Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-07-10
How She Ord II. .


Peter Pennywise was in deep grief.
All the hopes of lifetime were to be
frustrated. The fond ambition he had
so long nursed, his pet scheme to make
the name of Pennywise the greatest IN
the land, was now no more. his only
son. Launcelot, was to be married 10
plebeian- to a girl who had wealth but
no name, no family, no ancestry, or no
coat-of-arms on the panel of her coach.
Could human misery be greater
Could the Ossa of grief piled on the re-
lion of disappointment make heavier
load of sorrow No. The cup OF Penny
wise was full to the brim, and he must
drain it to the lees, however bitter the
draurht. Such was the tenor of old
Pennywses musings as he paced the
velvet carpeted floor of his library the
evening when our story opens. A con-
versation his son had had with him, as
they sat together slipping their wine, at
ter dinner, had been the cause of this
tumult in the breast of Peter Penny
wise.
Launcelot was a weak-eyed and pink
skinned youth, with thin yellow hair,
which he parted in the centre, and lit
of his face, the pulling of which with
his nervous little hand constituted the
principal employment of the scion OF
the house of Pennywise.
Father" said Lanucelot, after gulp-
ing down two or three glasses OF wine
to give him courage. "Father.
"Well, my dear son, what do you
want ?" asked the pompous head OF the
house.
''What do you think of marriage ?"
''What do | think of what?" question
ed the surprised Pennywise.
Marriage" replied Launcelot. Mat
rimony, you know. Two hearts with but
a single thought, two souls that beat as
one, and all that"
Il think that every man should mar
ry, and l would be glad to hear that you
had fixed your affections on some lady
with the proper qualifications.
'What are the proper qualifications?
inquired Launcelot. .
''Famlly," replied his father, ''family
whatever else you do be sure to never
disgrace the name of Pennywise by any
plebeian connection"
"Why is our family such a great one?"
demanded the young man.
ga great one !" echoed Pennywise &;
"why its the greatest one in the land.
Study carefully the genealogical tree that
hangs in the hall, and which cost me five
thousand dollars to have properly traced,
and you will see that the name OF Pen
nYwise was as well known as that OF
William at the time of the Norman
conquest, and that the cOat-Of-arms Is
one of the most respectable and ancient
that ever heraldry boosted of. "
"Wen, of course, that's true, father
but I've heard some of the fellers at the
club say that grandfather was a
pawn"
"Your grandfather was broker and
banker, as myself am, and was fully
aware of the responsibility of being
worthy of his family, said Mr.. Penny
wise, interruPting his son; therefore he
began my education by impressing the
value of q family name upon my youth
full mind, and so, when | had grown old
er, and he intimated to me that | ought
to marry the highly respectable Miss
Poundfoolish, l went to that lady, pro-
posed, and was accepted. Thus | con-
solidated the two great families of Pen
nywise and Poundfoolish, and you and
your two sisters are the result. But you
ask my opinion of matrimony, and you
think of marrying ?"
"Ye-es sir, gasped Launcelot.
''And whom do you propose honOring
with your name ?"
"Miss-a-iss Petersham," answered
the youthful Pennywise.
"Petersham-Pete | never
heard of a Petersham. Who is she p
demanded the old gentleman with 8
darkening brow.
''She is very rich.
And Launcelot faltered.
"Riches are very well, but you do not
need them. Your mother left you all hel
fortune, and shall leave you half OF
mine if you marry as | wish. Who is
this-this Petersham ? What does hel
father do ?"
''He keeps large clothing establish
ment.
"What !" roared Pennywise! A tailor
1t shall not be. The arms of Penny
wise shall never be married with needle
or disgraced by a-a-great heaven "a
goose 1t shall never be.
lit must bel" said Launcelot going &c
the door, ''cause I've popped, and she's
accepted me-"
The old man mechanically arose, and
walked to his study, where he began
pacing the floor, as we found him at the
commencement of our story.
A gentle knock on the library door
reused Mr.. Pennywise, and bidding the
| knocker come in, he settled himself in
his easy chair and prepared to receive
his visitor.
The visitor proved to be the governess
of the two Misses Pennywise-aged
twelve and fourteen-whose disorderly
conduct and wilful destruction of ward
robe and textbooks occasioned many 9
visit to the library, after the dinner hour,
by the governess.
She was a neat, pretty little body, this
governess, and had often attracted the
| notice of young bloods who came to visit
Launcelot, but she paid not the slightest
attention either to their compliments OF
chances, attending quietly to her pupils,
and seeming wholly wrapped up in theil
charge. In fact, Charley Gushington.
who was falling in love with every cir
he met, once observed of her to Launce
| lot:
'Launce, that governess gal-what's
her name Amy Dorr PAINT got any
heart. The only thing she could love
would be more pupils, or plenty OF
money"
"Good evening, Miss Door," sale
Pennywise, when Amy had entered the
library. what can do for you this
evening ?"
Excuse me, sir" said Amy, hesitat.
ingly. Il wished to see you about nv
pupils, but | can see you are grieved and
agitated, and as fancy know the cause
of your agitation, will not annoy you
with my commonplace complaints.
"You know the cause ?" gasped P.
Eyes sir | have no wish to intrude
my opinions or my knowledge, but the
cause of your grief is, | imagine, the
approaching marriage of your son, and
think he is acting very foolishly"
''You are right, Miss Door, asserted
the old gentleman-''yo are right. He
is acting foolishly-most foolishly"
Cannot you prevent it ?" she asked.
''No, am powerless -powerless. He
will wed the tailor's daughter, and dis
grace the great, the sristocratic name of
Pennywise