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


ez you"
Miss Penelope she always answered to
that name regardless of being the reliet of
Nathan Briggs and a widow of good stand
fng-made no answer at first She was oc-
cupied ii casting on the heel of stocking.
Marrying so late in life. no one in Canaan
could get out of the habit of addressing
her as Miss Penelope; so Miss Penelope she
remained, both before and after marriage
She was a faded little old lady, with soft
eyes and a pathetic droop to the corners
OF her mouth. These anxious curves were
accentuated now, as she dropped her knit
ting in her lap and glanced up a little dep
recatingy
Il hadn't thought on it." she commenced
well. you jess oughter. broke in her
companion volubly. Its sin and a shame
TO let money go to waste as blongs ter you
by good rights Why, there's Seth Sawyer
claimed he he'd a gunshot in the knee-hed
a doctors certificate made out an all that
but Farmer Jones SEE he got it piIferin a
hen roost-he was with him when he done
st. OF course, he can't come forward an
testify fur he'd be defamin' NV his own
character. An Hannah Pratt-she that
wuz a Winslow--draws her stipend regular
though everyone knows Stephen Pratt never
went inter the war till twas nigh over, an
died in his bed at his allotted time. No one
can say that of your claim, Penelope. Its
all open and above boardn
a tender smile wreathed Miss Penelope's
lips as she lifted her eyes to the opposite
wall, where a sword and knapsack were
suspended
Yes Nathan, he fit in three battles-shi-
10, Manassay and the Wilderness. He wuz
took ter the hospital arter the last one
an that's the only bit of information 1 could
scrape up. Couldn't make out, even where
he wuz buried. Corporal Brent, he brought
me them things back--found EN- on the
battlefield"
A tear stole down the wrinkled cheek.
"'Twuz a grievous loss, Sister Penelope.
That's the way look at it. You've given a
life to your country, an now it owes you a
recompensation"
Mrs Bracket leaned back after this
statement and looked at her friend as if
defying her to deny the allegation.
The bereaved widow shifted uneasily I'M
der that steady gaze. The remarkable flow
OF language confused her.
1t never seemed zactly right" she ven
tured, timidly. elder Little use ter go on
awful gainst insurance. Pears ter me this
is bout the same thing?"
Elvira Bracket shifted contemptuously.
"Sakes alive The quicker you get that
notion out yer head the better. You don't
hear no sech talk nowadays in the pulpit.
Times heV changed. Besides you've got ter
look out fur yerself Think NV havin' ten
dollars month. sides the arrears. Uncle
Sans a good pulvider."
Miss Penelope made no rejoinder to this,
but turned the heel of her stocking medita-
lively. Perhaps awe of Elvira Bracket
restrained her from an open expression of
her views, for Mrs. Brackets mother was
Peterson. To have emanated from such
a stock was a brand of nohility one of the
PetersOnS had borne the title of circuit
Judge; all had held offices of responsibility
Mrs. Brackets sisters husband was a
and Elvira paid yearly visit to her kim
folks. returning from each trip in an ele-
waited and instructive frame of mind. Ell
NlTa was porn manager; so now, when
she leaned forward with an air of settled
deterInination. Miss Penelope sank back in
her chair with much the same sensation of
a fly in spiders web.
1T al very Well Elyira went on, in an
when you're young an spry an can look
out Tor yourself but now, with old age
staring you in the face, it's a slightn' Nv
Providence, that's what it be! We wuz
laIhlh II over at the sewing circle last
Wednesday,. Hannah Jewett said she heard
you hadn't been to meetin' since last July
cause you hadn't decent pair NV shoes to
wear. Now, Miss Penelope, you know what
the Bible says about hidin' yer talents in a
napkin IF hevin husband tibet fit in
Ihree battles isn't talent don't know
what is.
ElVira' arguments were not exactly log
zeal but Miss Penelope had not the courage
to retute them, and so she went on
L tell you now, l have an idea july
ann has sent pass fur me to come on an
preservin' time but you might as well take
It an go as far as WASHINGTON. JnIv AIMS
slster-in-laW keeps a boarding house there
an she'll take you in. III write her to
bout it. That's just the very thing! IN
ma some one goin on from Northbore. ter
put you in care of, an it'll give yoI& a
chance ter see the capitil. too-ft's a power
tul pretty city. so they say. Now, | guess
We got you all flXedE And Elvira drew
her shawl around her and prepared to take
her departure.
Don't yer worry about yer things or
nothin'. I'll be over an fix EN- up for
you"
Miss Penelope sat motionless for a long
time after her visitor had left her. The
and the stars lit their glinmering tapers
one by one. A thread of moonlight stole
through the parted curtains and giittered
ON the shining andirons. When she STUN
hled to her feet at last and began to pre-
dazed expression on her face.
Nigh on ter seVenty-two an goin ter
the capitil! l wonder what Nathan would
say? Elyiry seems ter think it's my duty.
She sed it wuz a siightin uv Providence"
Even now. after Nathan had been dead
thirty years, Miss Penelope found herself
deferring to his opinion as she had always
tried to 90 while living; not that she had
was simply form of respect by which she
strove to hide the. consciousness that Ma
than's judgment was not to be relied upon.
Indeed. no one but Miss Penelope had much
opinion of Nathan Briggs. To obtain a
certificate of responsibility in Canaan it
was necessary to be familiar with onefs
family tree. Nathan had come there
stranger.
He had always been singularly reticent as
to his ancestry, and although this had been
a source of regret to Miss Penelopes pride,
She had been too loyal TO question him.
All of her friends had openly rebelled
when. in addition to her own responsibility
OF making both ends meet on slender in
come she had taken upon herself the care
and maintenance of Nathan Briggs. Miss
Penelope only smiled contentedly.
Il can't say as Nathan loves to work
nC-but then. you see I'm sech a driver.
myself. that l kin do nough for two. An
I've heard tell how people oughter choose
their oppostes" For proof of which she
would drop her needle and thread an run
out 10 light the kitchen fire rather than dis
turb him from the perusaI of the evening
paper
lie isn't Canaanite that's it. faint
fair ter weigh him in the same scales she
would say To herself by way Of excuse.
when she was wondering how she would
meet the grocer's bill while her husband
sat with his feet on the porch railing, dis
cuSsing the financial state pf the country.
Bat when the war broke out then Miss
Pegelopes heart thrilled with pride. Ma