Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-08-08

CHAPTER w.
LETTERS FROM THE EAST.

THE Lodge, which at Pennies Christmas
visit to Brackenfeld was so forlorn and
neglected, had on now the pleasant, May
time aspect of an English home. She and
Mrs. Forester held many an hours familiar
talk sitting on the sunny terrace where early
roses were coming out, and the LEAKAGE was
all young and tender green. And one day
Pennie told her friend all her troubles, with
some expectation of finding sympathy, but
she only came again into collision with the
common prejudice, the breadth and depth
ofwhich she had perhaps hardly yet learned
to appreciate.
'sSincG the rumor of your obstinate at
tachment got abroad, we have often heard
the question Of Mr. Tindals guilt or limo
cence debated" said Mrs. Forester. ''It
seems to all of us here, that unless confess
sion should come from some unknown
quarter, he must lie under the terrible impu-
ialion to the day Of his death.
s.lou none of you ever knew him, OF you
could not have believed it," replied Pennie,
earnestly.
llc Nuo NCiy oiiShuy hhohh " 10 iieiS,
| that is true; but he was intimate enough at
Methley Towers, and there he was con-
demned Lady Brooke thanks heaven for
her escape
Pennies naughty little upper lip took a
contemptuo,is curl "Lady Brooke said
she, knew him less than anybody, and
though he was in love with her, he knew
her as little"
Mrs. Forester laughed "Plain-spoken
as ever, Pennie You are sociable little
creature; do you ever try to realize what
your life may be if you link your fate with
his--cut off from the every day, casy-going
world which will not receive him:
II never tried to realize it, and do not be-
lcye it will be. But il were assured that
it must, would rather spend the rest of my
days on II desert island with him, than be
made welcome without him 10 all the de-
lights of the world. Now, NIillicent, you
have my confession of faith"
"You are an enthusiastic little goose. |
should like to sec again the hero who has
inspired you with such profound devotion.
You have quite taken me by surprise, Pen
nie. used to think you would never fall
in love on your own account. Tell me how
il came about"
81 shall not And Mr. Tindal is not a
hero" Pcnnie seemed rather piqued.
81 did not mean to imply that nobody
would ever fall in love with you, Quixote,
replied her friend, with teasing, caressing
air. II can perfectly well imagine how Mr.
; Tindal took TO you. But can not compre
lenl how your practical, common-sense lit
tle wise head, as Uncle Christopher calls it.
| rot oyer I'LL the reasons why you should MOI
! take him..
~ did not know the reasons why until!
a had taken to him and when heard then
: they did not approve themselves to my luds
G ment as reasons sufficient for changing IN.
q mind. From the first, did not peileV
a tbem-it is out of nature that should be
is lieye them, when see him generous, gentle
n brave. kind--oh, AIilly, the kindest, best
e most loveable-"
Ie al know all about 1t, : there, Pennit
e, never mind my teasing! If you ever MARI
| shall come to see you ] won't forsak
y Won: hut should heartily rejoice to see til
n clouds clear up first. Here come the letters
Y, A servant drew near with four on salvt
", " two for Mrs. Forester, two for Pennie.
ne s.Only an answer from that new cook
IN wrote about, and an invitation to the Graz
" =, disons for Monday. Who are your CORE
q, pondents, Pcnnie- Eastwood and Mayileld
s. asked Mrs Forester, looking over h
nr shoulder.
n ,u pennie was absorbed past hearing, for
Ct her Eastwood letter was enclosed another
n unfamiliar hand. She turned it over, al
n n then read tile beginning of Mrs. Wynyart
Of accompanying epistle. 1t apprised her til
lly the letter forwarded was from the east.
u cannot initiate your good mothers examp
~ ny dear Pcnnie, and put it in the fire, but
rt- think Mr.. Tindal out to refrain from addre'
c., ing you" Pennie read no further, .
OF clutched her precious treasure, and got
nu ;nnui TO make off with 1t to her own room. Nj
,ce Forester understood the case, and held Il
ON fast asking why she was running away, a
Z, why she was blushing to such brilliant
e er cess when there was positively no one to {
ee. 90. how pretty she could look on proper pro-
rge cation.
,rs. emily. what IL torment you are.' was
s,l arI, slightly exasperatcd answer, and then ut
iur Pennie got free and got away.
illi, She made fast her door, and shut her
;c ;ci, M with her letter for an hour at the LEI
live 1t was II long letter, u loying, cheering, an
/ is sing letter; all that she imagined lei
from Mr.. Tindal would be; and II made
,;na to her for her former cruel depriyati
mr. How often did she read it? Over and o'
no until 1t occurred to her suddenly to tn
on whether she might answer it. Then she
,nSe nv piled to Mrs Wynyard's letter again,
, lis that gave her no guidance, ,-neither peri
! be zion nor veto was even distantly referred
rity; While she Was debating over the str
pt,s temptation TO dq, and abide the conseql
M ~ ces, Mrs. Forester knocked at the door
his "Pennie, let me and baby In, we
sion, GROWING alarmed at your prolonged SC
nj nd - sjon,' cried she, in her teasing tone.
ude pennie gave her admission, and after c
, feel munieaiing bits of her news, sought cou
r the to do as she wished. Mrs. Forester
rrer- III perfectly aware Of her. and would not
)r, to it.; not at iirst, that iS. ~ was "ono'
ccess what a faculty for tormenting this IL
iuen' ,;.aa wife and mother had developed all at
fused But there was something in Pennie that
der to yolSed everybody to jest at her who lovet
Mons IN call her odd names. and to laugh
8 you ..;o,,s s;d.s even Nr TindJ had
milton sef'o"s '''.ee -
"Just forget your private affairs TO
J pub minute, Pennie, and tell me if you thin