The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-11-04
The Soul of a
Butterfly
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BY MARTHA M. WILLIAMS

/ nAllSCl17IQA0 SAC SCI - tAAC %eAA
Of a young princess in masquerade
running wild here in the streets Of the
| tiny dead-aIive village? Tallish, slight
yet softly rounded, 1.-the as a willow
wand, she was wholly unbelievable,
notwithstanding he knew her name.
pedigree, and estate in life, rather bet
ter than he did his own. she was
| Cousin James daughter-poo simple
Cousin Jane who had married, almost
with force and the strong hand, hus-
band so good at a great many things,
he was no sort Of good at making a
living. A master fiddler. magic dancer,
prince Of campyhunters. also of camp
cooks, fun of life, and laughter, and
stories that no one else could tell, he
had accepted graciously the post of
life's playmate, leaving it TO his wife
to make the family living. Celesta,
their one child, adored him-yet had
something over to spare for the ugly.
patient mother
She stood midway the muddy, ,un-
paved street, smiling impishly, yet
wistfully, at Penfeld and saying ::
'.This way, cousin. You're lookin' for
Castle CRANKY? This way-round the
corner"
"Sure I'm your cousin? How dye
know it," Penfield asked.
"Why-it's as plain as-the nose
on your face. The Penfield nose can't
be counterfeited-it's distinguished,
know, but thank the Lord haven't
got. it. Now I'm not asking what
brings you here. can see your fliv-
yer for myself--but want to know
what made you let it bring your"
won't tell you not till you tell me
something" Penfeld said soberly.
"D'ye know, Cousin Jane, your moth
er is in a pretty bad way? In fact
she's got to go away for while. The
family'll see to that keeping her COM
Portable, and letting her have rest"
"Deary me When were the family.
made our guardians?' Celesta flung at
him.
Penfield gave her stern look, say
ing: "The day Providence permitted
us all to be born of the same blood.
We're going to save her-she must go
somewhere maybe to Arizona, before
this thing gets too bad"
"What-what is, it?" Celesta whis-
pered, her face suddenly gray.
Tuberculosis r Penfield said brutal
ly. "Plus overwork and the dregs of
flu. Lucky l CAME on just now going
back West in ten days. Cousin Jane
is going with NEIL see that she is
well cared for. But if she worries
there's not much hope of her getting
weIl--so it's got to be settled right
now, what you can do-and where
you'd rather do it,"
mo need to ask that! If nanny
goes-I so. If she needs nursin-I'm
the nurse can do most for her." Ce-
lesta began steadily, but tears were
gathering on the heavy lashes over
her violet eyes.
Penfeld stared at her Reckon
you don't know the risk" he said.
''Chances are that, slim as you are
a good wind could blow you clean
away-you'd die-even before Cousin
Jane"
"I-I-hope so 7" Celesta cried with
big bursting sobs choking utterance.
When they checked little she whim-
pered: Does my nanny known"
mot yet-and she mustn't-not till
she's lot better" Penfield tried hard
to put comfort in his tone.
"She won't go without mel" Celesta
breathed rather than said.
"She'll have to-it's life or death"
"But you shan't go West! Under
stand-you shan't," cried Penfield.
She went, she stayed, faithful, fear
less even when the thread of hope
wore through. Patient, tireless, ten
der, she stood or sat or lay beside her
mother, day after day, night on night.
Nursing wore on her terribly. PEN
field watched her with steadily grow
ing wonder He had heard of her
unpleasant things-that she was self
ish, liar, reckless coquette. Even
darker things had been hinted-but
never since seeing her had he let him
self remember them. He wanted only
brave to recklessness, thus returning
many fold the love lavished on her
from her cradle. Her beauty had
faded-it might never come back. In
deed often looking at the wrath of
her early SELF his heart misgave him
she might sacrifice her life in this
gallant, hopeless fight. He besought
her to have help nurses day and
night, or hospital care-never mind
the cost. She withstood him stolidly.
saying in a toneless voice: we
we're costing you too much already
l know-I'm keeping books-for her.
And I've promised If live longest
to see that you--that the family is
| paid In full. We may be thriftless--
we Granbys-but we are not sponges
nor beggars. She couldn't rest, even
in her grave, unless she thought I'd
clear the debt"
You you have more than cleared
- =. r. :