Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-07-11


longing for some rides through the autumna
beauties Of the wooded hills and countr,
places about Florence but for lack of al
enterprising escort, she had been restricted
to an occasional amble with Sir Andrew il
the fashionable promenade. Who now
therefore, SO useful and agreeable as George
The very morning after his arrival, Lady
Goodwin had the satisfaction of seeing then
ride out In company, and the still highe
satisfaction Of seeing them return in excellen
humor with their excursion and each other
Till then she had kept her scheme locked IL
the secret Of her own bosom, but she now
resolved that she ought to confide 1t to Sll
Andrew.
At the first blush of his wifes proposal
Sir Andrew was strongly inclined to con.
found the meddlesomeness of women, bu,
his second thoughts sent him off in long,
low fit Of merriment. "My dear soul, they
would he worlds laughing stock, said he,
as soon as he could speak. "George is six
foot five-Pennie is about four foot, is she
not 2"
"Four foot, Andrew, nonsense She is
over five--five foot three. at least; quite tall
enough for anything, in my opinion" Again
Sir Andrew launched into his provoking
chuckle. Lady Goodwin begged he would
look at the case reasonably, and not turn il
into fun. "George has position and little
money 80 Pennie has money and little posi-
tion," urged she. "Neither can afford to
reproach the other with the absence of beau
ty; they are both young, both well disposed
and well brought up. And what is more
than all I believe George is sniitten."
This grave assurance only served to in
crease Sir Andrews inopportune mirth.
Lady Goodwin slept to and fro the room,
as Lady Goodwin slept in her rare moods
Of conjugal irritation. She said nothing, but
she looked the more. Sir Andrew, as it be-
hoved wise man to do under the circum-
stances, grew suddenly serious, and replied
to her last remark "George's normal con-
dition is to be smitten, to have smart at
tack of fever, and rapid recovery. Let
the lad alone. He ought not to marry for a
dozen years, and while Pennie is under our
care, it would not be the right thing to
throw'her in the way of a brother of my
own, who is without adequate fortune"
Lady Goodwin held her peace, but she
was not convinced. Ifshe might not help,
she was determined not to hinder the two
young people of their amusement, whatever
the result. She saw Pennie free as air with
George, teasing, patronizing, and dictatorial
by turns and she thought 1t most promi-
sing beginning. George, with leisure and a
heart on his hand to let, was in some posi-
tive danger, but Pennie was as far from
thinking sentiment Of him as woman
rould be. George placed himself at her
service, and was SO anxious to serve her
that she made as much use of him, and the
same use, as she would have made of Fran
els Wynyard, had he been there. That was
the mischief Pennie being safe, and feel
ing safe, allowed herself little liberty !;
and George, not being very wise, took it for
encouragement. Lady Goodwin strength
ened him in his Misrepresentation when he
revealed to her his nascent passion. He was
not of the reserved nature that loves to
treasure such secrets in silonoo. Eo atayed
on at Florence in the same hotel as his bro
ther, and his meetings with Pennie were
daily, and more than daily. They almost
lived together, in fact, and this was the posi-
tion in which Pennie showed to best advan-
tage. She was such cheerful little soul,
morning, noon, and night so free from
captious caprices, tempers, and discontents,
that people were never unsure Of her. One
day George was caught in the act of pur-
loining her photograph, done at Allan Bridge,
from Lady Goodwin's gallery of her friends.
Pennie good-humoredly said, "Don't take
that, 1t is so very bad"
"Will you give me better, then ?" asked
George
"Yes; will be taken here In my riding
habit, and you must give me one Of yours in
exchange-one in uniform. like varieties
of costume in my book; the figures will
look all so queer as fashions change"
A few days after this bargain had been
concluded Sir Andrew gave notice that if
they meant to go to Rome, they must go at
once. Parliament was to meet earlier than
usual, on account of the increasing difficulty
of foreign affairs, and they might be obliged
to return to England month sooner than
they had planned. Lady Goodwin and Pen
ME were equally reluctant to lose their prom
ised visit to Rome and George, though he
was even then living in anticipation of a
sudden recall and curtailing of his leave, pre-
pared to follow them. When he apprised
his travelling friend, Captain Bangham, of
his intention, he was obliged to let in little
light on his motive.
"What, again, George2 In love with
Mr.. Vineyards ward2 Why, that is beyond
joke, man" cried his auditor, with a jolly
laugh. "She has great pot of money
half-a-million, I've been told. And is it quite
fair to interfere with poor Tindal's game ?
Have you never heard the story?" And
then he told George all that was common re-
port in Eskdale.
lyon don't mean to say she is fond of
hims" gasped the young grenadier "Itell
you what, Bangham, i never was SO hard
bit before" He looked so comically discon-
solate that Bangham roared again.
You will get over it; 1 think l have
seen you worse"
"Never. am in earnest this time
downright serious. And Bangham, Lady
Goodwin thinks have chance-she docs,
indeed. If the guardians won't consent to
her having the other, why should not fel-
low cut in and win. 1t is not her money l
am after; you know me better than that. y
81 did not suppose it was the money but
still, don't think you are well advised to
try 1t. Lady Brooke is shrewder woman
than Lady Goodwin, though she may not be
SO excellent. Her view of Mr.. Vineyards
ward was, that she would beat them all with
her stolid, cheerful obstinacy, and take hel
own way as soon as she is her own mistress
She looks like 1t to me-just as if she hat
said, i won't cry or make fuss, but nobody