Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1880-01-31
s->--
A CHRISTMAS VISITOR.
Return of a Brother after Twenty
Years, Absence.

Polvpodium House was in state
of wild excitement. Inside and out
side, from roof to basement, all be-
,okened preparations for the recep-
ton of some specially honorcd guest.
Never in the annals of Polypodium
House had the brass plate on the
door shone with such brilliant lustre.
Never (wcll, hardly every had the
doorstep been hearthstoncd to such
marble whiieness, or the ollcloth Ill
the hall beeswaxed to such alarming
slipperiness. Warm smells of cakey
des scription pervaded the lower re-
gions, and even found their way Ere
maturely into the drawinS-rOOm,
where the two Misses Pimpermcl sat
in eager expectation. Here, too. the
evidences OF festive preparation We're
obvious to the least acute observer.
The chintz covers had been removed
from the horse-hair chars pale-blue
rosettes adorned the legs of the ter
restrial and celestial globes, and of the
ancient cottage piano. Even the bust
| of Cicero, under the sideboard, was
| decorated with a garland of paper
roses. But the crowuing glory of the
L
|timacassars had always been lead
ing feature at Polypodium House
| Academy. Iil-natured people, unable
to conceive IL devotion to art for It's
own sake, had been known to remark
that the parents paid for the materl'
ais. the young ladies did the work
aud the Misses Pimperuel kept the
antlmacassnrs but be this as it might
lit Is certain that the antImacassal
manufacture was carried on at Poly
podium House with eXtraordinar.
vigor. There were some of soft cling
ing wool, against which you Leaned
back luxuriously and spiteful mob
by ones, which hurt your head whe
YOU sat down, and stuck to you
coat-collar and hung down your bac
j when ysu got up again. On tn
, mantlepiece stood miniature OF
: chubby-faced young man, with stut
, bly, red hair and over it hung an oi
painting representing the two Misse
| Pimpermel in early youth, with vcr
: short wasted dresses and very Ia
e tortoise-shell combs. They were d
picted seated Oh the same sofa, the
arms lovingly entwined together,an
J the youngest Miss Pimpernel gain
II upwards with rapt affection ut tt
j. eldest Miss Pimperncrs tortoise-she
, comb. And here, Oh the selfsan
" sofa, sat the Misses Pimpernel agai
Ii Miss Pamela was perhaps shade fa
,s ter. and Miss Penelope d shade tall
|. and thinner than in the old days. III
i, short-waisted dresses bad succumb'
TO the changetul influences of tin
e. and fashion, and the Misses Pimpe
r. mel had scarcely SO brilliant col
ye plexion, or SO much of it, as they Il
peared to have had at their pictori
- age, but all else was unchanged |
IN sofa, the tortoise-shell combs, t
na;r in little punches of irizzy I'll
n let's OH either side of the head, ev
:, TO the pose of Miss Pamcla's disc
gagged hand Oh the arm of the so
as and the little lace handkerchief whi
ry in the portrait she held dainti'y nj
eff ped by its middle between her thur
n and second finer, and which She nt
" held in like manner, diintiiy mpp
nc between her second finger and thui
as ali seemed SO little altered that q
in mis ht almost have fancicd that h,
ing taken their place on the sofa
~ the purpose OF The portrait, the
Sc ters, had remained there ever SIN
er On the present occasion, hoWeV
~. Miss PAmela's eyes were directed
at wards the efiigy of the chubby yol
VI on the mant.l piece. Her sist
lis meanwhile, was employed III kniitil
ed occasionally. stopping to listen aS
NJ. for some expected sound. Atte
49,, few moments gaze at the san
II" vunth, Miss Pamela exclaimed, pr
'e- sing the small lace handkerchief W
we butu hands to her lett side.
of Dear Peter! how | long to
him YOU are sure he Suiu tO-nlS
" "n' Penelope q
lty My dear child: how can you be
absurd? Here is his letter. Rea,
again if you feel any doubt on
~ subject, though you mist have d'
u, ~" SO quite six times already. lie I
IN iinctiy say. he hopes to be with
BILE ibcut seven O'Clock Oh Tuesday t
or. ning, the 2:id. This is Tuesday, i:
,n,, not! and 1t is now a quarter to sew
my Thirteen minutes, dear! Thirt
e., minutes. Only to think that i
the few short minutes he will be bel
sed Here Miss Pamela again pressed
=, small handkerchief spasmudic
iei against her left side rs it that
re- the spot referred to.
ec- Now, Pamela, my dear, said
on, elder sister, i'll i warning voice,
holding up her knittiug-needle
III way OF emphasis. beware.
and know what DR.. Dott said. You II
,ck- not let that sensitive organiZaiio
.or, yours run away with you, or he
not answer tor the consequences.
hla- Dott will not answer for the co
con- quences remember that Pamela
With 20, bother DR.. Dottr said
;, = Pamela. Excuse me, my dear z
'. 10 lope, and don't look so drcadi
the shocked. You know what
ere impulsive creature | am, and to
em mn only brother returning from
,ho after twenty years absence is enc
NV to JoulecerSer anybody, Fm E
Ne" Only fancy, twenty years! It's q
ines Il romance isn't it: Now, Pencil
ents even you, with your strong conn
sense, you must admit that it's q
n romance
to well, no dear, don't thin
not should 90 quite as far as that.