The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-07-07


at him renectively. Then her mind
flew back TO the saber on the wall, and
she smiled. 1t 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 "tiger lily" rug for the pretty
young lady who was going to be mar
ried in the spring and started 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
awestruck on the wonders Of the cap
itol and Washington monument, and,
grandest treat of all, had seen the Sol
diers' Home, with its corps of feeble
veterans, and Arlington, with its II 900
headstones and its monument to the
unknown dead. Miss Penelope said
nothing as she strolled slowly along
the ranks of bivouacked dead" but
her face wore look of exaltation when
left the sacred spot.
Her application had been sent in,
but had not yet been acted upon. AT
last the department clerk offered to get
his congressman to intercede for her.
That'll hurry it along" he said en-
couragingly. "There's so much red
tape about such matters, they only need
little pushing"
Miss Penelope thanked him, but
showed no enthusiasm over his prefer
of assistance. In fact, she suddenly
became quite serious at the prospect of
success.
Clyde Whiting attributed it to uneasi-
ness as to the outcome and thought he
was comforting great kindness on the
old lady when he interested Congress-
man Lane in her behalf and took him
down to the pension Office to jog the
memory of the dilatory clerks.
''Claim 9,764 - certainly, sir" And
the obsequious employee began to ex-
anime the files diligently. "Uml Are
you quite sure about the name? There
must be some mistake"
"No. 9,764 - Mr.. Nathan 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 upon, l suppose.
Matilda, widow of Nathan r. What is
Penelope" Clyde answered in a
call her Penelope.
The clerk snapped back the files nom
chalantly.
I" i remember the other case. Had
not heard from her husband for years;
supposed he was dead; then she got
trace of him through the war, records;
put in her claim, giving satisfactory
evidence, and it 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 l tell her?" faltered
Clyde when Miss Penelope's claims
was finally set aside and he and the
congressman started to retrace their
steps. From something Mrs. Allen
dropped one day judged the husband
wasn't all the old lady cracked him up
to be, but never thought it would be
as bad as this. 1 can't do 1.-THE shock
would kill her! Won't you help me
out little?" And he turned to the
congressman pleadingly. cit would
not be 30 bad coming from stranger.
If you only had heard her talking about
him and seen her facet Why, I should
as soon take Nathan's sword and stab
her to her heart"
The Hon. Mr.. Lane smiled indul-
gently. The boy was young. When
he had seen as much of the bitter side
of life as himself, he would become
hardened.
"Well send her around to me at $3.50.
Of course if the man was such a scoun-
drel, the sooner she knows it the bet
ter"
The Hon. Theophilus Lane thought
he had steeled himself against possible
scenes, but when at the appointed time,
a light tap came at his door and he
looked up from his papers to meet the
confding gaze Of Miss Penelope's soft
eyes his task suddenly became very
disagreeable to him.
"Mr. Whiting, he said you had
something to say to me-" And Miss
Penelope came forward, refusing the
proffered chair with gentle wave of
her hand.
"No; haven't got time to stop. 1
s'pose you want me to sign them pa
pers?" She glanced up at him interrOg.
atively, but meeting with no response,
went on in trembling tones:
"YOu see, every one seems to think
I'm 80 dead set after tibet pension, an
it wuz all Elviry Brackets doin's. She
sed it wuz my duty, an a-slightin' of
Providence, an didn't know but what
she wuz right. All the way in the cars
1 KEEP a-thinkin' What would Nathan
say2' an every day it's been the same.
l couldn't seem to decide. You see,
Elder Little, he's alters preached ag'in
insurance. He sed how it wuz sac
rilege an somehow couldn't sep'rate
the two, nohow. II seems ez eff 1 wuz
bein' paid fur Nathan's life. After
cum here an see the avenoo, where
them troops marched along with their
tattered flags, an when l see them
headstones an all this beauchus city
they helped to save, why, my whole
soul riz ag'in it.
81 SEE to myself, can't take it.
Nathan wouldn't hev it 30. He Civ his
life fur his country athout money an
athout price. So, you see, can't sign
them papers nohow.