The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-13

Nlgh onter Seyenty-two an startin fur
the capitil. Whatever would Nathan say?'
the dear old lady kept repeating to herself,
as she counted ner bundles over and over
sitting bolt upright, the prey to many fears
These were somewhat dispelled when she
reached the city and saw the genial face of
the landlady nodding up at the car window.
Ihefei knew you the first minute | set
eyes on you, she said, taking the little old
lady IN her arms with true Southern spon-
taneity Juiy-Ann described you all right.
Pretty near tired to death, / suppose? Let
me take the bundles; Wen get home as soon
as we can and then you shall have good,
It's quite a journey to take at your age,
now, ism I III she continued when they
were seated at last in the carriage But
then, it's worth the trouble if you get your
pension, and l have no doubt that you
Every one that she met seemed to be UNI
der the same impression. All the boarders
concluded at once that the dear desire of
her heart was to secure this monthly sti-
pend. Some even took it for granted that
she had been fighting for it for the last
twenty years, with the result of having it
continually disallowed.
don't see how they could have kept you
our OF 1t SO long, auntie," observed a giddy
through his monocle.
1 wish that / could draw a sum like
that aitnb without earning it,, said her next
work hard enough for my pittance"
MISS Penelope turned and looked at him
rTefectlyeiy. Then her mind flew back to
u.
was peaceful smile, and it straightway
opened every heart to her entrance.
BEFORE the week was past she had re-
counted all Nathan's battles; offered to
work a tiger lily" rug for the pretty
young lady who was going to be married
IN the spring, and started a chest protector
for the young man opposite who was in
consumption.
Within the month she had taken the tour
OF the public buildings; had gazed awe
struck on the wonders of the Capitol and
washington Monument, and, grandest treat
or all, had seen the Soldiers Home, with its
corps of feeble veterans, and Arlington
with its 1900 headstones and it's monument
to the unknown dead. Miss Penelope said
ranks of ''bivouacked dead" but her face
wore a look of exaltation when she left
the sacred spot.
not yet been acted upon. At last the de-
partment clerk offered to get his congress
man to intercede for her.
'"fhatll hurry it along" he said en-
couragingly There's SO much red tape
about such matters; they only need a little
Miss Penelope thanked him, but showed
no enthusiasm over his protter of assist
ance. In fact she suddenly became quite
serious at the prospect of success.
Clyde Whiting attributed it to uneasiness
as to the outcome, and thought he was
comforting a great kindness on the old lady
When he Interested Congressman Lane in
her behalf and took him down to the PEN
sion Office to jog the memory of the dila-
Claim 9,764-Certainly. sir" and the
obsequious employe began to examine the
Mes diligently. I'm! Are you quite sure
about the name? There must be some mis-
take"
mo. 9764-Mr. Nathan r. Briggs" broke
in young Whiting impatiently.
YeS; Well, you see, his widow has been
drawing his pension for the last twenty
years That is the reason the claim was
not acted on, l suppose. Matilda, widow
of Nathan r. What is the present claim
ants given name?'
Penelope" Clyde answered, in a crest
foil Ian
Penelope
The clerk snapped back the files non
chalantly.
Il remember the other case. had not
heard from her husband for years. sup
posed to be dead; then she got a trace of
him through the war records. put in her
claim. giving satisfactory evidence and il
was allowed. 1t isn't anything new. We
have such cases every now and then. They
always get found out when the pension is
due"
What shall tell herr" faltered Cylde
when Miss Penelopes claim was finally set
aside, and he and the congressman started
to retrace their steps. From something
Mrs. Allen dropped one day l judged the
husband wasn't all the old lady cracked
him up to be; but / never thought it would
be as bad as this. | can't do 1.-THE shock
would kin her Won't you help me out
man pleadingly. lit would not be SO bad
coming from a stranger. If you only had
heard her talking about him and seen her
face! Why, | should as soon take Nathans
sword and stab her to her heart"
The Hon. Mr.. Lane smiled indugently.
as much of the bitter side of life as him.
self, he would become hardened.
We'll, send her around to me at 2:30. OF
course, II the man was such scoundrel
the sooner she knows it the better"
The Hon. Theophilus Lane thought he
had steeled himself against possible scenes
tap came at his door and he looked up
from his papers to meet the confiding gaze
of Miss Penelope's soft eyes, his task sud
denly became very disagreeable to him.
Mr.. Whiting. he said, you had some
thing to say, to me-" and Miss Penelope
with a, gentle wave of her hand
mol haven't got time ter stop. I s'pose
glanced up at him interrogatively, but
meeting with no response, went on in
trembling tones.
Yer see. every one seems to think I'm
so dead set after that pension, an it wuz
all Elviry Brackets things She said it
wuz my duty an a-slightin' NV Providence,
an / didn't know but what she wuz right.
All the way in the cars | KEEP a-thinkin'
What would Nathan say?, an every day
eide Yer see Elder Little, he alters
preached agin' insurance; he sed how it
wuz a sacrilege an, somehow | couldn't
wuz bein' paid for Nathan's life. After
l cum here an see the avenuoo, where
them troops marched along with Their tat
tered flags, an when I see them headstones
an all this beauchus city they helped ter
save why, my whole soul riz agin it.,
wouldn't heV it So He Civ his life fur his
country, athout money an athout price; SO,
you see, l can't sign them papers, nohow.
Il wuz goin' ter pay Miss Allen with
part of that money, but guess she II take
il out in butter and eggs, an the ladies,
they've ordered hooked rugs, an the gen.
tlemen mttens an mufflers Why, I've got
'nough ter do ter keep me busy don't
know how long"
The Hon. Theophilus Lane bent from his
towering height to take the little old lady's
hand in his. and, as he gazed in the earnest
face TRANSPORTED by the light of firm
resolve, he felt thrill that not all the
applause from one of his famous speeches
had had the power to waken
do you think that you could manage to
fill an order for me, Miss Penelope?" he
asked with as much anxiety as If hooked
rugs, mttens and muff1ers were destra Die
commodity in Washington.
well, now, / dunno but what l might;
seems it's you" Miss Penelope answered
reflectively. Dear me, l s'pose ElViry
Brackett'l be awfully put out when | cum
back athout tibet pension, but eff Nathan
thinks it wrong, an l think it wrong, why,
it must be wrong, no mistake.
Miss Penelope went back to Canaan as
innocent of wrongdoing as when she came,
but before her return her story somehow
cot circulated round, until it reached the
Presidents ear and he went SO far as to
ask for the pleasure of a private audience.
1t is safe to say that no potentate ever
appreciated that honor more fully than
Miss Penelope. as she made her curtsey
to the chief executive and related brief
account of Nathans battles.
1 was all his account - she