Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-02-25

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dismal places. Visions Of / pleasant
hearth Of his own, and : pleasant face
beside the hearth began to haunt his
waxing moments, and after much cogita-
ton and weighing of pros and cons, Dr.
6herburne wrote letter. It was q work
OF some time and meditation, and cost
many . sheet OF paper before it was
completed; then, patient unexpected
y stepping into the Office, it was hur-
nedly addressed to @Mies Penelope
Hardy" and dispatched.
During the day it was received, Pansy
took it in, and reading the supersorip-
ton, ran upstairs lightly to Miss Pencil
ope's room With it. Here, Miss Pencil
ope Hardy" she cried, gaily holding
the letters over her head; us love-let-
ter tor you. Oh! you sly sunty, to be
receiving letters from unknown Ito me)
writer's. Here, read it, and then con-
Tess to me or I'll never forgive you"
6he ran laughingly away, and Miss
Penelope was left alone with her letter.
1t was most unusual for her to receive
one, unless from Psnsy when she was
away, go she put on her spectacles and
read the address carefully before she
opened it. It was certainly for her.
miss Penelope Hardy" in bold free
band; al Penelope's letters were ad-
dressed to Pansy. After looking it over
on all sides, she cut off the end of the
envelope with her scissors, and drew ont
tho letter, and this is what she read:
DEAR Mss PENE1oPE-Perhaps you will be
surprised when you read this letter. hope
that yon have guessed long ago how dear you
the guidance Of your dear life to in my hands.
know there is difference in our ages. but
not 20 great hope that love cannot bridge
It over; and will Try my best to shield Won
from every taisl and care, and to deserve your
l have prospered in business during the past
year, and can o11er You very comfortable
home, and You will still be near enough to the
homestead to be sble to look after them. I.
KNOW you must have had other suitOFs before
me, and am plain and old-faahioned, not
gifted with flowers Of speech, but shall con-
e!der myee]f most happy and fortunate man
ocrely,
JOEL SHERBURNK.
P. s.-Please let me hear from you as soon
as possible.
Miss Penelope gasped and laid down
the letter. Her state of mind closely
resembled that of the little old woman
of our childhood's days upon whom the
naughty peddler's trick had such be-
widening effect. She almost asked,
Am I-I?" Her mind was in chaotic
confusion. She walked over to the
small blurred looking glass which hung
over her chest of drawers, and stood
there looking intently at herself.
"Ah, If he had come twenty years
ago" she whispered, shaking her head
sadly al the reflection before her; "then
might have been worth the having;
now I am An old woman. And yet he
loves me, and will consider himself for
tunate if I will be his wife. he is 30
strong and kindi It must be very
pleasant to have somebody to love one
and take care of one. I would keep
all his things in order and make him so
comfortable. What will father say!
Will he be willing to let me 60? Oh,
mother, have kept my trust faithfully
all these years; will it be wrong if I put
this man before my father? Dear Lord
what have I done to deserve this great
happiness!" Falling on her knees by
her bedside, poor Miss Penelope sobbed
ard cried wall of sorrow for her lost
youth and more than one tear of joy.
She knew her own heart now, and no
matter how things ended, it was "a last
ing comfort to have been loved by such
q good man." Here Penelope, Jr., ap-
peared upon the scene, and hearing the
wonderful news told by Miss Penelope
with as many bushes as a girl OF is,
clapped her hands and embraced her
relative on the spot, declaring it was no
more than she had expected, which last
remark greatly surprised the older
woman.
| On DR.: Sherburne's table lay two let
ters which he was quick to spy when he
came in. One was postmarked *Bos-
| ton" and was from his sister: the other