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


rest before luncheon. Pennie was leaning with
folded arms on the back of my sofa, provoking
Scot as industriously Is she could, while he
slowly closed and put away the books she had
lett in confusion on the table. This room i'm
which We studied was no regular school-room,
but the pretty morning groom. which Pennie-
sole mistress and sole dau ghter in the hOuse-in-
sisted on my appropriating; and opposite where
lay the wall was mirr0red between the two
low windows. In this mirror L could see just
then sUnEy, bright reflection of US all; and
the contrast in our three faces struck me then
almost a. it had never struck me before.
Pennies came first, zone could hardly helm
noticing Pennie first. in whatever group one
saw her,l small, brilliant, piquant face, with
merry mischievous lips, and laughing dark blue
eyes, that seemed to know no shadow 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 CULVER with sym
patty, had, many and many time, as nv liz
tie only sister knelt beside me in my pain. Be-
low this radiant little face lay nv own upon the
bright blue cushions; thin aud languid, but
flushed little just n0w-not from my studies
IA Pennie said, but from the many wide thoughts
before my couch stood Scot Cc.en, NV tutor
yet scarcely older than /, with his pale, grave
thoughtful face, ard slight, ner vOus figure. He
was looking across me into Pennies ewes and
telling her, III the clear earnest voice which
had learned so utterly to love and lean upon
that n she wanted her translation to be cor
rected, she must re-wrte it leglbly for HIM.
= shall have TO write 1T out iegibly after You
have corrected H." she said. - Surely that is
enough ia5or TO bestow on the taInest bit of ali
the book"
- cannot read it as it is" began Scot, but
corrected himself; lat least Twill not. To-mor-
row, Miss Brett, you viii, L think, have pre-
pared 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. as you know"
~ know she replied, touching nv hand
soitly land give you good deal, you mean.
But let me assure you thar you give me in
nnitely more, Scot. IL il were not that you are
oddiy gifted with the power OF bringing dead
ana buIied facts tchiefiy fctiOnsl into the mod
ern sunshine, for my small brain TO grasp, I
would not come and try to learn from you at all.
So stiff YOU are. and stern, and exactiny.v
Scots lips, at that moment, were stern in
deed.
Then don't come in any more, Pennie.
ssii J, laughing q little, though / spoke In
- must, because must know ali you know,
Charhe, she answered, STOPPING impetu0usly
20 hiss me-a little act of hers which ALWAYS
thrilled me with pain when she did il in this
room. while Scot was with US.
III YOU had been anxious for instruction,
ycu would lave stayed at school, should think,
Penrie, laughed.
80 Oh, ladies cannot teach ~ she said in her
pretty and thoroughly langhsble little assump-
tion OF dictatorship; mo lady ever taught me
Scot laughed quietly. - No one can teach.
ne said, unless the pupil will respect their
teaching. L cannot teach you Tor that reason"
Why, Scot," said Pennie, raising her eve
brcws, and puiSing up her small, red lips. II
respect you intensely. 1 always feel a kind OF
awe oveTshadowipg me when you are near. 1
sence, Only 1 must be as clever as Charlie; so j
mas. lie taught by Charles tutor"
I" Charles tutor Is always at your service, :"
returned Scot, grayely; bat while | teach
YOU. YOU must obey me. While teach you
ihat Is all 1 ask. When lessons are over I
claim no farther authority"
20, "Of course not laughed FEMME; "snd your
aEth0tity unlimited; and think it IS ten to one
you viii not have it."
Then shall decline to give you another
though ne laughed little.
All right, Scot; only you see have learned
lamorg smaiter .pss OF dead languages) 10 know
abide 10y IL. You should enforce your Laws, my
tutor"
Locking at Scot, and waiting for his answer,
saw bis face change, while his hands were
stili busv. patient, FAR OF look stole into his
dark, grave eyes; and knew without turning
who lad opened the coor behind me. Walter
Cowen: his half brother, came up and leaned
we no handshake, no thought, until he had
face whieh had 6ri shtened 50 wonderfully q.
inent into the mirror again, and somehow
could rot help fancyin2 that the whole picture
was changed Walters handsome. debonuaire
lace, and hay, lourging fsuIe had brought
tbrctbiBg happiness; al Idle. careless unrest
Breaking IN uron my sudden, silent tho agh.,
How is T m "S n toda avn wa Wa; sess
Complaining little, a. usual,iold fellow
her
Did she send me . message"
8 Not a bit oft. Her only parting PRAYER to
ise was not to ride Satanells.
And i SUPPOSE You mounted her imme-
~ IN AREa kA~
tired. and wishing they would 20.
I" No; for i was In the saddle when she spoke
You Will ride with me this afternoon, won't you,
And Pennie, who loved these rides with Wal
ter more than anything else through ALI her
day, blushed gladly as she nodded her Yes
Come now for q stroll IN the garden. came
carly on purpoes for that" said Waiter, I'm the
iIresistibly.
She whispered Gosd-bye Co me. and thew
went on together through the low. OPEN window
their happy voices coming back 10 us ON the
scented summer breath. Day after day Scot
and had watched them walking together; vet;
through they hned our hearts, We never spoke
OF them when we two were left behind.
-. shall leave You nov, Charlie, for your
Where are yoa gsins?r asked. for SEQ,
hour. 'A'
Not far, dear fellow . he answered. sett,ip,
ready to drive you At our usual time, W
nothing: and, Of course iAoasSt = OF f"1 msn o.
ior a. az bSs . sHf them !" ,s sIssas and
had failed often and often before. Then trad
10 let quiet I ust creep into my heart and SIN
the restless anxiety which Was now It's Constant
guest
Years ago, vhen Scot was only boy-hesd-
boy an the Easterwood Grammar school, and
taking all the prizes, guessed-no; hardly
Guessed. knsv-that he loved my sister better
than any one else in tile world. True, he had no
very near relations Of his own TO love: but III he
had had, fancy IL would have been Just the
ssme- .aAa young fourth-fogm boy in thdI 8
days, AT home on SICK leave three Quarters OF
my Time. and Fennie q wayWard, mischievous
little girl, attempting all my lessons but never
taking the smallest heed Of her own: vet NE
never faDcied Scot at all superior to us, 6ecause
lie was himself 70 thoroughly unconscious OF
superiority. lie did not come 20 our house yerv
Iteh, lac wor ked too hard for that; but his Az
brother, WATERS popular boy who WAS a
ItOveIb Of idlsnese, AID did not work his way
1nto the shell until he was leaving came 30
perpetuaily, that he grew to seem q very part Of
our bone life. tie WAS such pleasant winning
Iad, That bis very vanity seemed excusable; his
very selhshness, amusing; and biz love of Die as
IRE, natural and irresistible. Pennie noticed
none OF these qualities in Walter. She saw him