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

haps I didn't use the right expression
II certainly thought it was Begun
What do you call the black ladies i
India, Peter
Peter looked perplexed.
Aunt Sallies, amt it p he said.
Now, you naughty boy, you are pok
ing fun at me. You know I mean a
Indian word-Nabob, that's not il
Tiffin; no, that's something to eat. !
must be Begun. Or. is it Begun? Nc
Begun, I think However, it doesn'
matter. Pm very glad you're not mar
ried, and that our brother has returne
to US a gay young bachelor. I shall ex
pect You TO beau US about everywhere
cir, mind that. Now we have got yol
we intend to make good use of you,
can tell you
Peter, still with his mouth full, mad
some unintelligible answer. Miss Pa
mela, struck apparently by a happ.
thought, skipped playfully to the man
telpiece. and took from it the miniatur
of the chubby-faced young man.
There, Peter she said, can you tel
me who that is?'
Don't know him. said Peter, afte
due examination.
You don't recognize it? Why, Peter
that is your own likeness at the age o
twenty two
Me! That fluffy headed chap! O
come now,' said Peter, with look o
disgust
1T is, indeed said Miss Pamela
| And very good likeness it was. In
deed, it is still, isn't it, Penelope? See
the very nose and the self-same eyes,
Probably, my DEAR said Miss Pencil
L,
correction. Foreign travel may alte,
people good deal, but it generally leaves
them in possession of the same noses
Peters likeness to the portrait is very
surprising. I should have recognized
him anywhere
Fancy you not recognizing your own
portrait, Peter!' said Miss Pamela
However, you must surely recognize
that other likeness (the one cut out O.
black paper, in profile) of our dear pa
pa! Dear papa! What e. vein of hui
NOR he had, hadn't he? Do you re-
member how he used to call Penelope
and me ION account of our initials) his
sweet P's.' and my asking him what
he would call Peter, as he was P too
| [ think I see him now, as he answered,
with that ready wit of his. What, Pc
ter? why green p, OF oourse!' And
he broke out at intervals, all the rest OF
the evening: 'Ha, ha! Very good
Green P, of course
I like peas said Peter, altogether ig
noring the late Mr.. Pimpernel's little
joke. we don't get 'em over there
though; they're too expensive-it don't
run to it,
Il daresay the living is rather differ
ent from what we get in dear old Eng
land said Miss Penelope. This was
partly in answer to Peters last remark
and partly commentary on his man.
ner of feeding, which was somewha.
peculiar. He was now eating shrimps
with raspberry jam, and the sisters oh
served with surprise that it did not ap-
pear to be customary in India to remove
their heads or tails.
At this moment knock was hearC
at the front door, and presently the trim
parlor maid entered with a note upon q
tray. and c0untenance brimful of somt
exciting intelligence.
What is it, Susan p said Miss Pencil
ope, with dignity. And how many
times must tell you never to come into
a room without knocking?'
%, please, mum. I'm very sorry. hGi
I was so fiustered Gnite forgot it. It's
the page-boy from the 'syium, mum
and one of them Iunatics has escaped
and we shall all be murdered in GU
beds; and he's 8 taking of 'em round &c
all the houses in the village
Taking the lunatics round to all thu
houses in the village? What on esrth
does the girl mean p said Miss Pamela
Explain, girl. for goodness sake, or
really think shall shake you!'
'Lor no, mum, not the lunatics. Only
letters a-telling everybody all about it
and the best way to ketch 'em, and suci
like
Peace, girl!' said Miss Penelape
Give me the letter. And with the ait
of her double eyeglasses she read abou
as follows:
THE PRIoRY, Dec. %, 1878.
DIR. Dollimore regrets to have to an
nounce that one of the inmates of hi
establishment has escaped, and is sup
posed to be lurking in the immediate
neighbnrhood. He is quite harmless
and 1t is requested that any one to whom
he may address himself will have thu
kindness to detain (Which may easil,
be done by the offer of some slight re
freshment.) and at once to communicat
with DR.. Dollimore'
Good gracious. Penelope! !! exclaimed
Miss Pamela, as her sister finished read
ing. "What frightful state of things
A maniac wandering in our very midst
No, Pamela interposed her sister
In the neighborhood, but not in ou
very midst
"A maniac-a Taving maniac! GOot
gracious, he may even now be on GU
doorstep! And we are requested to of
fer him som me;fslight refreshment. L,
refresh him, and DR.. Dollimore too, if
had him him here!'
Hold, Pamela" said her sister sol
emnly. This is not matter to be deal
with by two weak women. This is
matter for man. Peter, we look t.
you If this unhappy person shouzl
present himself within these peaceful
walls, how would yoa advise us to act p
Peter reflected.
Give him some bread-and-jam an,
some shrimps, and while he's eating @
'em throw blanket over his head an
sit upon him. That's what I should d
with him.
What a thing it Is to be man!' sal
Miss Pamela. How prompt, how Wig
orous, how much to the point! Tn
afraid, though. we should have a diff
Guilty about the sitting upon him. Fl
might struggle you know
4 think we might manage" observe
Miss Penelope. Suppose we had Proc
der, the gardener, ready behind th
hall door to throw the blanket over hi
head. and then we could push him int
the china closet at the end of the pas
, sage. and lock him till assistance al
rived
Excellent. Penelope; nothing couI
be better. But what frightful exper
ence for two defenseless females, Ma,
J not so! Peter, beg your pardon. n
; longer defe useless, since you are wit
US MY gallant brothern
, %, yes, Pm here :; and I'm going I
/ STOP said Peter.
L must say I admire bravery in
J man. said Miss Penelope. Happily
} women don't often need it. But the,
is 10 time to be lost. We had bette
have up the gardener at once.'
J No sooner said than done. The ga
dener was summoned, and was instfuc
ed as to the duty expected of him. M
: Peter Pimpernel and himself, eac
armed with large and heavy blanket
, We're to stand one on each side of th
door, and in the event (which the sis
| ters appeared to regard as a foregon
:, | oon o1 Of fro,x, a.