The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-06-17

| 10 himself: " W hat dear, Jolly nttle
grill Eyes and mouth lovely, and such
a bewitching, Saucy. little nose! No
dress to wearP' Wish could give her
half dozen"
Tue next morning, at the breakfast
table, you may be sure the three new
corners to Laureltown were well dis
cussed.
1.-The captain is my favorite," sud
Aurelia. " l suppose father just dragged
him in yesterday"
"Mr. Onion is mine," said Amanda
you're welcome to them both, "
proclaimed Bella. "Give me the hand
some artist"
"And we must go for wild flowers''-
going for wild flowers admitted of
strolIing in many directions in
Laureltown-" this morning before the
sun is high, the dining-room vases are
empty" said all three together. $50,
Peg, bring our walking-shoes and hats,
and be quick about it,"
"And, Peg" added Amanda, "have
lunch ready at one, and set the tabla
with the best china. We may meet one
of the gentlemen, and bring him home
with u.s."
"And make custards and sponge-cake," "
said Bella.
"And see that the bread and ham are
cut very thin" commanded Amelia.
And away they went, Peg looking
after them again, but this time with no
longing in her eyes, until they dis
appeared at the turn which led past
Lilac house, when she flew to the
kitchen, made the custards and sponge
cake, and then donned her scoop hat,
and a cunning white apron with bib
| ond mini nnolyote and toHinu Effin hy
the hand, away they went for, wild
flowers" The girls will never remem-
ber them," said Peg-bu not in the
same direction the aquilines had taken,
oh, no, but along a shady lane that. led
to the foot of hill where grew many
fragrant, lovely blossoms at their own
sweet wills.
Peg and the baby danced gayly on
until the place of destination was
reached, and world of floral wealth
lay before them. Up the hill they toiled,
and stopping midway to gather some
tall brilliant flowers that grew in their
path, the very first stem baby grasped
and pulled ut broke off with a jerk in
her tiny hand, and away she rolled
back kward down hill until she rolled
into q pair of arms out stretched to catch
her.
please, ma'am, here's your baby"
said the owner of these arms, demurely
raising pair of violet blue eyes to Pegs
white face as he placed the child beside
her.
"How can thank youP" said Peg, in
a trembling voice. /" But for you, Effie
might have been killed.
81 know of no better way tn an COM
ing down into the road immediately u
-twirling his long golden mustache-
"and then ny mind will be relieved
stand at the bottom of the hill with
pleasure until you are quite ready to
descend, so as to be on nand to rescue
| her if she tumbles again."
81 think III go down." said Peg, the
color coming back to her checks.
He held out his hand to assist her
81 can take care OF myself, thank you,
Mr.. Thornc," said Peg.
Mr.. Ihorne," repeated he. How
did you know l was Mr.. Thorneo"
by your eyes, your mustache, and
your hands," said frank young Peg.
Thorne smiled, and looked at her
earnestly. And youp"
I'm Margaret Thrush, whose sisters
you met at Mrs. Sparkman's yesterday
You do not look a bit like them"
" do not" said Peg, with sigh.
And they stroled along together, talk.
ing pleasantly, until Peg was half way
home, and then he begged her-oh, sly
Arthur Thorne!-to rest awhile, anC
let him take sketch of the baby
Please sit down on that bank, Miss
Thrush, end hold her upon your lap,
he suggested. Il think she will remair
auieter that way"
And the sketch was made. Peg or
the bank leaning against the trunk o
an old tree, her bright face glowins
with purity and mirth, surrounded by
rough breeze-tossed brown curls, peep
ing archly from under the scoop; ant
little Efiie, with curious eyes and swee
puzzled look, half reclining in he
arms.
why, you have drawn me tool
said the girl, rising and looking owe
his shoulder. "Do l really look lik
thatP Etfie is very pretty; but l. Oh
dear, it is funny nose! Couldn't yol
straighten it just a littleP"
Not for worlds!" replied the artist
with emphasis.
"Shall you call it wild Countr,
GirlsP'" asked Peg, blushing, for some
thing in his tone implied that he like
the " funny nose"
mo; 1 shall call it Wild Flowers
Brown Daisies By Jove!" pulling ou
his watch, Its near lunch time. LIE
me see you and Ef1ie home, Miss Mar
garet, and I'll bid you good afternoon.
And he tied up his sketch book, too
the tired baby in his arms, and thu
they arrived at Captain 1hrush's dool
And arrived there, it only needed col
dial invitation from Peg to Undue
Thorne to enter, to the intense astor
ishment of the three elder sisters, VIII
} were already seated at the lunch tabl,
having apparently been unsuccessfl
: in their search for wild flowers an
other things, as the vases were sti
J empty and the guest chairs unoccupiet
However, with great self-possessio
they managed to conceal their surpris
! and greeted the visitor in the warn
: est manner; and he, with the boyis
absence OF formality that characteriz,
f his kind, was perfectly at home in fly
minutes, and discussing politics {
J which, be it said in passing, he kne
: absolutely nothing) with the fathe
| adroitly tiattered the mother and h
| favorite daughters, told stories of in
possible animals to the baby, and a
Pegs custards and sponge-cake like
: schoolboy. In short, he made himse
| oo a aoraao hla that tb a IN, a N m o11c word Il