Smyrna times., 1869-09-29
MiSceIIU n e D IL s.
SEEMS LIKE A DREAM!

SEEMS LIKE A DREAM!
I can't understand it'll No, 1 can't-and
what's more, don't think [ ever shall, if [
grow to be as old as Mrs. Methusaleh. If it l.
wasn't for the ring on the third finger of my
left hand, and the big frosted cake, and the
pair of mans boots turning out their toes on
the bedroom hearth p-stairs, should certain
ly think had been asleep and dreaming.
How did it happen? That's an easy ques-
ton to ask, but hard one to answer. Let me
try and think, and then perhaps shall be able |
to collect my thoughts little.
| People always used to say, from my girlhood |
up, that Penelope Lilhaven was born to be an
old maid. | wasn't t pretty child. My eyes
were to big, and my hair grew too low on my
forehead, and there was sallOw look about
my skin. And then had way of always put
ting things away and tidying-up rooms after
other people, and my boxes and bureau draw
ers were as wax, and | couldn't bear to see
anything in the way of carelessness or disorder;
so the people would look at me, and laugh,
and say, "Oh she'll be an old maid, as sure
as fate ~
l used to cry sometimes, by myself; but,
bless your heart no one never knew how
felt about the matter.
Roydon Grey was the most merciless tease
of them all was always afraid of him when
we went to school together, for he used to hide
behind the doors and pounce out at me, and
dress himself like red Indian to run out Of
4 the woods when | went by at daylight and
throw stones at my pet kitten, and call me
names, and twit me about my pug nose and big
eyes. My unlucky name, too, was source OF
special aggravatiOn on his part.
= You Il be an old maid sure, Pen" he would
say. "Nobody with such a name as Penelope
ever got married"
ooh, Roydon !" returned eagerly-for the
subject was one of vitalinterest to me-" don't
you think could change my name 2"
" You couldn't change your nature, he an
, swered, tauntingly and away he went, tread
y ing down my pct carnations in his progress.
,, | hated Roy Grey; and yet there was some
thing about the boy / couldn't help liking, at
ter ALL | could not forget that when | haC
the scarlet fever, and lay at death door, Roy
don sat under my window for hours and hours
waiting and listening, and l heard him say
the day first sat up in big easy-chair, witt
a pillow to support my weak little shoulders
., "Well I'm not sorry that She better. She
Ii. queer little concern, but should have misse
her if she had died.
ny. | was Just fifteen wien Roydon Grey wer
ne away to South America and he told me, th
MS night before he sailed, that he did think
ter was the ugliest girl of my age he had eve
seen." | burst out crying at the not partlci
ary larly courteous criticism.
Iol. 6 am glad you are going away, Roy !"
Enl EFIn cried impetuouslv: -
En- $50 am l, - said Roy indiferently. "The
en-, are monkeys there, and | dare say they ha'
ay got faces just like yours.
lar That was our parting Dear mel how i
:. tie we fancied then that it would be thir
!, 10 long years before we saw each other again.
and was an old maid in good earnest when r.
came back from South America They say
ON woman passes the age of twenty-five withO
nyS receiving, at least, one offer of marriage; b
believe l was an acception to that rule
never had an offer. All the girls who b
luI1 grown up at my side got married, and becal
VI blooming wives and happy mothers; but Pt
ny Lilhaven remained unsought and unwoot
1t used to mertify me dreadfuly until got
be thirty and then, by degrees L left oil C
IT. ing for it, and made up my mind to be as h;
py as | could, all by myself. So, as my re
orge tions were all dead, and | had tolerably ST
% % h. little sum of money to fall back upon, too
;I1o pretty cottage, and had my niece, Edith Lo
Nor, dale, to live with me for Edith was pretty &
,idel, penniless, and felt as if Providence meant
to stand in the place of mother to that pc
:, motheress child. ......
,soS' ,s She was just seventeen, and as pretty as
ward frC shest rose in my garden. Tall and sl
ce with deep blue eyes, hair like heavens s
~. shine, and a complexion all pink and VIII
you loved to look at her just as you loved
IL !. look at flower or statue, or any other be
tiful thing ,r ....
You'll be married some of these d
81. Edith" l said to her, SC for you are too pr
to be left long with. the lonely old maid
then shall be, oh so busy and so haT
p, helping you to furnish your house, and N
.;.I up your pretty wedding things ~
,,,r.r We were sitting in. our little porch, in
summer evening twilight, my niece and 1 "
- a tall, straight figure came up the walk, an
~, looked wonderingly to see who it was '
cii; he hair as black as ravens wing, skin brol
public. by years of tropic sun and exposure, feat
lower straight and clearly cut, and eyes in w
es and dark mirthful glimmer there fingered stra
ly familiar light, he stood there smiling
fenced into my face. q tn 13t4. /. q
ieed.- "ls this the Glen Cottage p he asked
stock the utmost gravity. i. .t.. So. s..-.'
HYes," answered but" ot;U
.eF "Don't you remember me, Penny Liha
RF- Don't you remember Roydon Grey ?'
- And then, sure enough, did remembe
4 boy who had gone away thirty odd years
= fore
4 WE'LL he had made his fortune, and had
back to enjoy it among his friends. All
=. ..,o think that there were so few left Of co
cts Rib we had great deal to say to each other,
S OTiees eoda questions to ask and
don't claim to have anything of the saint
composition, / won't deny that il did NAL
mud 10 feel a little hard when saw him sit dow
- - Edith Lonsdale, and talk to her, and lool
:. .4 her innocent blue eyes, before | had hall
'pl5-sm him what had happened in the village