Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-05-06

too. May we drive on to see Mrs. Coweng She
aid this parting would break her heart"
u Never mind today, Pennie; Scot is there
her always, IL she did but know it,
" Not better than Walter" Charlie, she re-
Piled, her ewes all Afiame in their sorrow; ''not
be ter than such q dear, dear, pleasant fellow.
Scot is not the very idol OF his mothers heart
like walter"
NO; in consequence of the mothers heart
being set against him." But [ stopped VITA
laugh. for would not vex Pennie to- day with
this old argument Of ours.
Now, Charlie she said her face so happy
in its love, 80 wistful and tender in its first pain
of parting, Sin spite Of all you choose to say N
Scots goodness and of Walters thoughtless-
ness, you know very we'll that every body loves
She seemed to miss Walter very much, and
she was just her own wilful self all the time
ALWAYS waiting on me. teasing Scot and acting
the pleasant, demure little mistress OF the house
when our father came home at night. Often
felt very angry with her; and at last one day
when Scot had had one OF his hard struggling
mornings, I followed her out and told her /
could not stand by and see his brave, patient
pain.
u.s." said, holly. " You should learn nothing
all your life rather than learn from him now"
pointed $50 must"
- Then 1 wish to Heaven he would care less
for my good, and 60 away for his own sake"
"Thst would he very unkind; though dare
ay that he will do it soon,' said Pennie.
"Ycu OF all the world ought to Judge Scot
most teDderly and kindly, Pennie,' cried.
And so do, dear Charlie" she answered,
with quick earnestness.
Then leave him TO himself. / shall miss
you wcefully, as you know: but would rather
you never came until our work is over, and We
all meet on equal ground"
Charlie" she said, in voice of utter soli-
fairness, Z" am always lonely aud restless and
TyxStf rlnf
in again."
And then of course was miserable, tho gh
had gained what wished.
After that, Pennies beh avor to Scot changed
Day after day she forgot to join our studies for
got it in the most easy and natural manner i'm
aginabe, offering no forced reasons, showing no
she grew Quieter and quieter to Scot not kinder
exactly, or more conceding, but more thought
full. She went alone very often to see Mrs
Cowen; but these visits never cheered her. The
mothers blind and devoted idoliZation of the
son, contrastcd with the sons easy carelessness
OF the mother, fretted Pennies tender heart
sorely. saw how her thoughts ran upon il
after her visits, and at those times never spoke
one word against Walter. Yet sometimes, when
Pennie told me how he said he had not time to
write home, and 50 she must 60 and tell his
mother about him, my impatient words would
escape; and said that a man who could not
take few minutes trouble to please a mother
any other love.
when one day Scot was sent for home IN haste,
Mrs. Cowen beng i'll. lie was awav all night
but at ten the next morning. when Pennie and
! strolled into the study, there he was waiting
for NE.
Why, Scot" 4 exclaimed meeting him
gladly, Z" i didn't expect you back; certainly not
to work. Have you breakfasted yet? How il
"A little better, thank you," he said. turning
slowly from me to take Pennies offered hand.
g hIeakfasted long ago"
Z" Have yOu sent for Walter?i' asked Pennie,
her eyes txed upon his face
And then he sat down calmly in his place, and
we read together; while Pennic stood silent,
leaning against the window frame 1 did not
know whether che was glad that she should see
w alter so soon, or sorry for his pleasant excur-
sion to be Interrupted.
Each day now, rs soon as our studies were
over, Scot went home; and in the afternoon
Pennie drove me TO Easter Hill, and leaving me
In the carriage at the gate, went up to the house
or foot to see Walters mother. She never stopped
very long, though l am sure that if Mrs.
Cowen had liked TO have had her she would
have taken up her abode there to watch and
nurse by highland day. But the sick mother
cared for no one; only counting the hours be
fore her son should come. aud frettins that
Scot had not babe lin hasten. The day when
Walter might have Arrived had passed and only
then could see how PROFESSIONALLY Pennic
wildered; unable TO believe he was not in the
train; and she stood on the platform as il rolled
away, her yearning eyes following il pitcously
There were 80 many hindrances pos.ib,C.'
| told her; $50 many unforeseen things might
have occurred to delay him" But She never
answered me a word and when that whole week
went by and still he did not come, her silence
grew more distressing to me than passionate
grief or anger.
On the last day the post brought two letters.
ore for Pennie, which she read with cold tight
lips: then threw across to me; and one fo, Scot.
which he had taken away with him unopened
The old lady was so tdgettv, Walter wrote
tia: il would be ridiculous to suppose that she
really meant him to come home from such dis
lance, and have the bore and expense of going
back when her little attack Of fear had sub
sided. She wanted him with her, he supposed
a. she always did, being weak enough TO be very
fond OF him. and in a month or two he should
be back with her. In the meantime he had
written to her and it would be all right.
read no more. folded the letter and passed
IL back to FEMME. asking her if che did not
think il would be better Tor Scot to have hoii-
day Tor a time, that he might not feel his duties
pulling him two different ways.
:. No, Charlie" She said at once. " Papa
anu both think a. you would il You had been
10 see Miss. Cowen) that 1t is better for Scot to
have his old work. If lie were constantly with
her, fTettDg as she always is for Walter. it
would hsrass and weary him more than this
change uoes. She never expresses q wish TO
have HIM Away there; yet he is tender, cheer
ful nurse, CHARLIE"
Gid not answer, for just then Scot came in,
greeting us both with his gentle smile. lie had
been 10 the sfatiOn-a frutiess errand now, and
Femme had never been since that nrst hopeful
day-and could see by her glance at his soli-
tary figure As he came up that the old Jpe had
been with her this morning. l had thought il
would be 30, because by this time Walter might
have arrived in answer tn the letter she herself
had sent urging him to come.
"a think my letter must have Iniscarriel,
SCOT she asked, with quiet wis,iulness.
" Don't you?'
3 oh, ne would be sure TO come" Sect said
cooking quickly away from her face. - There
was no placing dependence on foreign posts
Suppose you were TO write again" proposed
Pennie, differently.
That was exactly what he had been thinking
There must have been some mistake in the last
address.
"a Wouldn't it have come back in that case?''
suggested.
Not yet perhaps; not yet, would it'' asked
Pennie, reading Scots face eagerly.
I" We certainly ought not TO expec. it back So
soon, he decided. Buthe would not wait for it;
he would write again at once
And after be had left Us, cOnld not help
telling PeDnie what had heard at the post
oftce-that every night letter went from Scot
10 his brother with large Immediate" on
the envelope.
Pennie turned away from me in ang " heat.
What does he write, then? Why does not
he write what will bring Walter home, and not
fret and worry him, vet keep him there while
courage broke down, and she leaned her tired
little head against me, and sobbed out all the
fear, ana love, and disappointment which she
hidden SO long.
After that the was very petulant with Scot;
more petulQnt even than in OLD fipas nd