The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1877-05-11
Selected Story.
That Awful Box.

Ny cousin, Penelope Pugsley, was what
the world calls a strong-minded woman
She read philosophy, practieed botany, and
knew something about all the "olcgies" IN
existence. She never thought Of matri.
,nonv, except as an adjunct of political
economy and the Bureau of statistics. Il
neople rallied her on the subject, she was
wont complacently to reply that she had
too much to do to think of getting mar
rjed. But-this is entirely confidential be
tween me and my readers-if she had
weakness, it was for DR.. Sternbright, who
lived in the nearest house to her. She had
even gone so far as to say that she believed
him to be man who thoroughly under,
stood himself. But as DR.. Sternbright was
as inveterate an old bachelor as she was
an old maid, there was every probability
that the partiality would turn out merely
an idea.
Cousin Eenelope-Penny | called her for
short-ived all by herself, with the excep-
ton OF a hard featured old Welsh serving
woman, in ruinous house, near a marsh,
with lively view of the railway, elevated
upon dismal tressle-work, and the croak-
ing of frogs innumerable, by way of music
and when first went there, visiting, |
lifted my hands and my eyes.
20, Penny" l cried out, chow can You
ever endure to livein such a place."
Penelope adjusted her spectacles on hel
Roman nose, and responded, briefly
II don't trouble myself much about ex
ternals, Mary"
"But you haven't any neighbors."
Science and the world ofliterature are
my ncighbors," said Penelope, didactie-
ally,
"Aud who lives in yonder red house,
with the row Of stumpy willows in front
of it?7
"Dr. Sternbright."
"All alone by himself? Are all there
abouts Robinson Crusoes on a small
scale p
'I believe cousin has justscome to keep
house for him-a tall, awkward girl, who
is going to open boarding school" an
swered my cousin, with some asperity.
Aha This, then, was Penelope Pugs-
leys sore spot. | chuckled inwardly to
myself upon having made the discovery
Cousin Penny in love. Cousin Penny jeal-
Gus. Who would have believed it?
/ had not been in the house long before
Sarah Evans, the ancient housekeeper, be,
came, in her turn, communicative.
Its an awful dull place, Miss" said
Sarah. "And the graveyard down at the
foot of the hill don't make it none the i've
her"
gave little shudder. I had seen the
ghostly gleam oftbe white tombstones from
my bedroom window, and resolved that !
would have curtain made to shut them
out.
"Do you believe in ghosts, Miss 7" per-
sisted Sarah.
"0f course don't; nobody does"
"Ah, I don't know With graveyard
on one side, aud a cuttin' and chopin
doctor on the other, one hears Of strange
things, retorted Sarah, stoning briskly
away at her tin basinful of raisins.
Sarah, what on earth do you mean p
Nothing said Sarah, with grim salts
faction. Except that there's a many here
abouts as has seen the ghosts of them as
DR.. Sternbright has dissected.a
what nonsense /"
"Well, miss, it stands to reason, persist
ed Sarah II know | couldn't rest in my
grave, if was dug up and cut to pieces.
Could you, now?"
"Some one has been practisit / on your
eredulity," said I, with dignity.
We'll, only know what people say
replied Sarah. "And them doctors don't
pay no attention to neither law nor order"
But inspite ofmy external faithlessness,
couldn't help thinking ofwhat Sarah had
Sald' as the gray dusk loomed over US, and
inc sad November winds began to how
around the angles Of the old house.
had come intending to remain some
ane. lresolved now to go home, as | drew
me Turkey red curtains and gave the
Sn@oudering 40 fire poke.
me night had set in bleak and stormy ];
u ne rain dashed iaspattering gusts against
sns "indows--the sprays Of tie leaaess
+oaeysnckle tapped, after q sepulchral fash
~, af the lintels, and loose shutters bang
: nke reports ofartillery Cousin Penny
{ a'4ad drank tea, with her feet on the fend-
= ! tried to read, but without success.