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

misery, lying there on her face, she dug
her fingers into the cover-lid and drew
1t tragically over her head.
She arose finally, flushed and tear
streaked and looked into her glass.
She smiled wanly at the wretched girl
she saw there, and kissed her plying
ly. Her goddesses hung upon the walls
Jenny Lind, Patti. Eames and other
queens of song. Slowly and sadly she
dethroned them-for she was to wor-
ship them no more. She kissed them
goodby, and laid them away. She piled
her music in the middle of the floor,
and wrapped it up. She even took from
her dressing table a little pastel of
Beethoven, and
'Penelopel Come DOWN.
She dashed some water upon her
eyes, touched them with powder, gave
her tumbled hair a swift stroke or
two-he must not know she had been
Weeping-and then descended the
stairs with a humping heart.
Penelope, where did you borrow
this money!" asked her father. He
spoke gently. but his hat was on his
head to take the money back. He
could allow no neighbor to lend his
daughter money when he himself was
bankrupt.
81 did not borrow it. sir. 1t is my
own" And she TREMENDOUSLY told him
how it came to be her own.
Her father took off his hat, and
looked at his wife with an illuminated
face. Mrs. Whitney was smiling fond
ly and blinking back the tears.
Pen, you make me proud of my
blood" said Mr.. Whitney, with full
throat. "You have saved your faith
ers good name, and poured balm on
your mothers bruised heart. But I'm
afraid you have broken your own to
do it."
Pen nestled in his strong arms like a
bird at rest. 1t seemed indeed as If her
heart might be broken for she could
not speak at once. Her body twitched
and her throat worked convulsively.
Papa, III must cry she choked
out but it is only because l am so
happy, so happy, SO happy; and be-
cause l love you-O, papa, because l
love you sol"
The tears washed away the last of
her grief: and when she could sit up
on her fathers knee, though still hid
ing her swollen eyes shamefacedly be-
hind her handkerchief, she laughed at
herself and put her hand on her IA
TIERS face to feel if he was laughing
too. He was laughing, but If she had
looked she would have seen that he had
been doing something else moment
before.
A week later a surprising thing hap
pened. Aunt Rachel rolled into the
farmyard in her grand victoria, lifted
the old fashioned knocker on the Whit
leys' front door with her own hand,
and asked for her brother. 1t was the
first time she had ever crossed the
threshold.
Brother and sister were closeted two
hours. To Pen, waiting feverishly in
the kitchen with her mother, it SEEM
ed an age. Then Mr.. Whitney came
out and Asaid, calmly, pen, your aunt
wants you"
Penelope" said Rachel, in her abb
rupt way, before Pen could cross the
room and take her hand-and possibly
kiss her, your father and have made
up. We might have done it just as cas-
lily twenty years ago, but we didn't,
and may God forgive us both! l am
going to Cincinnati for two weeks to
let an oculist put out my eyes-or cure
them. Should you like to go along and
sit in a darkened room four or five
hours every day and read and talk to
a crotchety, half blinded old woman2'
80. Aunt Rachel, you are not crotch
ety." protested Pen, laughing. But
I'd go with you If you were as cross as
old Sally Annon."
"Why?" asked Rachel. drily.
because 1 believe you would go with
me-"
Aunt Rachel did not say whether she
would or not, but Pen went back with
her in the victoria. They staid in Gin
cinnati two weeks, during which time
Pen scarcely stuck her nose out of Inc
hotel. Then, one morning, when Rachel
could bear daylight through goggles.
she suddenly announced that they
would go home that day.
Are you ashamed to lead around an
old woman in goggles, Pen?" asked
Rachel, as they entered the station. 1t
was the first time she had ever used
Penelope's pct name.
Ashamed! I'm jealous, aunt, pout-
ed Pen Everybody looks at YOU and
nobody at me-just as If 1 didn't have
beautiful red hair, too"
They reached Hamilton about 2
o'clock. At the maid announced Mr..
Whitney with a buggy to take Pen.
home Pen was just kissing her aunt
goodby when a shrill neigh from the
street made her start. The sound was
followed by rapid hoof- beats on the
asphalt, and then it wasNtha- Pen
sprang to the window with a sharp
cry. She knew Topsy's voice as we'll
as she knew her fathers; and there,
sure enough, stood Topsy. paving and
impatiently tossing her beautiful black
head and pricking up her ears toward
the house.
AUNT Rachel. what is papa Going
with Topsy?" demanded Pen.
How should l know, child" asked
Rachel blandiy.
But you do know!" cried Pen, seiz-
ing her hands.
maybe someone is rewarding you
for your sympathy and patience with
a cold-hearted, masterful old woman.
Ask your father
Pen gave her aunt one swift hug.
Il wish there were more such old wom-
en-" she murmured, and fed. The next
moment she was hugging Topsy.
Your aunt wrote me to buy the
mare back at any price" said Mr..
Whitney, as they rode along Pen
driving, of course. 81 guess you won
her heart, Pen. Very few have: very
few have understood" he added; rath-
er sadly. II didn't myself She has
set me on my feet again, and shall
regret to my dying day the years
left her in loneliness. For she has been
lonely in spite of all her money"
The first thing Pen saw at home,
after kissing her mother, was a beau
tiful baby grand piano. She knew, of
course, where 1t came from; but If
she hadn't the letter on the keyboard,
unsigned though it was, would have
told her. Through tears she read:
Accept this token of gratitude.
Pen. from one who would gladly offer
it on her knees were she present"
In the envelope was also a check for
$500, for lessons. Rachel Whitney
never did anything by halves.