The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-04-27
PETS THINGS.
nv rsTurR sERIE KENNETU


BY ESTHER sERLE KENNETH.
am little Miss Ray. Used to be gov
erness at Mr.. Peter Grosvenor's when
his daughter-now Mrs Mordaunt NAL
colm-was in her teens. A dreadful
little firt she was, in short dresses.
There's a great difference in girls, let me
assure you. Some are children at six
teen; / knew a girl of seventeen who
played with her doll on the sly. Others
are coquettes at ten.
Pet was one of the latter kind.
What was her name? Well, properly
she was Petronel, for they had expected
a boy when she was born, and had him
all named-Peter Grosvenor, Junior
and when the child proved girl, they
came as near it as possible in giving her
a name. Her father always called her
Petronel. Everybody else called her
Pet. l always did.
At fourteen she hadn't any mother,
and | came to Poppywalks to take charge
of her education. You never saw any
thing like the string of little gallants
that child had then! To take her to
picnics, to attend her to church, to in
vite her to drive. Mr.. Grosvenor didn't
care-seemed to be amused by it; but l
was very much shocked and sincerely
sorry. Of course the girls head was full
of beaux and nothing else.
/ talked with Mr.. Grosvenor about it.
He said he knew that Petronel was
fond of society-youDg society; her
mother had been. He didn't see any
harm in it. He guessed I'D find that
the child would study.
Well, she did learn her lessons some
how; l can't say ever saw her study.
She was quick, with a grasp of mental
power, like all her fathers family. And
she was very apt at music that delighted
her father, and while she improved in
that, think he wouldn't have taken it
to heart if she learned nothing else.
l had begun by being dissatisfied with
my charge; but couldn't find much
fault with Pet. She liked to please-to
please me as well as her father
and her beaux-and so she did
her tasks every day, and was always
respectful and sweet-tempered, and l
learned to love her dearly. So perhaps
| was not the less anxious about the
child's welfare, and closely observed her
outgoings and incomings at Poppywalks.
For Mr.. Grosvenor had never given me
authority over Pets conduct, only so far
as was concerned as teacher.
She was, in reality, the little mistress
of the hOuse-sat at the head of her
fathers table, played hostess to his
guests with very pretty grace. And
men of sixty did homage to her pretty
dark eyes and bronze-brown curls, Just
like boys of sixteen did. used to think
40 much attention, such fiattery and
compliments, would spoil her, but she
was one of those Interchangeable people
whom nothing seems to alter-she was
herself always. ] really don't see much
change in Mrs. Malcolm, now that she
is thirty, and the mother of family
She is the same sweet, winning creature
she always was.
Well, the time came when 1 knew all
of Pets beaux, and / can't say that l
ever knew any harm of them. Nor.
daunt Malcolm, at fifteen, was quite a
favorite of mine, and really hoped that
when the young folks were of proper
age something would come of his visits to
POppywalks.
On Pets fifteenth birthday, Mr.. Gros-
venor gave his daughter birthday party.
There were several strangers TO be pres
ent on that occasion-among them a
young man who was visiting the Elberts.
Glyndon Fame they said his name was
twenty-five years old, very handsome
and bold-looking.
He evidently took great fancy to Pet,
and though / did not see her much in
his company that evening, he called the
next morning, and she asked leave to be
excused from her French lesson for hall
an hour to go down and see him. AS
she evidently did not feel much like
studying after the previous nights ex.
citement, / consented, though Mr.. Fame
had not recommended himself to me, and
| was not pleased that he had called.
But he came to Poppywalks often, and
Pet frequently went to walk or drive
with him-sometimes in party, as often
alone. l really thought it very i'm.
proper, and if Mr.. Grosvenor had been
at home, should have demonstrated with
him against it; but he had gone South
for three months.
As I have said, / had no authority
over Pet. If had / certainly should
have used it, for Glyndon Fame had
looks and ways that made me absolutely
afraid of him. He was passionate, dis
solute fellow, and his wealth and even
high family connections did not render
him suitable companion for young
girl who, in spite of her position of gen
eral favorite, had been brought up in
country simplicity, and was pure and
guileless. For the longer l knew Pet
the better understood her, and instead
of thinking her heartless, as once did
knew it was her genuine afability thai
made her society no sought after by
young gentlemen, who always like good
tempered girls.
Mr.. Glyndon Fame was very different
from Pets boy-lovers, and i soon saw
that he had a great influence over her
She would blush at the mention of hi
name, as I saw her blush mt no other
She wore his color rose pink. The
only time | ever saw her vexed wa
when old Judith, the house-keeper, mean
ing no harm, threw out some fading
blush-roses which he had sent her.
But they are faded, Miss Pet" said
Judith, "and there are plenty of fresh
ones in the garden"
"What If they are faded? want tc
keep them. | wish you would let my
things alonel" she cried, angrily.
But her tender heart rebuked hel
almost instantly for her harsh words
and she followed old Judith into I'll,
ball, and cried with her arms arount
her neck. and kissed her wrinkled cheel