South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-07-28

had had L fancy 1t would have been Just
the same. l was young fourth-form boy
in those days, at home ON sick leave three
quarters of the time; and Pennie a way
\ ward, mischicvous little girl, attempting
: all my lessons, but never taking the small
. est heed of her own; yet We never fancied
/ Scot at all superior 10 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 a proverb of idieness,
and who did not work his way into the
shell until he was leaving-came so per-
peiually, that he grew to seem very part
of our home life. He was such pleasant,
winning lad that his very vanity seemed
excusabie; his very seltishness, 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; q 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 besn from
the frst-unhsrassed 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 thst it forever
crossed. 80 .tt.I
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, hsd ESQ a 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, penniless as
he is" as she was in the proud addition,
Dear Walter would never have done to
be poor" / don't think Mrs. Cowen dis
liked Scot, at all, she was only utterly in
different about him, and neglected. 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 do be-
lieve she tried to love her because Walter
loved her.
When Scot left Oxford, where, with his
talents, and $50 yesr, he had won him |
self glorious honors, he became my tutor |
for 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, and rousing |
me cheerily from the laDguid, idle life, |
which, in my weakness and inactivity, L |
might so easily have led. But, during all
Scots lessons, had one sore heart-ache,
and this was through Pennies determine
tion 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 aud pleasure,
and Joy and anguish, she troubled all his
days. Poor Scott 1t would have been
difficult work TO teach her with her puZ-
zling questions and frequent inattention)
if he had not loved her, but, loving her as
he did, and knowing what he knew, did
not wonder at the old, still look which
was creeping into his young face my own
watching eyes grew dim as 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 hale
forned thoughts Turning round and
laughing at his pedantry; flashing scorn- .
ful, 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
| had thought them over many and many i,
a lonely time before, when the luncheon I
bell rang, and Pennie danced in, that }
Walter might give me an arm. /,
." L knew Scot was cut, because saw :
him plodding up Easter HILL" she said, .
What has he gone home for!"
l told her I did not know, and she
looked across at Walter rather puzzled. =
Then she laughed. -.-Eots
"I know, Walter. He is afraid your
mother may be frightened about Satanella, o
md he has gone to reassure her" r
hope he may succeed" replied Wal +
'er, little sneeringly.
81 hope he has ridden Satanella him. 3,
'elf" l said. Not walked all that dusty =
Up hill road" a /
No; he was walking" answered Pen
lie. You may depend that was the reason
IS say. 1t is just the sort of thing poor !,
scot would be likely to do"
Poor Scot, indeedI" echoed Walter a
md slipped my hand from his arm, and
vent alone into the dining room.
Scot did not appear through the meal,
Dut just as Pennie had declared her de- 2
ermination to drive me instead of riding, l
le cana up to us; his face was very
White, as it always was when he was tired
II hot. b
81 am glad to see you back to-day, il
'cot," said Walter, with heavy emphasis, y
s he ordered Pennies horse; for we o.
we're nearly missing our ride. Come, v
'ennie, it will be doubly valuable to US b
low." c.
Charlie" whispered Pennie, an old
visit illness in her big, bright eyes, "you al
Ook as if you didn't want me to go. Il
hall drive with you instead ?" -
laughed negative; and yet I did feel m
trsngely unwilling for her to go, guess cs
1g that this ride would bring them nearer a.
han they had ever been before. We 8
Tatched them off Then Scot took the N
Gins and we followed them through the L
pen gates; turning the opposite way. p'
We spoke very little to each other-we
7ere real friends enough to be silent to- "
ether when we would, and l remember le
ceiling oddly relieved when Scot drew the lie
ony up again before the door, and saw
Walter lounging there with his cigar. 81
Charlie, Charlie" whispered Pennie,
oming in to me as l rested, and putting lie
er arms round my neck and her eyes &c
lose to mine; "some day am going to
marry Walter. Are you glad? Ny ds
car, dear brother, are you glad for me, r
nd glad for Walter, and glad for your
What could I tell her but that was CT
lad? How could but be glad for her,
18th the dancing, love e-flled eyes so near sV
} mine? How could l but oe glad for
Walter, knowing what her love made my m
wn home? But how-well, there was W
lough to prevent the words being false W,
hen told her was glad. gr
Really, Charlie
l kissed the quivering lips, and told her SO
Talter would be happy fellow, and 1 re
lould miss her sorely. The tears gathered bu
her loving eyes, and think we must
9TH have behaved very childlessly for a tn
W minutes, there alone, in the tender J.
yening sunshine. ch
begged Walter to leave early that night, ou
+ far his mother should be nervous ma
,out the young, scarce broken horse he To-
ought; but he declined. He was SO ba
lppy, and gay, and pleasant, that his re- qu
sal did not sound in the least harsh or ex
lkind; and no one thought it so. He tn
I'd Pennie were so entirely engIossed by Sc,
oh other that-my father beinp ont and oh