Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-07-14
PEGGY WATTS ADVICE.

'You're expecting Sam Stills he re to-
night. I reckon. You needn't col or up,
Alice. I've seen the way he's been COM
ing and going for the past six week S; that
means something, when it gets to be steady
company"
Peggy Watts paused and gave the mai
den searching look, but Alice could not
bear the scrutiny. She turned away to the
window, as if to view the pretty New Eng
land landscape in the deepening twilight.
''Is MI. Stills coming tonight or not,
Miss?"
"Indeed, Peggy, can't say; perh APPS he
may CALL"
perhaps; yes; and you are thinking
some day to be Mrs. Stills yourself''
''Why, Peggy, you're ridiculous.''
ridiculous, am 1. Well, may be, Miss.
In the first place, [ know Sam st tits has
asked you to be his wife. and though you
haven't given him decided answer, you're
on the pointpf taking a step which you'll
regret till your dying day. You are tired
Of the little brown house and its, homely
furniture. You are Disguised with the
toll which soils and hardens your hands;
you'd like piano like Squire Smiths to
thrum on, intead of sweeping. busting and
washing dishes. and you think you'll get
that, and fine clothes into the bargain, by
marrying Sam Stills, but it's all hum
buggery."
Alice had turned from the window and
was standing by Peggy's side. looking down
into her dark, wrinkled face.
Peggy's cold, gray eyes sought the face
of the pretty Alice, blushing and paling by
turns, and she drew her to a foot-stool be-
side her, and brushed away the soft curls
from her forehead.
II don't mean to be hard on you, Alice.
L know you've got that within you that
units you for the life you are leading, but
lin Sam stills company you are on the
wrong road to happiness. I've got two
pretty good reasons to give you why you
shouldn't marry that mana story to tell,
and then I've done advising. Will you
hear me?''
eyes, Peggy" answered Alice, buryina
her face in the lap Of the faithful serving
woman.
''I'm going to tell you about your moth.
er. We were girls together, and I knew
quite as much about her affairs as she did
herself, and remember as plain as if it
Was but yesterday, every little circumstance
connected with her marriage.
''People call you good-looking, Alice, but
you're nothing to what she was, with her
hazel eyes and chestnut hair. 1t was my
pride to Irvine the heavy ringlets over my
finger and then let them fall carelessly over
her neck and shoulders. There are no such
compilations nowadays, so I can't tell
you how fair and beautiful she was. Her
father was poor, like the rest of us, and his
wife was an invalid, so the cares of the
house came upon Lefty, your mother.
CAS- soon as the house was put to rights
she would bring out her spinning wheel
and buzz, buzz, buzz, it went from morn.
ing till night, many day, to earn theprice
Of a new dress or bonnet. Some way, she
always contrived to look trifle smarter
than the rest of us girls. and as for the
young men of the town, why Lettie might
have taken her pick. Aunt Laury Burch
used to say they acted like parcel of fools
around Lefty; but, you see, she had batch
Fof grown-up daughters waiting for an Of
fer, so she was excusable for being little
jealous. One daY-it was when Lefty was
about eighteen-she had big days work
on hand, and sent for me to help her.
sBut few could afford in those days te
keep steady help, and as it was necessary
for me to do something. used to 60 out
by the day. What's the matter, Lefty,
says I, the first thing when set eyes OF
her, for she looked strange like to me thai
morning.
s"Won't you ever mention it if I'll tel
jyou,' she asked.