South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-07-28
A WISE LITTLE WOKAN.

ME was leaning with folded arms on IN;
back of my sofa, provoking Scot as indus
| triously as she could, while he SLOWLY
closed and put away the books she had lef
in confusion on the table. This room In
which We studied was no regular school
room, but the pretty morning room, which
Pennie-sole mistress and sole daughtel
in the bOuse-insisted on my appropriat
ing; and opposite where / lay the wal
was mirrored between the two low wiz.
dows. In this mirror could see just then
a sunny, bright Ieis sction of Us all aud
the contrast in our three faces struck me
almost as it had never struck me before.
Pennies came first Zone could hardly
help noticing Pennie first, il whatever
group one saw herr; small, brilliant, pi-
quaint face, with merry, mischievous lips,
and laughing, dark-blue eyes, that seemed
to know no sorrow and no pain Yet,
though no one else in all the house had
seen the gay eyes melt to infinite tender
ness, or the arch-curved lips ouiver with
sympathy, had, many and many time, as
my4ittle only sister knelt beside me in my
pain. Before this radiant little face lay
my own, upon the bright blue cushions,
thin and languid, bat little flushed just
no%-not from my studies. as Pennie
said, but from the many wide thoughts of
which she was the center. Then, last of
all, before my couch stood Scot CoWen,
my tutor, yet scarcely older than ], with
his pale, grave, thoughtful face, and slight,
nervous figure. He was looking across
me into Pennies eyes, and telling her, in
the clear, earnest voice which l had learn
ed so utterly to love and lean upon, that if
she wanted her translation to be corrected
she must re-wri:e it legibly for him.
shall have to write it out legibly
after you have corrected it." she said
9" Surely that is enough labor to bestow on
the tamest bit of all the book"
Il cannot read it as it ii" began Scot
but corrected himself, q at least, will not
To morrow, Miss Brett, you will, think,
have prepared readable copy for me-"
Her eyes flashed upon him as he went
quietly on with his work
"Is Charles written carefully?" she
asked.
"Yes. He gives me very little trouble
that way, you know"
II know" she replied, touching my
hand softly, "and l give you good deal
But let me assure you that you give me
infinitely more, Scot If it were not that
you are oddly gifted with the power of
dead and buried facts (chiefly fic-
tions) into the modern sunshine, for my
small brain to grasp, l would not come
and try to learn from you at all. So stiff
you are, and stern and exacting.
Scots lips, at that moment, were stern
indeed.
Then don't come in any more, Pennie,"
said l, laughing little, though l spoke |
with anxious earnestneSs
must, because | must know sll you |
know, Charlie" she answered, STOPPING |
to kiss me "a little act of hers |
which always thrilled me with pain when |
The did it in this room, while Scot was
With u.s.
"lf you had been anxious for instruc.
ion, you would have stayed at school,
hould think, Pennie,n Ilaughed.
"Oh, ladies cannot teach" she said, in 1
Ter pretty and thoroughly laughable Little
of dictatorship, no lady ever
aught me anything"
Scot laughed quietly. No one can
each, he said, sunless the pupil viii re-
pect their teaching. l cannot teach you
Dr. that reason"
"Why, Scot" said Pennie, raising her
yebrows, and .pursing up her small, red
ps, " l respect you intensely. l always
,ei kind ofawe overshadoTing me when
on are near me. would hardly dare 10
enture into your presence, only must be
} clsver as Charlie, Sc l must be taught
y Charles tutor" .. -
" Charles tutor is always at your ser
Ice," returned Scot, gravely; but while
teach you, you must obey me. While l
ach you that is all l ask. When lessons
e over, claim no further authority"
Of course not, laughed Pennie, "and ,
Dur claim is small. From ten to one you !
'quire authority unlimited, and think it
ten to one you will have it. I
Then shall decline to give you an
her lesson at all, +" rejoined Scot, quite in 6
'rnest, though he laughed little. !
All right, Scot, only you see have
armed (among smatterings of dead Ian
lages) to know that you always say that, !
Id always don't enforce it. You should 5
lforce your laws, my tutor"
Looking at Scot, and waiting for his an.
yer, l saw his face change While his '
ands were still busy, a patient, far-off
ok stole into his dark, grave eyes, and l /
new without turning who had opened I
e door behind me. Walter Cowen, his /
llfbrother came up and leaned beside v
ennie, looking never once at me, giving O
e no handshake, no thought, until he
I'd feasted his eyes upon the little win S
ng face, which had frightened so won a
rfully at his coming. Before turned v
anced moment into the mirror again, F
d somehow could not help fancying D
at the whole picture was changed. Wal
Is handsome debonnaire face, and lazy, v
1nging figure had brought some new ele- !,
ant into tho |
ppiness, an idle, careless unrest.
Breaking in upon my sudden, silent s.
ought, Scots few quiet words had an il
d effect. n
:" How is my mother to-day, Walter?" "
Complaining little, as usual, old fell r.
", and, as usual, very unwilling for me o
leave her" =
Did she send me a message?" s "
4 Not a bit of il. Her only parting q
aver to me was not to ride Satanella." +
And l suppose you mounted her imme- D
Itely?" asked, beginning to feel lit v
tired, and wishing they would go.
No, for was in the saddle when she C,
0ke. You will ride with me this after b
on, won't you, Pennies" G.
And Pennie, who loved these rides with :
alter more than anything else through d
her day, blushed gladly as she nodded a
r Yes. 81
Come now for a stroll in the garden.
came early on purpose for that" said q
alter In the loving tone of appreciation "
ich led Pennie irresistibly. tc
She whispered goodbye to me, and Y
y went off together through the low, o.
IN window; their happy voices coming el
X to US on the scented summer breath W
y after day Scot and l watched them
liking together; yet though they filed
: hearts, we never spoke of them when "
two were left behind. 81
l shall leave you now, Charlie, for in
II rest" bC
Where are you, going?" asked, for fe
't tgenerally sat with me reading through ey
5 hour.
Not far. dear fellow" he answered, 70
ting my pillows comfortably for me. al
shall be ready to drive you at our br
lal time" bs
eft TO myself, I tried very hard to think fu
nothing; and, of course, thought of ur
ny, many things; trying to put them an
aight and pleasant for us all, but failed "a
the effort, as had failed often and 81
en before. Then 1 tried to let Quiet nC
st creep into my heart and still the hi
tless anxiety which was now its con b.
ut guest. ID
FEARS ago, when Scot was only boy IN