Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-02-21
TWODinnerS at PenningtOn'S
BY Mrs. Moses p. Handy. (
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Copyright, 1900 by the Authors syndicate)

posite Miss Gladys Pennington, ana
thought of her far more than he dld
of the sermon.
Miss Pennington's father was re-
tired carpet manufacturer, with
tidy fortune, to which Gladys and her
brother James were sole heirs.
Albert was a clerk in a wholesale
hardware store and, by hard labor,
earned ten dollars a week. OF this
five dollars went to his landlady.
The moth sighed for the star, and
Albert sighed for Miss Pennington.
The moth and the star were hardly
further apart than Albert Whiting
and Gladys Pennington. Albert had
T. er spoken to her; she barely knew
that he existed.
What then. were Albert's feelings
when, one day, after church, Mr. Amo~
Pennington pompously approached him
and invited him to dine at his house
on the following Sunday? He blushed
like a girl, and stammered out an ac-
ceptance. Fortunately, Mr.. Penning-
ton did not wait for more. The inyl-
tation which meant so much for Al
bert to him meant only the discharge
of rather disagreeable duty which
he admired himself for performing.
He would have been thunderstruck at
refusal. Every year he obtained
from the pastor of the congregation,
of which he had long been senior
deacon, a list of the young men who
were punctual at church and sum-
moned them to dinner. The good
man liked to encourage piety and be-
slowed invitations on these exemplary
young men in precisely the same spir-
it with which he awarded prize books
for regular attendance at Sabbath
school,"
The following Sunday, when Albert
entered the Pennington drawing
room, punctually at two, be was sur
prised to find already there, besides
the host, his wife, his son and daugh-
ter. IS black-coated individuals with
all of whom he was pretty well ac-
quainted. The assembly reminded
him of a special meeting OF the
young Men union"
1t fell to Albert to escort Miss Pen
nington in to dinner He, poor lad,
was overwhelmed with the honor
He did not know that father Penning-
ton, who exercised strict supervi-
sion of his daughters acquaintance,
had chosen him as the most harmless
and unassuming of the 16 young men.
Albert could think of absolutely no
remark with which to open CONVEX
sation. Miss Pennington. entirely at
ease, saw his bushes with more pity
than wonder. She was accustomed
to her fathers duty dinner parties
and rather expected the guests to be
awed. Mr.. Whitney's shyness spoke
in his favor, as a tribute of respect
TO her father. Mr.. Pennington had
brought his children up to strict OBJ
servance of the fifth commandment.
at is rather warm for the time OF
year." quoth the young lady, break
ing the ice.
Albert raised his eyes and assent
ed. He would have done so had Miss
Pennington said that it was cold.
"What nice eyes he has" thought
she. 1t was unusual for Gladys to
notice a mans eyes. at was fright
fully hot at the lake last August, p"
she said, aloud 81 think it could
hardly have been warmer in town."
at wasn't bad in town, except in
the middle of the day." replied AL
bert, bravely.
$50 you were not fortunate enough
to be away on your vacation?"
| Albert laughed. mo, l have my
vacations in November" 1t was then
October.
"That must be nice for shooting,
murmured Miss Pennington, vaguely
"You hunt, don't you?"
81 fish a little" answered Albert
There was another silence. Miss
Pennington turned to her other
neighbor. Then Albert found cour
age to speak to his, a young maj
WHO'LL ne kIlcW WCll'
A November vacation was Hobson':
choice with Albert. Sometimes, i
trade was active, he got none at all
He came last on the list of clerks a
Jobson's. But, when he could, hi
thankfully packed his bag and wen
to spend two weeks in the Wisconsin
woods with his only living relative, I
yreat-uncle.
Great-uncle Morris was fond of tn,
boy and good to him. His log cabil
and little farm would hardly supper
one. and Uncle Morris held it the dut.
of every man to do his share of thu
worlds work. Albert did what h
could for Uncle Morris. He bought
small stock of groceries and shipped
them ahead of his annual visits il
p order that the expense of his enter
.ainment might not be burden, ant
he faithfully sent the old man tn
best Christmas and birthday gift
that he could afford. Uncle Morri
had told him once that the farm
would be his some day and some
times, when Albert felt desponden
u at his slow promotion, he pictures
himself as living in the cabin, in oil
age, without even a nephew to vlsi
S him. The thought made him tende
T toward the old man.
h Just as Albert was about to spea
to Miss Pennington, once more, n
heard her fathers voice: MY dea
d young friends" and the rest OF tn
y dinner was devoted to remarks, par
t " instructive and partly cateche'
/ zeal, from that gentleman.
Nevertheless Albert went home II
e joicing. He felt that he had made
IS great step. Thereafter, he was Ell
e titled to raise his hat respectfully
h Miss Pennington on Sunday and upo
= the rare occasions when he met ne
on the street. Moreover, as in dur
f. bound, he made his dinner call an
Is acquitted himself with credit, his col
/. versation being mostly with MT