Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-04-03
MISS PENELOPE, SENIOR.

DIR. Hardy was Miss Penelope's father, and
NJ ss Penelope was aunt TO Penelope Hardy,
Jr. They had lived nearly all their lives in
the same old fashiont d house, and Mise Pen.
elope had never been away from II for one
night even. There had been a large family
Of them, but only Miss Penelope and the
Doctor remained he peculiar and somewhat
Of a martinez she, with a simple, self-sacfi.
icing nature and q strict New England con
science.
At last the Doctor grew too feeble to prac.
tioe any longer, and, after some dsmur, sold
out TO DR.. Joel Shsrburne. Il shrewd, ener.
getic Maine man, who set up his shingle a
little way of and soon extended the business.
He was cheerful as well az skillful, and peo.
pie we're quick TO find it out. Still, he could
not afford to despise DR.. HardJ's many years
OF experience, and was very glad sometimes
to ask the old mans advice, witch gratified
him and consequently pleased Miss Penelope.
II was such break in the monotouy OF their
lives to have this big CHEEKY man to come In
and sit an hour with them, bringing q breath
OF the outer world with him. for his talk was
not always Of medicine busy rs he was, be
found time to read the magazines and many
new idea and pleasant thought found its
way TO Miss Penelope's more than half
starved brain.
They made a coy group around the open
hearth. Tue two doctors talked and argued
to their hearts content, while Miss Penelope
sat on the opposite side Of the hearth and
knitted or darned and listened. She was full
Of kindly impulses, and observing that DR..
Sherburne's driving gloves were out at the
fingers, she timidly offered one evening to
mend them for him, and did so while he sat
there another time, in some mysterious way,
she discovered that there we're great holes in
his oveTcoRt pockets, which also received at
teniioD, and gradually the new Doctor began
to have quiet, friendly feeling for the un.
obtrusive little woman.
Affairs were at this stage when Penelope,
Jr., came home. Ia a dit Of gratitude for
having been nursed through a severe illness,
her mother had named her after Miss Psne-
lope, but as the gratitude wore away 1t was
corrupted to Pansy, "a silly, furbishy name"
said her grandfather, who never called her
by IT, though every one else did, even DIR.
Sherburne, although he liked the old fash
iontd names best and always thought of her
by it. Her mother bad died years before,
and her father was in California making mon.
sy, so the girl spent her summers with her
mothers people, and her winters in the old
homestead.
She was q happy, winsome young thing,
and frightened up the old house wonderfully.
She and DIR. SherbuTne made friends at once.
DR.. Joel dropped in quite often now, and a
close observer would have noticed that he
wore bis Sunday clothes almost every even
ing, was much more particular in bis general
appearance, aud always had something to
show or tell Penelope, Jr., in which that wi.
ly little maiden appeared to be deeply inter.
ested. These days Penelope, Sr., did not
feel as cheerful as usual. Il did not occur to
her TO blame either of them in fact, she
knew OF a little episode in Pansy's life which
had resulted in the pretty ring on her finger,
and she thought the Doctor knew 1t, and It
seemed quite natural that he would prefer
the younger womans company.
As time wore on the Doctors visits grew
very frequent, and be began to realize, for
the first time in his busy life, that bachelor
quarters we're bare and dismal places. Wis
ions Of pleasant hearth of his own, and q
pleasant face beside the hearth began TO
haunt his waking moments, and, after much
cogitation and weighing Of pros and cons,
DR.. Sherburne wrote a letter. 1t vas q work
of some time and meditation, and cost many
a sheet OF paper before 1t was completed
then, patient Unexpectedly stepping into
the office, it was hurriedly addressed TO Miss
Penelope Hardy" and dispatched.
During the day it was received. PAnsy
took it in, and, reading the superscription,
With it. Here, Mi IS Penelope Hardy" she
cried gayly, holding the letter over her head,
lis love letter for you. Oh you sly aunty,
to be receiving letters from unknown TO me)
writer's. Here, read IL, and then confess to
me. or I'll never forgive you" She ran
laughingly away, and Miss Penelope was left
alone with her letter. After looking II over
on all sides she cut of the end of the enve-
lope with her scissors and drew out the let
ter, and this is what she read
DEAR Miss PENELOPE Perhaps you will
be surprised when you read this letter.
hope that you have guessed long ago how
dear you are to me, aud that you may be
willing to give the guidance of your dear
life into my hands.
know there is difference in our ages,
but not so great, hope, that love cannot
bridge it over; and will try my best to
shield you from every trial and care, and to
deserve your affection.
/ have prospered 10 business during the
| past year, aud can offer you a very oomforta-
bic home, and you will still be near enough
to the homestead TO be able to look after
them. know you must have had other suit
ors before me, and am plain and old-fash-
ioned, not gifted with flowers Of speech, but
shall consider myself a most happy and
| fortunate man II you will consent to be my
! P. S.-Please let me hear from you as
| soon as possible.
Miss Penelope gasped and laid down the
letter. Her mind was in chaotic confusion,
| She walked over to the small blurred looking
| glass which huny over her chest Of drawers
and stood'there looking intently at herself.
"Ah, II he had come twenty years ago :"
she whispered, shaking her head sad.
ly at the reflection before herr then
| might have been worth the having (;
now, am an old woman. Aud yet he loves
me, and will consider himself TtunAte IL
will be his wife. What have 1 done to de-
serve this great happiness !" Falling ON her
knees by her bedside, poor Miss Penelope
sobbed and led wall of-sorrow for her
lost youth and more than one tear of joy.
Here Penelope, Jr., appeared upon the scene,
and b airing the wonderful news told by Miss
Penelope with as many bushes as girl OF
16, elapped her hands aud embraced her rela.
tive on the spot, declaring it was more than
she had expected.
On DR.. Sherburne's table lay two letters,
which he was quick to spy when he came in.
One was post. marked Boston" and was
from bis sister the other was directed in q
small oramped hand, the capitals carefully
elaborated, as If by one not given 10 much
writing. Neither of them seemed to be
what he expected, so he read his sisters let
ter first. The end OF it ran thus:
"Do you know anybody in that far away
village OF yours by the name of Pansy Hard
ing2 l happen to know Qn confidence o.
oourse) that she is engaged to my particular
pet, Archie Johnston. He raves over her Il
me, and report says her paternal relative hai
no end of money. | am dying to know al
about her. Do make her acquaintance, anC
give me your candid opinion of her"
Her pretty ring, "a friend" to whom sh'
constantly spoke of writing and numberles
incidents unnoticsd at the time rushed to hi
memory, and a slow sickening conviction