The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-08

oNSH l you JnOugnC also, DUR
SUED the other, cruelty, that perhaps
might give you a piano sometime. lust
the same, as reward for this sucri-
.fice?"
zen shrunk, half in fear, half in nor
Tor, from the reddish brown eyes that
seemed to read her soul so, easily.
might have thought that once"
she said, TREMENDOUSLY, but l couldn't
think 1t now. Believe me, Aunt Rachel.
1 couldn't accept piano from YOU att
er that speech, if you offered it on your
knees. Papa once said that you liked
me only because 1 was red-headed and
had voice-like yourself-and 1 be-
lieVe it now"
And a temper, he might has added"
said Aunt Rachel, sweetly.
She rang for her maid and asked for
check book and pen. Penelope accepted
the check haughtily, but choked out
some thanks as humbly as she could.
You can omit that" interrupted Ra-
chel but without a feather ruff1ed. II
don't think you are very grateful just
now. but 1 don't mind that. What 1
should like if you care to give it. is
kiss. Could you kiss me. Penelope,
without any special repugnance?"
Pen stood speeches. with amaze
ment. looking blankly at the strange
woman. Then a revelation flashed
over her and she cried. Aunt Rachel,
you are unhappy! Have 1 helped to
make you sou
She hesitated a moment and then
sprang forward and impulsively kissed
the cold, passionless, beautiful face.
Her aunt, with that puzzling blend of
pride and humility. made no effort to
retain the warm young lips against her
own, but said quietly, almost softly:
You mustn't tell people they are
nnha ThaIy I'D
mustn't think that you have made me
unhappy"
Some 80 minutes later Topsy, with
heaving tanks and lathered sides,
came to a stop in the barnyard of the
old Slaymaker farm The sound of
wheels brought Hold Slaymaker to the
barn door, with a stalk of timothy be-
tween his teeth.
Hello, Pen!" he sang out cheerily.
"Drivin' that black Topsy in here
again just to tantalize me? Got her
all in sweat, too, amt you?" he con-
tinued, advancing. 1 want her before
she's plum ruined. When you goin' to
sell her to me, anyway Pen" and he
grinned, for it was generally under
stood that PEN would as readily sell
her pretty head as her horse.
To-day. Mr.. Slaymaker-right now.if
you will give me check for $3.50"
This was the sum he had always jest
ingly offered for the mare.
"Pshaw, Pen! Amt you ever goin' to
quit tantalizin' me?" But his ocular
ity died away as he looked into PENS
eager eyes. What you mean, anyway,
Penn" he asked, puzzled.
Just what 1 say" she answered, try
ing to be as calm as Aunt Rachel. Il
need the money more than the mare,
and I need it to-day"
Hold leaned against a wheel of the
phaeton and chewed refiectively on his
timothy for a moment. Pen, if you
need $3.50 worse'n you need Topsy you
need it bad" he said, gravely. 'Pn
lend it to YOU
That is good of you, Mr.. slaymaker,
so good, but I can't borrow it. II
don't know when I could pay it back
the money must be my own"
as slowly as his body. you amt up
: to no mischief. Pen, be you? You
amt goin' to elope or nothin' ?"
He grinned, but Penn knew that he
was disturbed. So she laughed, though
not in her old. careless, girlish way,
and said:
IF 1 were going to elope I should
want to keep Topsy, for there isn't a
horse in the country that could catch
US"
Hold chuckled Her joking treasured
his cautious mind and reminded him,
moreover of the bargain offered him.
Then it's go; but swow, Pen, it's
the quickest boss trade 1 ever made"
And he started for the house.
1t was six or seven minutes before
he returned with the check, spelling
it through for the last time in his
slow, bovine way. Pen tucked 1t in
her purse beside the roll of bills she
had drawn from the bank in Hamilton
en- her aunt check, and told Hold he
could have the mare that afternoon.
AS she drove out the gate, she heard
him shout, as parting pleasantly.
Say, Pen. maybe you be goin' to elope
with the mare and the money. tool"
She waved her handkerchief back, but
her eyes were swimming in tears. She
had sold Topsy!
She drove past her home-though
Topsy wanted to turn inland on to
Princenton, mile further. At the vii
lage bank she cashed Slaymaker
check and also one of her own for
$50. The latter represented practically
the savings of her life, but this she
gave not a thought. What she did
think of, with a swelling heart. was
the fact that it rounded out the pre-
cious thousand dollars her father need
ed so badly.
She had closed the door of Topsy's
box stall-for the last time, proba bly,
and started for the house, when she
turned back suddenly, and in burst of
passionate grief, threw her arms
around the mares hot, pulsing neck.
80, Topsy, Topsy, 1 nave sold you,
and maybe they will whip you and
make you race! But have sold my
self, too, sweetheart, I have sold my
self. 100, and God will take care of us
BOTH"
Her tears were dashed away by the
time she reached the house. Her ia ther
was not there her mother said, but
had driven off somewhere with old
Baldy.
when he comes, mama. give him
this with-with my love"
She tried to be very calm-again like
Aunt Kachel-but the last words tot
tered, and thrusting the fat rool of bills
into her astonished mothers hands,
she rushed upstairs and threw herself
across her bed.
All. that was a bleak, bitter hour
when Hope lay dead! That glorious
letter from Aunt Rachel. promising
her a piano for her birthday, seemed
now to belong to a dim, remote past:
but Pen could recall that she had
promised God that night, on her knees,
in her little white gown. that she would
try never to speak in anger or sell
fishness again, in order that she might