Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-07-27

the same. was young fourth-form boy
| in those days, at home on sick leave three
quarters of the time; and Pennie way
ward, mlschicvous little girl, attempting
all my lessons, but never taking the small
est heed of her own; yet we never fancied
Scot at all superior to US, because he was
himself so thoroughly unconscious of
superiority. He did not come to our
house very much, he worked too hard for
this but his half brother, Walter--a pop
ular boy, who was proverb of idleness,
and who did not work his way into the
shell until he was leaviDg-came so per-
petually, that he grew to seem a very part
of our home life. He was such a pleasant,
winning lad that his very vanity seemed
excusable; his very selishness, anus
ing; and his love of pleasure ma.
tural and Irresistible. Pennie noticed
none of these qualities in Walter.
She saw him from the first handsome,
daring protector and patron; boy-lover,
who took it for granted that she loved
him, and won her heart for doing so. And
now that Walter was TALL handsome fel-
low of three and twenty, and Pennie,
with her CLEAN of childishness, and fitful,
authoritative humors, was nearly eighteen,
his love is just the love it had been from
the first-unharassed by any doubt; un-
disturbed by any quarrel; untouched by
any passion; fresh and gay, and glad, de
spite the deep and troubled shadow which
it cast upon the lonely path that it forever
crossed.
| Walters widowed mother lived about
two miles from US, at Easter Eill, and had
a very comfortable property of her own,
which, of course, Walter would inherit.
PQor Scot, her step-son, had ESQ year of
his own; but he had wealth enough in his
1 nI1 hnns n
truth in Mrs COwen's Indifferent opinion,
"Oh, Scot is sure to get on, penniless as
he is" as she was in the proud addition,
Dear Walter would never have done to
be poor" 1 don't think Mrs. Cowen dis
| liked Scot, at all, she was only utterly in
different about him, and neglectful of him.
| Her heart was so entirely filed by Walter,
that she really had no room for any one
else; not even for Pennie, though I do be-
lieve she tried to love her because Walter
| loved her.
When Scot lett Oxford, where, with his
talents, and $50 year, he had won him
self glorious honors, he became my tutor
for time, and lived with US entirely. ALL
my life l 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, and rousing
|
which, in my weakness and inactivity,
might so easily have led. But, during all
Scots lessons, had one sore heart ache,
and this was through Pennies determine
ton to have lessons with me to learn all
l learnt and for Scot to teach it to her.
And she would not guess what knew so
well. Would not understand with what a
dangerous mixture of pain and pleasure,
and joy and anguish, she troubled all his
days. Poor Scot! 1t would have been
difficult work to teach her with her puz-
z,ing questions and frequent inattention)
if ne had not loved her, but, loving her as
he did, and knowing what he knew, 1 did
not wonder at the old, still look which
was creeping into his young face my own
watching eyes grew dim as I read its un-
whispered struggle. And still, in defiance
of all my entreaties, Pennie would insist
on being taught with me; mastering
quickly and brilliantly what my lower ma
ture could not grasp; entering into Scots
| opinions, and reading rapidly his own half
| fOraed thoughts. Turning round and
laughing at his pedantry; flashing scorn-
| full, provoking words and glances at him /;
then daintily and proudly, in his very
presence, parading the happy, trusting
| love she gave his brother.
All these things was thinking over, as
l had thought them over many and many
lonely time before, when the luncheon
bell rang, and Pennie danced in, that
Walter might give me an arm.
"1 knew Scot was cut because saw
him pledding up Easter Hill," she said.
What has he gone home for?'
told her l did not know, and she
looked across at Walter rather puzzled
Then she laughed.
"I know, Walter He is afraid your
mother may be frightened about Satanella,
and he has gone to reassure her"
81 hope he may succeed" replied Wal
ter, little sneeringly.
Il hope he has ridden Satanella him
SELF" I said. "Not walked all that dusty
uphill road"
"No; he was walking" answered Pen
| ME. You may depend that was the reason
as I say. It is just the sort of thing poor
| Scot would be likely to do"
"Poor Scot, indeedI" echoed Walter
And I slipped my hand from his arm, and
went alone into the dining room.
| Scot did not appear through the meal,
| but just as Pennie had declared her de-
| termination to drive me instead of riding,
he came up to us; his face was very
white, as it always was when he was tired
or hot
"I am glad to see you back to-day,
Scot" said Walter, with heavy emphasis,
as he ordered Pennies horse; "for we
were nearly missing our ride. Come,
Pennie, it will be doubly valuable to us
now"
Charlie" whispered Pennie, an old
wist illness in her big, bright eyes, "you
look as if you didn't want me to 90.
Shall drive with you instead?"
laughed negative; and yet I did feel
strangely unwilling for her to go, guess
ing that this ride would bring them nearer
than they had ever been before. We
watched them off. Then Scot took the
reins and we followed them through the
open gates; turning the opposite way
We spoke very little to each other-we
were real friends enough to be silent to.
gether when we would, and I remember
feeling oddly relieved when Scot drew the
pony up again before the door, and saw
Walter lounging there with his cigar.
"Charlie, Charlie,"' whispered Pennie
coming in to me as 1 rested, and putting
her arms round my neck and her eyes
close to mine; "some day am going to
marry Walter. Are you glad? My
dear, dear brother, are you glad for me
self?"
What could I tell her but that wa:
glad? How could but be glad for her
with the dancing, love-filled eyes so neal
to miner How could l but be glad fol
Walter, knowing what her love made my
own home? But how-well, there wa:
enough to prevent the words being false
when told her was glad.
"Really, Charlie?"
kissed the quivering lips, and told hel
Walter would be a happy fellow, and
should miss her sorely. The tears gathered
in her loving eyes, and think we mus
both have behaved very childlessly for .
few minutes, there alone, in the tende
evening sunshine.
begged Walter to leave early that night
for fear his mother should be nervou
about the young, scarce broken horse h.
: brought; but he declined. He was s,
happy, and gay, and pleasant, that his re
, fusal did not sound in the least harsh O
unkind; and no one thought it so. H
| and Pennie were so entirely engrossed b,