Mower County transcript., 1871-08-03

feeling oddly relieved when Scot drew the
| pony up again before the door, anil saw
Walter lcHnging there with his cigar
"Charlie, Charlie" whispered Pcnnie
coming in to me as l rested, and putting
her arms round my neck and her eyes
close to mine; "some day l all going to
marry Walter. Are you glad2 My
dear, dear brother arc you glad for me
and glad for Walter, and glad for your
self?"
What could l tell her but that was
glad? How could but be glad for her
with tho dancing, love filled eyes so neal
to mine? How could | but be glad fol
Walter, knowing what her love made my
| own homer But how-wcll, there was
enough to prevent tho words being false
when told her was glad.
ideally, Charlic?"
kissed the quivering lips, and told hel
Walter would be a happy fellow, and
should miss her sorcly. The tears gathered
in her loving eyes, and l thiuk we must
both have behaved very childlessly for q
few minutes, there alone, in the tendel
evening sunshine.
begged Walter to leave early that night
for fear his mother should be nervous
about the young, scarce broken horse he
brought; but he declined. He was sc
happY, and gay, and pleasant, that his re-
flsal did not sound in the least harsh OI
unkind; and no one thought it 30. He
and PenDie were sn entirely engrossed by
each other that-my father being out, and
Scot having left the dining room early, and
not appeared since, slipped away into
his study. Here Scot was sitting with his
book. He looked up and smiled, hut lay
down without Il word, and he read on.
The light failed. Scot closed his book
without ringing for lights, aud still sa,
leaning back in his low chair. l heard
Satanella's footsteps as she was being led
down from the yard, and soon after Pennie
opened the door softly and came up TO me.
"Are you 40 tired. Charlie that you
could not stay with us?" she asked, bend
ing over mine face on which still lingcr-
ed the parting smile which had been given
and received few minutes before.
"You did not want me, DEAR" said,
half sadly, half fjestiDgiy.
"Indeed, indeed VIC did, she answered,
earnestly, fancying, perhaps, that her own
loving feelings must be shared by Walter,
too. "Wc always shall. Am l not your
own and only sister, Charlie, and is not
Walter going 70 be your own and only
DrOthCr?'
Even in the dying light l could see
Scot raise sharp, questioning face and,
reading its agony, involuntarly laid my
hand on Pennies lips. Then I laughed
nervously at her astonishment
"Scot is whiting +" hear your secret
from your own lips, said, wishing with
all my heart had told him myself while
we sat alone there in the twilight
~ D.,l,o - hr1,r
ton, II did not sec you, else would have
hasn't"
"You have kept Walter so entirely to
yourself, little lady," put in, hurriedly,
"that he cannot have told anyone"
uc-alld l." said Pennie, in slow, hap
by tones, but with timid, shrinking eyes,
as she looked at him, are-cngaged,
Scot"
Yes" said Scot, qnietly. =
She paused minute, waiting for him
to say more, then tossed back her bright
little head, and looked down comically at
NE:
"Ought not Scot to say he is glad, or
something of that kind, Charlie? Isn't it
considered rightY"
l saw that she was speaking ut random,
and that her checks had flushed aud her
eyes filled with tears as she read " hat WAS
SO sadly familiar to me in the grave, kind
face.
"I think you need no congratulations,
DEAR" said vaguely "you hnvc enough
in your own heart"
Her little fingers closed tightly on mine,
yet she had recourse TO her old petulant
defiance Immediately
"Scot is hard, aud stern, and cold to ME,
as usual" she stammered hotly. "Just
because l made a few mistakes in a paltry
translation"
Scot was standing against the table close
to us then; his Slight figure leaning lit.
tic; his face white and proud.
"If can be hard aud stern and cold to
you, child, then let me be st child, in pity
for under it all my heart burns with wild,
strong love, which I cannot always gov
or comes to take its place.
There was a long, motionless pause
among US; then with startled movement,
"a if something was made clear to her,
Pennte left my side and stood close to
Scot. She laid her two little hands on his
and spoke with gistening eyes.
Some day, Scot, when you have taught
Charlie and me all that we shall b. able
to learn tit isn't much, you KNOW you will
go out into the great world and find q hap
piness like niue, only deeper, and when
you tell me "f it-as you will do, because
we shall be always friends-I shall say,
hat you arc saying to me now, with your
kind eyes: God bless you in your hap
piness!"
Scot took the little earnest hands and
held them closely for minute; but if he
spoke at all, l did not hear what he said.
Then he went away, and Pennie sat
down beside me, very still and silent
while the plying darkness crept in and
hid her face.
"Isn't that true verse, Charlie
Theirs is the sorrow who are left be-
hindy"
Pcnnic was driving me home from the
station. We had been to see Walter of
to London on his way to the continent,
where he was to spend six months with q
party Of old college friends. The reins
were unnecessarily tight in Pennies
hand, the little rounded checks were very
pale in the tickle March sunshine; and the
young voice was bright only by great
effort!
Which, suppose, is very soothing
reflection for you" l said, smiling GAS
you love Walter 50 much better than your
self"
ayes; but was thinking Of some ono
else, too. May we drive ON to sec Mrs
Cowcn? She said this parting would
break her heart"
Never mind to-day, Pcnnie. Scot is
there. He is best to be with her now
best to be with her always, if she did but
know it,"
"Not better than Walter, Charlie" she
replied, her eyes all a!lamc in their sorrow
"not better than such dear, dear, pleas
ant fellow. Scot is not the very idol Of
his mothers heart-like Walter"
mo; in consequence of his mothers
heart being set a,,a.n>t him." But I stop
ped with laugh, for would not vcs
Pcnnic to day with this old argument o
ours.
Nov Charlie" she said, her face 80
happy i'll its love, 50 wistl,l and tender ir
its first pain of parting, ''in spite of al
you choose I" say OF S'nh's go"dncss an(
Of Walters ,hOughtlCssnCes, you know
very we'll that everybody likes Walter
best. They can't help IL. No more
can |"
She seemed to miss Walter very much
and she was just her own willful self al
the time-always whiting on me, teasing
Scot, and acting the pleasant, dcmurc littlt
mistress Of the house when our fathc
came home at night. Often l felt ver,
angry with her and at last one day whe1
Scot had one of his old hard struggling
mornings, followed her out and told hc1
l could not stand by and sec his brave
patient pain.
"You ought never to come in to study
!