Evening star., 1917-05-06

SchoieldaPenrod abruptly set down his
soup-spoon and gazed at his aunt with
dattering attention.
yes: sometimes" said Mrs. schoneld.
.She's Penrod's teacher"
Els she7'' said Mrs. Fairy. do
you" She paused: DO people think
why no." returned her sister. What
makes you say thatT'
''she has acquired a very odd man
ner." said Mrs. Fairy decidedly. AT
at the corner Just before ] got to the
house. a few minutes ago. and after
we'd said howdy-do to each other, she
kept hold of my hand and looked as
ed to be trying to say something. and
"But don't think that's SO very
queer. Clara She knew you in school.
didn't sheT
And she hadn't seen you for so many
wears. I think it's perfectly natural
''waitl She stood there squeezing my
hand. and struggling to get Der voice
and got really embarrassedA-and then
finally she said, in q kind Of fearful
whisper. BE of good cheer-this trial
will pass""
How Queer-' exclaimed Margaret.
Penrod sighed. and returned some-
what absently to his soup.
We'll. I don't know" 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
But doesn't It seem a very exagger-
s,sd ssaut way: ~. . suggested Margaret. "'o talk
''Waitw begged Aunt Clara. After
she said that she said something even
queerer. and then put her handkerchief
to her eyes and hurried away"
III = - n =
moved his chair slightly back from the
table. A spirit of prophecy was upon
him: he knew that some one was going
to ask him question which he felt
might better remain unsaid.
What was the other thing she said?'
inquired Mr.. Schofeld.
She said." returned Mrs. FAIRY slow
1y, looking about the table. 'she said
I know that Penrod is great. great
comfort to you""
There was a general exclamation OF
surprise. Mr.. Schofield shook his head
pityingly.
Pm afraid she's goner." he went SO
far as to say.
"of all the weird ideasw cried Mar
garet.
'I never heard anything like it In my
1ife" exclaimed Mrs. Schofield. WAS
that all she said?"
Every word"
Penrod again resumed attention to his
soup. His mother looked at him curl
ously. and then struck by a sudden
thought. gathered the glances of the
adults of the table by a significant
movement of the head. and, by another.
conveyed an admonotion to drop the
subject until later. Miss Spence was
Penrod's teacher. 1t was better, for
many reasons. not to discuss the sub
ject of her queerness before him. This
was Mrs. Schofield's thought at the
time. Later she had another, and it
kept her awake.
The next afternoon, Mr.. Schofield. re-
turning at o'clock from the cares of
the day, found the house deserted. and
sat down to read his evening paper in
what appeared to be an uninhabited
apartment known to it's own world as
the drawing room.' A sneeze, unex-
pected both to him and the owner. in
formed him of the presence Of another
person.
Where are you. Penrod?" asked the
parent, looking about.
Here" said Penrod, meekly.
STOPPING. Mr.. Schof1eld discovered his
son squatting under the piano, near an
open window-his scraggy, wistful lit
tie dog, Duke. lying beside him.
What are you doing there?"
WELL" returned the boy, with grave
sweetness. II was just kind of sittin'
here-thinking
"All right" Mr.. Schof1eld, rather