recent full
ness of life, for, as he leaned against
the fence, gazing upon his wistful
Duke, he sighed again and murmurod
aloud:
Well, hasn't this been day"
But in a little while star came out,
freshly lighted, from the highest part
of the sky. and Penrod, looking UP,
noticed il casually and a little drowsily.
He yawned. Then he sighed once more.
but not reminiscently; evening had
come: the day was over.
1t was a sigh Of pure ennui.
Copyright 1914-by the Wheeler Syndicate. Inc. D.
This is the first Of series Of "Pen-
rod" stories by Booth Harrington to
appear in The Sunday Star. and each
reveals Mr.. Harrington mt his best.