Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-07-19


sick leave threo.quartors Of my time, and
Ponuic wayward, mischievous little girl,
attempting all my lessons, but never taking
the smallest heed o; he, own yet we never
iancied Scot at all superior to US, because he
was himself so thoroughly unconscious Of su.
periority. He did not come to our house
very often he worked too hard for that, but
his halfbrother Walter--a popular boy who
was IA proverb of idleness, and did not work
his way into the shell until he was leaving
came so perpctually 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 selfsbness anus
ing aud his love Of pleasure natural and ir.
rcsistble. Pennie noticed none Of these
qualities in Walter She saw him, fom the
first, a handsome, daring protector aud pat
ron a boy.lover, who took it for granted
that she loved him, aud won her heart for do.
ing so. And now that Walter was tall,
handsome fellow Of three-and-twenty, and
Pennie, with her CLEAN Of childisbness, and
httul, authoritative humors, was nearly egh-
teen, his love is just the love it had been
from the embarrassed by any doubt
undisturbed by any quarrel untouched by
any passion; fresh and gay and glad, despite
the deep aud troubled shadow which it cast
upon the lonely path which 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 truth in Mrs. Cowen's
Indifferent opinion oh, Scot is sure to get
on, penniess as be is" as there was in the
proud addition, Dear Walter would never
have done to be poor" don't think Mrs.
Cowen disliked Scot at all she was only ut
terly Indifferent about him, and neglecthul Of
him Her heart was so entirely filled by
Walter that she really had no room for any
one else, not even for Pennie, though do be-
ieve she tried to love her because Walter
loved her.
When Scot left Oxford where with his
talents, and ESQ a year. he had won himself
glorious honors, he became my tutor for a
time, and lived with US entirely. All my life
shall be glad and grateful for this, for he
has taught me as no one else could have done;
making my studies healthful and pleasant to
me, aud rousing me cheerily from the anguid,
/ idle life, which in my weakness and inactivi'
ty, might so easily have led. But during
all Scots lessons, had one sore heartache
and this was through Pennies determination
to have lessons with me to learn all | learnt
and for Scot to teach it to her And she
would not guess what knew so well, Would
not understand with what q dangerous mix
ture of pain and pleasure, and Joy and an
guish, she troubled all his days Poor Scot
1t would have been difficult work TO teac
her with her puzzling questions and frequen
inattention) if he had not loved her, but
loving her as he did, and knowing what HI
knew, did not wonder at the old, still lool
which was creeping into his young face my owl
watching eyes grew dim as | read its unwhis
pered struggle And still, in defiance of al
my entreates, Pennie would insist on bein,
taught with me mastering quickly and bril-
liantly what my lower nature could not grasp
entering into Scots opinions, and readin
rapidly his own half formed thoughts. Turn
ing round and laughing at his pedantry
: flashing scornful, provoking words and glance
at him. then freely and proudly, in his yer
presence, parading the happy, trusting loy
she gave his brother
All these things | was thinking over, as
had thought them over many and many
lonely time before, when the luncheon be
| rang, and Pennie danced in, that WALTZ
might give me an arm.
r | knew Scot was out, because | saw hi
o plodding up Easter Hill, she said. d" WIFI
: has he gone home for ?"
5 told her | did not know, and she locke
across at Walter rather puzzled. Then 81
~ laughed.
4 know, Walter. He is afraid yol
l mother may be frightened about Satanelli
and he has gone 70 reassure her"
hope he may succeed" replied Wa
d ter, little sneeringy.
u " hope ne has ridden Satanela himself
IS l said not walked all that dusty up h
road"
r No; he was walking" answered PENN
+, You may depend that was the reason as
say. 1t is Just the sort of thing poor Sc
/. would be likely to do
o 90 Poor Scot, indeed I" echoed Waltz
IS And l slipped my hand from his arm, al
IT went alone into the dining-room.
Scot did not appear through the meal, b
?. just as Pennie had declared her determinati
Is to drive me instead of riding, he came up
e us his face was very white, as it always "
|. when he was tired or hot.
d 1" am glad to see you back to-day, Scot
le said Walter, with hearty emphasis as
,r ordered Pennies horse for we were neal
10 missing our ride. Come, Pennie, it will
es doubly valuable to US now
a. Charlie" whispered Pennie an old wi
| fuluess in her big, bright eyes, "you look
Or if you didn't want me TO 60. Shall DR.
70 with you instead 2"
i. | laughed a negative; and yet did {
Y, strangely unwilling for her to 60, guess
nt that this ride would bring them nearer
IS, gether than they had ever been before.
watched them of. Then Scot took the re
Il, and we followed them through the open gat
turning the opposite way We spoke "
little to each other--we were real frie
", enough to be silent together when we woJ
We and | remember feeling oddly relieved wi
Scot drew the pony up again before the dt
and | saw Walter lounging there with
er cigar.
Charlie, Charlie" whispered Pennie, Ct
Ii. ing in to me as rested, aud putting her Al
lie round my neck and her eyes close to mil
" some day am going to--marry Wal
he Are you gad2 My dear, dear brother,
m, you glad for me, and glad for Walter,
glad for yourself2"
th What could | tell her but that | was gil
all How could | but be glad for her, with
er dancing, love-flled eyes so near to mil
How could but be glad for Walter, know
| what her love made my own homef
Ter how-well, there was enough to prevent
ed words being false when told her was 81
Z" Really, Charlie2 2"
ey kissed the quiyeriug lips, and told
IN. Walter would be happy fellow, and sho
us miss her sorely. The tears gathered in
er loving eyes, and think we must both b
ng behaved very childshly for a fcw minu
Is, there alone, in the tender evening sunshine
re begged Walter to leave early that nil
for fear his mother should be nervous alb
ur the young, scarce broken horse he had broul
but he declined. He was so happy and
or and pleasant that his refusal did not sound
Oh the least harsh or unkind; and no
thought il 80. He and Pennie were 80