Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-01-06

Pamela
%, bother DR.. Dott y said Miss Pane.
la. Excuse me, my dear Penelope, and
don't look so dreadfully shocked. You
know what silly, impulsive creature
am, and to have an only brother return
ing from India after twenty years alb
sence is enough to 6ouleVerser any body,
I'm sure. Only fancy. twenty years.
It's quite a romance, isn't it? Now,
Penelope, even you, with your strong
common sense, you must admit that IS
quite romance
We'll, no. dear, I don't think should
60 quite as far as that. 1t is romantic to
certain extent, perhaps, but [ don't
think I should describe it as quite q ro-
mance'
Miss Pamela playfully whipped her
sister with the small lace handkerchief.
%, of course, most precise Penelope
Always correcting poor little me. Well
say it's almost romance. then! Ro
nance or not, my dear, I believe, in
your quiet way, you are nearly as eXct-
ed about it as I am
IF you mean that I shall be glad to
see our long-lost brother, Pamela, I do
not deny it, but as.for allowing myself to
become ercited on that OR any other sub
Ject, L should nope
But what Miss Penelope would have
hoped was not destined to be revealed
to the world, for at this moment loud
rat tat tat was heard at the front door.
'Tis he!' exclaimed Miss Pamela, and
rushed to the door. closely following by
ner less impulsiye sister. The door be
ing opened: there appeared rather
shabby little man, of chubby appear
ance, and wearing his hat, which ap
peared good deal too large for him, very
far back on his head. Miss Pamela made
a swoop at him from the top step, and
chief over his left shoulder, at the same
time hiding her face on the other.
Our own, our lOng-lost brother!' y she
murmured. Twenty yearsH
The shabby little man submitted pas
sively to her embrace, though with g.
look of some slight surprise, and mur-
INJURED, like an echo:
'Ah, twenty years!'
When you have quite done. Pamela,
my DEAR interposed Miss Penelope,
with dignity, I also will embrace our
brother Still the same impulsive being,
you see, Peter! Just the same playful
child you remember twenty years ago.
'Ah, yes,' said Peter, gazing earnestly
at Miss Pamela. Playful child! Twenty
years is long time, though
Here Miss Pamela gave spasmodic
wriggle, expressive of intense emotion,
and subsided, with the lace handker-
chief pressed to her eyes, into one of the
hall chairs
Now, Peter,' said her sister, it is nay
turn. Embrace your Penelope at the
same time making a sideways lunge at
him with her head, and leaving her
cheek in convenient proximity to his
lips. Peter embraced her accordingly,
though without any appearance Of ex-
treme delight.
Miss Penelope applied her handker
chief 10 her eyes.
This is weakness she exclaimed
| Though, to do her justice, there was no
indication that it was anything of the
sort.) Peter, welcome to England
| Welcome to our modest little home, and
come and have some tea
And badly enough you must want it,
| poor fellow, after that dreadful long
| Journey said Miss Pamela, who had by
this time recovered from her emotion
And such frightfully hot climate,
too
You giddy, giddy child said Miss
| L
sister, You surely don't suppose Peter
has come straight away from India this
evening. That would be rather too
much of the good thing, wouldn't it,
| Peter?'
well, hasn't hep replied Miss Pam.
ella. I'm sure I don't know. I don'i
profess to know anything about geogra-
ply out of school hours. Come, Pencil
ope, let us lead Peter in triumph. You
take one arm, and I'll take the other
and we'll carry him off between US
Stop, first let me hang up his hat. Fan.
cy, Penelope, a real mans hat hanging
up in the hall of Polypodium Housev
Dye think it'll be safe there" said
Peter, hesitatingly. 'Because-it'sr rath
er good hat. and 1 shouldn't like any
thing to happen to it,
There's caution for youn said Mis-:
Pamela airily. That's our careful Pc
ter all over. He always was careful
boy. Never fear, then, the hat shall be
taken care of, and next time it comes
We'll have glass case made on purpose
for it, that we will
You giddy-giddy childn again ex
claimed Miss Penelope, tapping her sis
ter reprovingly with her eye-glass, "hoW
can you go on so? Upon my word you
are only fiji for pinafore and pantalettes
What Peter will think of you, 1 really
don't know
Peter will think that his little Pane
la is SO delighted to see him that she ISM
accountable for anything, and excuse
all shortcomings accordingly, won't you
Peter?'
%, yes. I'll excuse 'em.' said Peter.
Dear Peter, knew you wouldn And
Miss Pamela shot flying kiss at his
cheek, but being short of stature, un-
fortunately missed her aim. and alight
ed on his ear, which he forthwith began
to rub vigorously.
Pamela, you are really too impulsive,
said Miss Penelope, You have hurt him
I am sure!
%, no. said Peter, it amt that. Bu
[ felt like an earywig.'
'Ah, poor dear boy said his younger
sister, any one can see that you have
not been accustomed to the kiss of affec
tion'
No, amt said Peter. That's just
where it is, and it tickles'
By this time the sisters had conveyed
their long lost brother into the parlor
where the tea table was laid out. Miss
Penelope presided at the tea-tray, while
N1loS athCio Dat USSluc UllelI VlSiGOT Ou
the sofa and piled him with the various
delicacies on the festive board, which h'
attacked with vigor which left nothing
to be desired. On Miss Penelope's ex.
pressing hope that his tea was to hi:
liking
It's be-eautiful,' he replied, with hi
mouth full Of buttered toast. I'VE dom
get such tea as this over there, can tel
you. And as for srimps lor, if they wa
fatted calves they couldn't be more of ;
curiosity
The two sisters had exchanged glance
more than once, as their brother let slil
some grammatical solecism. Miss Pene
lOpe now remarked:
You havn't had many opportunitie
of speaking English in India, daresay
Peter?'
"What, me? Well, no, not to sa,
many opportunities,' said Peter.
And that not in the best society, yer,
likely? p said Miss Pamela.
%, yes, the society's all right, whel
you're used to it. Some of 'em's litti
peculiar, of course; but they're al
right, except when they get THROWN,
things
The sisters exchanged glances again
Peter had clearly not moved in the bes
/ society.