Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-09-11
PEGGY'S PLAN.
BY RICHARD FENTON.

a most delightful girl, young, rich, beau
tilu, good tempered, witty, and having no
brothers or sisters. came up to me while
was lying smoking upon the grass, and put
her hand on my arm us she had done thou
sand times beiOre-as II sister.
"Tom," said she, IL believe am devoted
ly in love with that delightful Dick Mulrea-
dy but I'm sorry TO say he's very backward
himself"
"Then Dick Mulready is an ass" said |.
Thank YOU" responded she, with sigh.
"But can't help it. Here the season is 60
ing of, and I'm not engaged. It's too bad
could get on well together, only he won't ask
me, and-and-now Tom, dear. I've got IL
splendid plan"
IL see you're eager TO tell it; but don't
mind, I'm in good humor, go on"
"Well, now you understand fully and per-
fccty, that I'm desperately -DEsPERATELY in
love with him, Tom" She bent over me
and looked me full in the eyes, with II faint
gimmer of smile on her lips. 1 nodded
and returned the look. "You know | would
never, never regret it. that | would promise
TO stay by him in health, sickness pain,
trouble, sorrow, aflliction, and disaster; that
nothing would come between us forever and
ever, nothing but-but DEATH
She stopped and bit her lip. | saw n
movement in her throat. | began to envy
Mulready.
80 Tom! how can he be so dull so blind,
so very, very blind? Why cannot he see
when it is all rs plain ms the day to everyone
else? How can he be so regardless when
every look tone, and action of mine speaks
so loudly, though Heaven knows try try
ever so hard to hide it away in my heart
and TO keep it shut up in my bosomw
| said nothing. | waited in silence,
smoked my cigar and thought OF Mulready.
What fortunate fool he was. Aud he was
such good fellow too. So much of a man
lie had plenty Of this worlds goods and u
decent quantity of that which passes current
in the next lie was generous, whole-heart,
ed, and with the best principles. | wondered
why he did not marry tins little goose.
Said L. "Now for the plan to secure Mul
ready" She looked mt me blnnkly and al
most burst out again. But suddenly she
smiled and responded gayly:
well, Tom, I'll tell you. You must pre-
tend-pretend, you know, to make love tS-
to-men
And make him jealous, eh?n
eyes, make him jealous; and the moment
he thinks favor you, why then he will oper
his eyes to"
ITO what magnificent baggage he is los
ing"
YES"
looked at her. She looked at me. w,
laughed together and she shook her head II
me, and then stopped and gave sigh
"When shall we begin?" said /.
80, any time. Any time you see him il
sight. Why there he is lie is coming
lie is now over there by the willows, don
you soc?n
| looked. There he was with his broa'
shoulders, renewing his youth by attempting
to make whistles on the end of twigs.
"Now, Tom, do please pretend to tall
earnestly 10 me, look up in my face rs
have seen you do TO other girls There that
charming Now let mo put on your hat an,
you put on mine, And don't stay way Of
there, but come up closer. There-ther6
that's splendid. Pretty soon you'd better tr
TO take my hand. Then shall exclaim an,
call out, and that will call his attention thi
way. There, feel he's looking. Say some
thing TO make me laugh"
She began to laugh before could collec
my senses, and such a peal of ringing note