Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-10-27
PROF. WENNEL'S GHOST.
BY ESTHER SERLE KENNETH.

The pink chamber was the pretticst room
in Crag Cottage. Mr.. Wcstgatc, the gentle
manly owner of Crag Cottage, had expressed
a mild approval of it when Gertrude, his
bright, brunette daughter called him into see
it as the furnishing was completed; but Ber-
trude, flushed with success, was hardly sat
isfed
why, papa, it's perfectly exquisite like
the inside of a sea-shell See the rosy tinges
reflected on the white window shades by the
pink damask draping. See the light fall in
q glow on the little Xantho yonder Oh, how
pretty. Don't you think it beautiful, papa y
"Yes; my dear l hope Prof Wennel
will like it,
Prof. Wenncl." screamed Gertrude, you
don't intend to put him here
why not? it's the prettiest room in the
house."
but he's a man"
"What of that?'
''1his is lady's room. Indeed it is, papa:
| it isn't fit for gentleman There are too
many toilette arrangements, and no accom-
modations at all for cigars"
prof. Wennel doesn't smoke, ard he's a
guest to whom | wish to do all possible hon.
or. wish him to be accommodated by til. best
the house affords in every way"
Mr.. Westgate was mild but firm. Ber-
trudc pouted in vain:
"A horrible great man in that little ttest p
said she to her sister Lou ",Just think Of
it! He'll tear everything all to peices, l
know he WILL
Nonsense, Bert / should think Mr..
Wennel was a wild cat"
Lou, don't all men wear muddy boots,
dash the water about in bathing, scatter CT
gar ashes, and put their feet in the chairs p
mo, my dear; rafHs doesn't"
''Papa's an exception to- all men in every
way"
You'd better wait and see if Prof. Wen
mel isn't, before you get in such passion
about him."
''Fm not in passion. l wish before he
comes here to spoil that beautiful room, that
he'd blow himself up in some of his chemical
expcriments-bu I'm not in passion l
know l shall hate him, thought want the
room for Nellie"
"Papa's favoritc guest before yours, my
dear"
"Of course; papa ssou1dn't care if Nellie
SLEPT ii, The attic
Now, Bcrtude:"
Gertrude, rather ashamed of her last re-
mark, was silent: and sat tying knots in her
wrapper cord, and jerking them out again.
Just then there was a ring of the door-bell,
the sound of voices in greeting, and Lou. OBJ
served quickly:
sProf. Wennel has come, Bert
Gertrude sat still until she heard her father
show the professor INFO tlie pink chamber,
then she threw herself tpor the lounge and
cried tears of ,exatioh.
Neither of the sisters had seen Prof. Wen
nell He had been at college WITH Afr: West
gate, and they concluded, OF course, that he
was equally elderly and studious. TREY
were not aware that he was barely forty, be-
ING eight years younger than Mr.. Westgate,
and though interested i'll literature and science
hardly considered bore in the best society
in Europe, which he had frcquented for the
last FIVE years.
Pretty Nellie Dashton arrived that even
ing. There was no pink chamber for her
use. She found no fault with the pretty
whitc-drapcd bedroom with dressing room
attached which was assigned her, but Ber-
trude expressed her Indignation.
All the girls were little surprised when
they met Prof N'ennel at the tea-table He
was fine looking and agreeable. Nellie said
50 when they had flown back to their retreat
the baywindow in the upper hall, where
Lou. always sewcd.