Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-06-13

er, were well known her, for they had beel
the cheit theme of Pennies recent letter t,
her friend Millicent. Blushes so fiery must
OF course, have an Interpretation. The wo
men longed to know a0hdt the men had n,
doubt. They retreated very slowly, ant
Pennie writhed under the sensation of bein,
mark and wonder to all eyes. Sh,
quite loved Uncle Christopher when, afte
turning over the leaves ofa volume of Cuitt'
beautiful etchings, he wheeled his chair hal
round to hers, and bade her come and lool
at them too; which gave chance of moving
from under Lady Brooks discontentet
watchfulness, and of concealing her treach
erous face. She did not discern tho pictures
very distinctly until they came to one of the
gateway at Rood Abbey; and then rallyine
her wits with determination, she remarked
that 1t was fine fragment, but that it ap-
peared in better preservation In the etching
than in reality. After she had managed hel
own voice once more she got on better, and
really finished the evening creditably. !
But, oh! what would she not have giyen'for
one of those faces, good as masks, which
never betray their owners!
p Millicent Huttons wedding was not very
gay, but It went off in highly satisfactory
manner. The breakfast, the tedious after
noon, the dinner and the dance In the eve
ming, were all according to rule-pleasant,
natural, proper, and pretty. The Squire
and the dame bore the parting bravely in
the first place, because Millicent was to live
at the Lodge, and in the second, because
John, Theodore, and the three boys were
going now to take up their abode at Brack-
enfield, that grandpapa and grandmama
might not feel lonely and forsaken in their
old age. ,i,,14 .tae,,
Nobody had come to the wedding from
Eastwood but Pennie, and the next day but
one after 1t was over she left to return home,
still in possession of her secret about the
ring, Notwithstanding the many attacks
made upon her by Lady Brookes curiosity
to learn under what circumstances 1t had
been given to her. None of the other wit
nesses of her confusion had asked or even
hinted single inquiry, for Lady Brooke
had whispcredit 1t through the house that this
wonderful ring had certainly been worn by
Mr.. Tindals mother; that she had seen II
often on her hand, and that the unhappy
lady had said to her once (before the shock
Ing family tragedy occurred), that it might
come to be her own for it had been the be-
trothal gift of the heir of Rood Abbey to his
mistress for generations. "at
But though nothing was said to Pennie,
there was good deal said over dressing
room fires about the ring and in other Sc
cluded corners for gossip. The Dame
trusted that her Mary knew, and that PEN
ME put confidence in her; and in letter
she wrote to her daughter at Eastwood the
day after the we ]ding, she made distinct al
lusion to to her wards intimacy with the
unfortunate master of Rood This letter
only preceded Pennies arrival by few
hours, and by the same post had come
another on the same subject from Mr.. Wyn
yard in Normandy, to whom Mr.. Hargrove
had sent a curiously-exaggerated statement
OF the late events at Mayfield. Mrs. Wyn-
yard felt hurt that Pennie had told her moth
Ing, and that such intelligence should have
been left to find its way to her from two
such distant quarters, but she carefully dis
sembled her annoyance for she had knowl-
edge enough of Pennies character to be
aware, that though her confidence might
be won. ii never could be commanded.
1t was to this position of her little affairs
that Pennie came home-far from sorry to
come; for how much nearer to Rood was
Eastwood than Braokenfeld As she sat
at tea with the children, giving them de-
tailed account of the late festivities at
house, Mrs. Wynyard observed
that the ring which had been reported to
her was not on her hand. Pennie had, in
fact, resoved not to risk any more abrupt
questions thereabout, and so she had strung
it on a ribbon round her neck, and hidden
1t underneath her dress.
IL was not mus however, 'hat she could
escape Mrs. Wynyards dutiful anxiety.
wnen tne chiioren were gone to bed, she
was ieit aiohe WIN theif mother, who
plunged at once an meatas, res, and ask
what is this that l hear about
your having accepted from MIR. Tindal a
diamond ring-the ring that all the world
OF here abouts knows as the ordering of
Rood?'
Il told my mother, and she told it again
to Mr.. Hargrove," replied Pennie, in de-
fensive tone; as much as to say, "If my
mother cannot keep my counsel, to whom
then shall l entrust 1t ?"
Mr. Hargrove has made 1t his business
10 write ABOUT ito Normondy. Ofcourse,
on such gilt, men place only one construc-
tion. MIS-. Wyhyard waited moment Tor
cohiession' put none was forthcoming. She
con.ihuea' II all were straight and fair
IN hir, ii'oai ) his'ory' 'here couiu DC no
op9eo''on, un'ess II were o,i 'he SCORE oi age
-ho hhus1 pc iouitoon VI hiteen years your