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

She knew her own heart now, and no
matter how things ended, it was "a last
ing comfort to have been loved by such
a 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
was directed in small, cramped hand,
the capitals carefully elaborated, as if
by ono not given to much writing.
Neither of them seemed to be what he
expected, SO he read his sisters letter
first. The end of it ran thus:
DO you know anybody in that very
far'away village Of yours by the name
Of Pansy Harding? l happened to
know lin confidence, of course,) that
she is engaged to my particular pet
Archie Johnston. He raves over her to
me, and report says her paternal rela.
tive has no end Of money. I am dying
to know all about her. Do make her
acquaintance, and give me your candid
opinion of her."
Her pretty ring, "a friend" to whom
she constantly spoke of writing, and
numberless incidents unnoticed at the
time, rushed to his memory, and slow
sickening conviction grew upon the
lonely man that youth attracts youth"
and that Archie Johnston's Pansy
would never be his wife. Slowly, aim
lessly, he opened the other letter, but
after the first line or two read RAPIDLY
to the end. Miss Penelope wrote:
Oh. JOEL sHERBuRHE: have read your let
ter, and must say it WAS great surprise to
me. never imagined that you cared so much,
or at al tor me. First Of all, want to tell you
some things that You may not know. You
speak OF the differences In our ages as if it
am, but did not think 10. am "A, and
heard you tell father you were 49, 80 you see
there u very little difference. I promised
mother when she de0, ten years ago, that az
long % father lived I would take care Of bin;
20 II you took me you would lave to take
father, too, and not many men would want an
You are also mistaken about my having bad suit
ore. 1hsve never had one in my life; you are the
only man who has ever cared enough tor me to
ask me to marry him, 90 know nothing about
love Affairs, but do know that your letter has
made me very happy. and that If It should be
the win Of Provdence, will try to make you q
good wife. But would like you to consider
al; the obstacles, and do nothing rash or that
you might regret one OF these DAYS.
PENEIOPR HARDY,
"Whewl" whistled the doctor, sitting
upright in his chair. Here's deuce of
messl I asked Penelope Jr.. and
Penelope ST., has accepted mel"
He read it again sloWly, then walked
over to the mantlepieoe, took his pipe
out Of his pocket, and knocking the
ashes out proceeded to fill it, stufRng
the tobacco we'll down with his finger :
then he lighted it in the same deliber-
ate way and returned to his chair. He
read Miss Peneiope's letter again, sew
eral times, putting at his pipe and strok-
ing his beard thoughtfully:: I would not
like to say how many pipes the doctor
smoked that night, or how many times
that letter was read, or how many times
that beard was stroked, nor is it for me
I'D ny Ook0 lib UeO46St1OOB. G0O030,
that quite early next morning small
boy brought = note to Miss Penelope,
containing these words:
The obstacles are not insurmountable. Ishall
csato zee you this afternoon. J.e.
This note threw Miss Penelope into q
state OF nervousness very trying ia
Penelope, IT,. though it must be con
fessed that energetic young person did 4
great deal in . short time-rooted objeo.
lions to certain modern improvements
in dress were borne Down and overruled
in q most determined and red-handed
fashion, and certainly Penelope Hardy,
with her hair rolled loosely at the nape
Of her neck instead of in tight knoton
the top Of her head, with . soft bow Of
pretty blue fastening the simple linen
collar, and relieving the severely made
black dreS, With . pink flush (born Of
intense e1citement) on her cheeks, and q
new light In her tinid eyes, was much
p1easAnter pezson to look as than the
Penelope that at by the hearth and
daxned.
+ Penelope. j., opened 1.-THE door toe him.