The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-01-05
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KITTY'S NEW YEAR.

she scalded the milk-pail with boiling
water, and carefully wiped out the seams
and depressions of the shining tin pans
until not drop of moisture could by any
possibility linger THERE especially during
holiday week. when there are so many
little gayeties going on at home, and when
cousin Paul Penflax has already telegraphed
three times for one of us to smooth his DIV
ing pillow. But of course mother couldn't
come and Selina's sprained ankle puts it
out of the question for her-and Lizzie has
her drawing and penmanship pupils and
it's very mean and selfish of me to grumble
and repine like this! Yes, Cousin Penfax.
yes, Pm comingn' as a vigorous humping
of a cane or umbrella, or some other blunt
ended instrument signified the presence of
dominant will in the room upstairs. And
she fastened to attend the summons, pull
ing down her dress sleeves and hingng off
her green checked work apron as she ran.
Paul PenflaX lay among his pillows, a
little yellow, dried up etllgy of man, with
fretful curves to the corners of his mouth,
sharp, bead-black eyes, and hair of that
peculiar sandy tint that fades but never
turns gray.
"Kitty," said he, "what time is it? Who
has taken away my clock ~
OTIS five O'Clock, Cousin Paul"
"You're deceving me, Kitty. It's dark,
amt it-pitch dark 2"
"But it's snowy evening, Cousin Paul,
and the days are short. And you know
you gave the clock to Zenas Throgg to
repair"
"But didn't expect he was going to
keep it always"
''Shal send for t?''
"No-o-on snarled the yellow-faced inva-
lid. 81 don't suppose he's touched it yet
He's the slowest snail going. Get some
one to move the hall-clock in here Pm
lost without the time of day
dyes, Cousin Paul." meekly answered
Kitty.
"Because You know" said old Mr. Pen
flax, lugubriously, every minute is of
value to me now. My days are numbered. "
"'I'he doctor says"
81 don't care what the doctor says, -
interrupted Paul Peniax Gle can't see
an inch further than his own drugs. All
the Pcnhaxes die on New Years eve It's
the family fate"
sob, no. Cousin Paul, because"
"Your father died on New Years eve,
didn't he?"
eyes, but
"And Xachariah Penfax, down in Massl-
chusetts Bay was blown off the deck of
Lively Sally, in a squall, ten years ago on
New Years eve?"
"They didn't know whether it was the
thrtyfrst of December or the first of Jan
uary because"
''But | know" solemnly interrupted
Mr.. PenflaX. "And there was your cousin
Maria"
''She wasn't Penhax!'
"But she married one. It's all the same
The PenilaXes all 20 on New-Year' SIEVE. "
can these are only condolences, Cousin
Paul." pleaded Kitty, as she tenderly
Strengthened the sheets and smoothed the
pillow-cases
'Humpn' grunted the sick man. "When
you see me in my coffin you'll say it was
only coincidence, | suppose %
"Please don't talk So" soothed Kitty.
Here is your cruel, nice and hot"
"You'll seer said Paul Penfax.
''Shall | make you cup of tea?"
"Gou'll see!'' he mournfully reiterated
cor would you prefer Coffee
"You'll see!''
''1'm going to stew down chicken for
you tonight" cheerfully went on Kitty
nice little red calf out in the barn. A New
Years present"
"Calves and chickens don't signify to me
now" grOaned Mr.. Penflax. "But want
the clock brought in, where / can see it
and hear it tick. Every second is of i'm
portance to me now. It's five o'clock, is
it? Very well. Eefore midnight the Pen
flax doom will have descended on me-
You've been very good to me, Kitty. |
wish had a fortune to leave you, but I've
only the farm and-and the big diamond
stud that old Captain Blossom gave me be-
fore he committed suicide in the garnet ten
years ago. Pm calculating to give that to
Mary, my niece, who is so poor, down on
Beverick Beach. Mary's father helped me
years ago, when needed help badly. It's
all written in a paper somewhere. And
the stud is sewed up in a bag of channels
leather in the lining of my pillow tick
Don't let any one get at the diamond stud
Kitty, until the lawyer comes
No, cousin Penflax, won't" protested
Kitty.
''And now bring me the big Bible and
my spectacles," said Paul. "And call
Owen French to move the clock at oncer'
"Won't you eat your cruel, Cousin Paul?'
mo" said Penfax. "What has dying
man to do with cruel? Isn't it New
Year's-eve? Isn't the Pentlax doom APP