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

take. This is Mr.. Peter Pimpernel, our
brother, who has just returned from In
dia. The unhappy person of whom you
are in search is locked up in our china
closet. In fact you can hear him now.
The keeper looked from one to anoth-
er in blank amusement.
| There's pair on 'em, then. But,
axing your pardon, ladies, if there's a
mistake in the case it's on your side.
The chaps name amt Pimpernel, nor
yet Peter. His name is Samuel Sims
mons, and till he went off his head
about two years ago, he KEEP cheese
monger's shop in the Tottenh ham court
road. And he's one of the artfulest loo
MES we've got. This is the third time
he has escaned: but he never goes fur
ther than the first splace where he can
get something to eat and drink. Come,
| Simmons, own up, and tell the ladies
you've been making fools OF 'em. Long
lost brother, indeed! Why. he'd pre-,
tend he was anybody's mother, II there
was anything to be got by it,
The supposed Peter Pimpernel stood
with his thumb in his mouth, looking
sheepishly at the warder.
1T wasn't my fault, Mr.. Bradbury.
1t was them as did it. They stuffed me
up as I was their long-lost brother, and
I didn't see I had any call to say diffe-
rent. But I amt done nothing!
Here the victim of mistaken identity
began to cry.
Miss Penelope pressed her handker-
shief to her eyes.
% Pamela, what cruel deception!
How ever shall we survive it?'
%, we shall survive it fast enough
said Miss Pamela, who was somewhat
quick tempered, and whose first feel
ing was that Of extreme annoyance.
But, Penelope. frightful thought
strikes me. If this is the lunatic, aUhona
hare ace got in the china clOset?'
Can it be-!' shrieked Miss Penelope.
Yes, Pamela. it must. Can he ever
forgive us? Our real long-lost brother
comes to US after twenty years absence.
and we throw blanket over his head
and put him in cupboard
Hadn't you better let him out, then,
ma'am?' suggested the keeper. The
gentleman don't seem to take kindly
to the accommodation provided for him
and whom you come to think of it, per-
haps it is little trying to the feelings
This person is right, Pamela said
Miss Penelope. The door certainly
ought TO he opened; but who is to do it:
| must own I could never meet our
brothers justly offended gaze undersuch
circumstances.
'Lor, nla'am, don't let that trouble
you,' said Bradbury. I'll open it with
pleasure
perfect chaos of blankets, tea-trays, pre-
serve pots, and broken crockery, from
the midst of which rushed out the i'm
prisoDed inmate in hair disheveled. his
cravat awry, his coat torn, his features
swollen, and his whole frame working
with excitement. His unconscious per-
senator, Simmons, was the first person
he caught sight of. He made a frantic
rush at him caught him by the collar,
and began shaking and pummeling him
furiously, at the same time using what
appeared to be frightfully bad language
in some foreign tongue, till the victim
was rescued by the strong arm of Mr..
Bradbury.
Come, 1 say, sir, you'll addle him
worse than he's added already, which
'ud be pity, goodness knows. There's
been bit of q mistake, but shaking
won't mend it. However, if you want
to shake anybody, shake me-
The invitation was well-meant, but
from the relative size and strength of
the two men, it was like inviting very
small terrier to shake very big bulls
dog. Profiting by the momentarv in
terruption, Miss Pamela cried, "Pene-
lope, DO as do She flung herself on
her knees at her brothers feet, and
clasping him around the right leg, said,
%, Peter, can you ever forgive us?'
Mr.. Pimpernel shook his leg free
rather roughly. None of that, thank
you, old lady, be said. And the quick
er | get out Of this confounded house,
the better [ shall like it,
Miss Panel quite shrieked. He
calls NE o5d iady, Penelope. He doesn't
know bis own sister, his own little Pc
mela.' And she forthwith went off in
to violent Mysteries.
What y said her brother, this Pane
la? Then you must be Penelope turn
ing to his elder sister. Il don't wonder
you didn't recognize me, for 1 GER
tainly shouldn't have recognized you.
1 thought I had come to the wrong
house; in fact, I'll be hanged if I know
what thought. But why on earth did
you put me in that Internal cupboard?
And who the devil are these persons?'
indicating Mr.. Simmons and the keep
er.
Ifyou'll allow me, ma'am?' inter
rupted Mr.. Bradbury, 'I'll remove Mr..
Simmons at once, and leave you to set
tie matters with this good gentleman.
Now, Simmons, comeEalong. All, up
to your cid tricks again, are your
Mr.. Simmons had taken advantage
of the general excitement to partake of
little more refreshment. He had just
taken a bite out of a cold muffin, but
finding Mr.. Bradbury's eye upon him,
hoctily 1YonpoI tho fo bio
hat, which he forthwith put on his
head, and the pair departed.
l took some little time to explain mat
ters clearly to Mr.. Pimpernel, who was,
not unnaturally, much incensed by his
peculiar reception. But though some.
what irascible, he was not only of na-
turally fOrgiving temperament, but pos
sessed of cen sense of humOr, and in
the midst of his sisters fearful recital
the absurdity of the whole affair struck
him so wildly that he suddenly passed,
without the slightest warning, from
dignified sulks into a fit of uncontrolla-
BILE laughter, which continued, with but
momentary intervals. for nearly a
quarter of an hour, causing his sisters
10 entertain apprebeDsions of apOpleXy,
and finally leaving him completely ex-
hausled Mean " hjle, the distress of
his sisters at their unfortunate mistake
was unmstakab!e, and the many fa-
milar objects around excited very ten
der memories of early days, when he
and these two now faded si5ters lad
been boy and girls together. AS soon
as he recovered breath enough to speak
she said, Never mind, girls accidents
will happen, even in the best regulated
families. Let's kiss and be friends and
say 10 more about il. I'm very glad to
be back again in dear old England once
more, and to find you alive and we'll to
welcome me, though you took such g
curious way of doing it. Hush, not q
word, or you'll send me off again, and
| really am not equal to laughing any
more. ALPS we'll that ends well, and if
you are satisfied by this time that 1 am
not lunatic, We'll see if we can't spend
q very merry Christmas together
Dear, Gear, brother" said Miss Pa
mela. how good and forgiving of you.
And now do let US give you cup Of
tea. I'm sure you must be dying for it.
Good gracious, Penelope, there isn't q
shrimp isf.!'
And there wasn't. For Mr.. Samuel
Simmons, who though lunatic, was
clearly not Such a-fOOl 30 be looj. oj l,,c