The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-11-20

MATURE Sue WIS, TIC OllOuSHt.
"You are very, very late," she said.
Didn't l say would be?' he asked.
He stalked up stairs. She did not fol-
low. After some minutes he looked over
the banister. Camilla sat upon the lower
stair weeping, the wick of the candle
flaring in little pool of grease in the
candlestick.
whats the matter?" he asked.
''You never kissed me when you came
in" sobbed Camilla. "Itt the-the-the
first time you ever forgot to do it."
Come up and be kissed, said Pen
dexter. Camilla slowly climbed the
stairs. Caresses were exchanged.
Her Henry Penny did not mean to
kiss his Cammy," thus Camilla.
"Cammy doesn't know what business
bothers are, said Mr.. Pendexter. Hen
ny Penny is tired and worried with
them; his Cammy must not be cross"
'No, no; but Cammy wants to share
all Henry Penny's troubles" said Mrs.
Pendexter. Tell her all about it..
Just then the street door bell rang vio-
lently-not once, but sixteen times.
"Oh, dear, dear, | believe it's dear
NAL" cried Camilla.
Pendexter glanced at the picture over
the chimneY-piece.
"Just like her." he muttered as he
went down stairs to open the door. A
telegraph boy was just about to ring
again. PendeXter snatched the envelope
he offered and signed as hidden, then
rushed up stairs to peruse the missive.
His Cammy was rushing about the room
wringing her hands.
"a telegram" she cried. Something
has happened to maj
NJ L..
pect.
"Be calm, Cammy," he said. ''If it is
the will of Providence that something
has happened to her you mustn't rebel
and all that, you know. Be calm"
81 can't until l know what it is!''
Mr.. Pendexter opened the envelope
and read the message he had sent to his
wife from the hotel.
''Bother!" he said. "Oh, it's nothing,
Cammy; only message l sent you when
l knew l should be detained. That
wretched boy should have brought it
at seven o'clock"
ooh, Henry Penny" cried Cammy,
chow relieved | ami" Then she sud
denly threw herself into his arms.
"Cammy did not know her Henry Penny
had sent her word" she said.
"Oh, that's why you were frightened?"
said Henry Penny.
YES" sighed Cammy, "oh, SO fright
ened! And that man you had to see
gave you all the bother?"
Eyes, of course" said Pendexter;
Eyes, certainly.
What was his naughty name?" asked
Cammy
"His name?' queried the guilty Pen
dexter. "Oh, his name waS-er-Mil-
ler."
"Cammy hates him for bothering her
Henry Penny" said Mrs. Pendexter.
Then she turned the gas out and slept
the sleep of innocence.
Mr.. Pendexter's conscience, however,
kept him awake some little while. He
tossed about uneasily and sighed several
times. He was thinking of the charm
ing Mrs. Miller. He slept late next day.
When he awoke a sound as of tirkling
teacups met his ears. The house was
small and the dining room was just be-
low his sleeping room. Camilla was tax
ing breakfast. Some one was with her.
"Oh, my prophetic soul, my mother
in-law!" he gasped. Getting softly out
of bed, he approached the register and
listened.
"Do have another biscuit, ma" he
heard Camilla say.
"NO, really, DEAR" responded another
female voice. That husband of yours
sleeps this morning"
''lIe was out quite late last night"
said Cammy, land awfully bothered
what about?" asked the mother-in-
law.
ooh, business said Cammy. "Noth-
ing but business could keep him from
me. Some dreadful man named Miller
bothered him don't know how. He
wasn't like himself when he got home:
oh. not bit! And the telegram he sent
came after that, and was terrified"
"YOu are too nervous, my child" said
the mOther-in-law. "Oh, dear me, to
think of your being married. and I've so
much to tell you. Last night | had the
greatest fun. You know | used to see a
great many people when | had share in
that business in San Francisco, and there |
was one very nice little man-bald, but |
not so bad-looking-that | flirted with |
dreadfully. Well, yesterday, as ] was on
my way up to the hotel walked be- |
cause was so tired of stting-whom |
should | meet but that very man! Why, |
l hadn't seen him for ten years; and he |
was Just delighted; he is really smitten, |
y
younger than | really am when l am |
dressed and touched up a bit, and actual |
iy he called on me at the hotel and took |
me to the Opera-it was fun"
''Oh, MAP cried Cammy.
"Oh, knew the man TO be respecta-
ble," said the elderly lady. But I'd |
forgotten his name-couldn' think of it |
and can't yet. He dealt with the firm |
for long while-I saw him twice week
but what his name was. Well, no mat |
ter. After l got home, laughed and |
laughed. When do get into a gale l |
can't stop. We went home slowly like a |
couple of lovers, and he really said the
tenderest things"
''Why, maj said Camilla again.
'If you should cut up such dreadful
caper I'd disown yOu," said Camilla's |
mother But what's the use of being
six-and forty if you can't enjoy yourself
as you please? Besides, he'll never see
me again, you know. Oh, could have
married twenty times, Camilla, but /
never-I own i'll never came so near
really liking any one since your poor
stepfather, Mr.. Miller, died as l did that
man long ago in San Francisco. | sup
pose he is much younger than 1, but l
should have said yes if he had asked
me then"
"And now, MAP" cooed Camilla.
'Stuff and nonsense, child" replied
her mother. Now I'm looking forward
to being grandmother"
'Oh, 90 away, mai" said Mrs. Pen
dexter, and both ladies giggled.
As for Pendexter, he dressed himself !
in trembling haste and stole softly down
stairs. A portiere gave him chance to
remain unseen while he took peep. lie