Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-09-19

feeling rar different from aversion. L,
might have been upon certain Sun
day when. having mislaid her small
coin. she raised her eyes in tiutter OF
embarrassment only To meet look so
admiring that the money was forever
lost TO the parish of Plattville.
That night in her own room Miss
Penelope took out her terrible secret
and thought over II tremblingly. She
had seated herself at the window with
her candlestick on the wide sill. Sud
denly she became aware of similar
illumination in the adjoining house.
Scarcely knowing what she did, Miss
Pen moved her ligh; along the window
ledge. The movement was immediate
~ answered. With a heart beating to
suffocation she raised it high above her
head, her cheeks flushing like girls
as she saw the small flame opposite
take the same course.
After that the days to this little colo
NAL dame were something TO be got
through rs best she could. At night all
the thoughts of her heart We're told In
the interchange of signals.
But there came an evening when
Miss Penelope watched through long.
silent hours of agony for the light
which did not appear. 4 dull red glow
showed through the lowered shade. AT
midnight carriage drove up and
stopped ut Mr.. Babson's gate. Then a
sudden fierce resentment against her
sister filled Miss Pens soul. He was
i'll. dying perhaps, and she was barred
out.
1t was near dawn when the lamps
dull glow disappeared and the small
point of flame caused by candle
showed near the window. Miss penel-
ope fell OH her knees. with heavy
breaths tearing her throat. while her
clasped hands We're raised in mute
thanksgiving.
In the morning Ellen was full of the
latest neighborhood news willie she
waited on the ladies at breakfast.
"Oh. sure twas like to've died, Mr..
Babson did. In the night, ma'am." she
began. He was took bad with pains
in his side about . o'clocb. and Mrs.
McGrath sent Peter McGill flying for
the doctor. When they got back twas
on the fat of his back the master was,
Peter saws. not knowing man nor NOR
tai, and Mrs. McGrath rubbing him
with her two hands And when he
come out o that twas only raving
about n candle he was ard putting it
In the winder until TO quiet him
Ellen
Miss Norriss' voice interrupted her
serving woman in quick alarm. Miss
Penelope had fallen forward in n limp
heap with her head on the breakfast
table
IIalf an hour she lay white and weak
on her bed. while Miss Norriss sat
stiilly beside her.
Il think" Miss Penelope said in a
faint voice. that / must have loved
him from the very first
Miss Norriss' thin nose drew down
until the bone showed white through
the skin.
"Dear'-Miss Penelope stretched out
one slender hand-'if he lives l think
ought to have the ris..t-to take care
of him."
In silence Miss Norriss rose and left
the room.
But Ellen bore note TO the house
next door that afternoon. Peter Nc
Gill brought the answer within five
minutes. with huge bunch of roses.
a special pale pink variety of Mr.. Bah
sons own cultivation. which he had
named the Colonial Dame.
Mr.. BabSon still passes the contribu-
tion box in church, but he now returns
to II seat beside lady in silver gray
silk. whose face holds the bloom and
happiness Of youth. Miss Norriss sits
very straight at the other side of the
lady in question. her eyes fixed reso-
lutely on the stained glass window. as
If she would propitiate the ghost of the
departed Pettigill.