New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-23

| Pennle lrresistibly.
She whispered good-by to me, and the.
went off together through the low, opei
window, their happy voices coming back Il
day Scot and | had watched them walking
together; yet though they filled our hearts
we never spoke of them when we two were
| left behind.
II shall leave you now, Charlie. for you
nest
Where are You going7' asked, for Sco1
generally sat with me reading through thii
hour.
mot far, dear fellow" he answered, set
ting my pillows comfortably Tor me. :"
shall be ready to drive you at our usua
time
Left to myself / tried very hard to think
of nothing, and, of course, thought of many
things, trying to put them straight and
pleasant for as all, but failed in the effort
as | had failed often and often before. Then
tried to let quiet trust creep into my
heart, and still the restless anxiety which
was now its constant guest.
Years ago, when Scot was only boy
head boy at the Easterwood Grammar
School, and taking all the prizes, guessed
no, hardly guessed; knew-that he loved
my sister better than any one else in the
world. True, he had no very near relations
of his own to love; but if he had had, !
fancy it would have been just the same. l
was young fourth form boy in those days,
at home on sick leave three-quarters of the
time, and Pennie a wayward, mischievous
girl, attempting all my lessons, but never
taking the. smallest heed of her own;
yet we never fancied Scot at all
superior to us, because he was himself SO
thoroughly unconscious of superiority. He
did not come to our house very much; he
worked too hard for this; but his half
brother, Walter-a very popular boy, who
was proverb of idleness, and who did not
work his way into the shell until he was
leaving-came so perpetually that he grew
to seem a very part of our home life. He
was such pleasant, winning lad that his
very vanity seemed excusable; his very
seltishness amusing, and his love of pleas
ure natural and irresistible. Pennie noticed
none of these qualities in Walter. She saw
him from the first a handsome, daring pro-
tectOr and patron; bOy-lOver, who took it
for granted that she loved him, and won her
heart for doing SO. And now that Walter
was a tall, handsome fellow of three-and
twenty, and Pennie, with her CLEAN of child
ishness, and fitful, authoritative humors,
was nearly eighteen, his love is just the love
it had been from the first-unharrassed by
any doubt; undisturbed by any quarrel; un-
touched by any passion; fresh and gay, and
glad, despite the deep and troubled shadow
which it cast upon the lonely path that it
forever crossed.
Walters widowed mother lived about
two miles from us, at Easter Hill, and had
a very comfortable property of her own,
which, of course, Walter would inherit.
Poor Scot, her step-sOn, had $50 year of
his own; but he had wealth enough IN his
deep, clear head; and there was as much
ruth in Mrs. Governs Indifferent opinion,
oh, Scot is sure to get on, penniless as he
s. as she was in the proud addition,
Dear Walter would never have done to be
Door" / don't think Mrs. Cowen disliked
Scot At ALL she was only utterly Indifferent
about him, and neglectful of him. Her
leart was so entirely filled by Walter, that
he really had no room for any one else:
lot even for Pennie, though / do believe
he tried TO love her because Walter loved
Ter.
When Scot left Oxford, where, with his
alents and fifty pounds a year, he had won
himself glorious hOnOrs, he became my tutor
or time. and lived with us entirely. All |
ny life / shall be glad and grateful for this, |
or he has taught me as no one else could |
ave done; making my studies healthful |
nd pleasant to me- and rousing me cheerily |
rom the languid, idle life, which. in my |
weakness and inactivity, | might so easily |
ave led. But during all Scots lessons, l |
ad one sore heart-ache, and this was !
Trough Pennies determination to have les |
Ons with me: to learn all learnt. and for |
cot to teach it to her. And she would not |
uess what | knew so well. Would not I'M
erstand with what a dangerous mixture of |
ain and pleasure, and joy and anguish, she |
rOubled all his days. Poor Scot 1t would
ave been difficult work to teach her with |
er puzzling questions and frequent inatten-
~ l,aI ol L. l.
s he did, and knowing what he knew, did
OF wonder at the old, still look which
'as creeping into his young face; my
wn watching eyes grew dim as | read its
WHISPERED struggle. And still, in def
nee OF all my entreaties, Pennie would in
st on being taught with me; mastering
uickly and brilliantly what my lower ma
Ire could not grasp; entering into Scots
pinions, and reading rapidly his own half
,rmed thoughts. Turning round and
Lughing at his pedantry; flashing scorn-
IL, provoking words and chances at him;
len daintily and proudly, in his very pres
ace, ,parading the happy, trusting love she
ave his brother.
All these things was thinking over, as |
ad thought them over many and many
nelly time before, when the luncheon bell
ing, and Pennie danced in, then Walter
ave me an arm.
II knew Scot was out, because saw him
Iodding up Easter Hill" she said. What
as he gone home for -
told her l did not know, and the looked
ross at Walter rather puzzled. Then she
ughed.
81 know, Walter. He is afraid your
other may be frightened about Satanella,
Id he has gone to reassure her"
81 hope he may succeed" replied Walter,
little sneeringly.
Il hope he has ridden Satanela himself"
said. 'NOt walked all that dusty uphill
ad."
"NO; he was walking" answered Pennie
GU may depend that was the reason as
y. 1t is Just the sort of thing poor Scot
Ould be likely to do"
e Poor Scot, indeed" echoed Walter.
nd slipped my hand from his arm, and
ent alone into the diningroom.
Scot did not appear through the meal,
1t just as Pennie had declared her deter
natien to drive me instead of riding, he
me up to us; his face was very white, as
always was when he was tired or hot
Il am glad to see you back to-day, Scot"
id Walter with heavy emphasis, as he
dered Pennies horse; 'for we were nearly
lsslng our ride. Come, Pennie, it will be |
'ubly valuable to us now"
Charlie" whispered Pennie, an old
lstfulness in her big, bright eyes, "you
ok as if you didn't want me to 60 Shall
drive with you instead ?"
L laughed a negative; and yet / did feel
rangely unwilling for her to 90, guessing
at this ride would bring them nearer to-
'ther than they had ever been before. We
atched them off. Then Scot took the
ms and we followed them through the
zen gates, turning the opposite way. We /
oke very little to each other: We were
al friends enough to be silent together
hen we would, and l remember feeling !
Idly relieved when Scot drew the nonS
, again before the door, and saw Walter
unging there with his cigar ,,
Charlie, Charlie" whispered Pennie .
ming in to me as l rested, and putting !