The Panchronicon

The Panchronicon is a Fiction Short Story. The two sisters were together in their garden. Rebecca Wise, turned forty and growing slightly gray at the temples, was moving slowly from one of her precious plants to the next, leaning over each to pinch off a dead leaf or count the buds. It was the historic month of May, 1898, and May is the paradise of flower lovers. Phoebe was eighteen years younger than her sister, and the beauty of the village. Indeed, many declared their belief that the whole State of New Hampshire did not contain her equal. Presently Rebecca straightened her back with a slight grimace and looked toward her sister, holding her mold covered hands and fingers spread away from her. Rebecca spoke listlessly more interested in her garden than in her sister's search. Rebecca looked up anxiously from her work. "Them sort o' philanderin' notions are foolish, Phoebe", she said, and flicked a caterpillar over the fence. Phoebe gave herself a little shake and began to tie up the papers.