Phronise Pepper

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ... Phronsie fixed her brown eyes upon him wonderingly. "Phronsie, I've always been a curious old chap. I wouldn't say so to any one else, only to you, dear; but I have." "O Grandpapa!" cried Phronsie convulsively, and throwing her arms around his neck, "don't, don't, dear Grandpapa! You've always and ever been beautiful," she sobbed in great distress. "Well, there, there, child," said the old gentleman, patting her back as if she were three years old, and mightily pleased with her tribute, "you love the old man, and that's enough. But what I should have done without you, child, no living mortal knows. I'm sure I cannot tell. Well; and now, Phronsie, I want to say something, and you must hear me. Sit up, dear, and let me see your eyes." So Phronsie sat up quite straight on his knee, and he held her hands, and she never took her eyes from his face, but listened attentively to every word. "You see, Phronsie, it's just this way. I've been thinking over many things lately, and I've come to the conclusion that I made a mistake in sending Koslyn May off. So I've just been writing to him that it strikes me he would better run across again." All the pink color had gone from Phronsie's cheek long ago, and she now sat pale and still, her brown eyes fastened on his face. "Does that please you, child?" asked old Mr. King after a pause, and smoothing her yellow hair. "Grandpapa, has some one been speaking to you about it, and wanting you to write to Roslyn?" she asked suddenly; the brown eyes flashed, and she looked at him steadily. "No indeed; I thought it all out by myself," he answered with conscious pride, "and it seems to me the best thing to be done. Really it does, Phronsie." "Do you wish it, Grandpapa?" she asked slowly. "Yes, I do, child....