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

done; and then Bella, the least aqui-
line and youngest of the three, said,
with n slight twinge of conscience
why, Peg has nothing to wear"
You may have my white Swiss
Peg" said Arabella, still ans wering her
conscience. cts torn all across the
back breadth; but you can darn so
l can't bear darped dress, and you
don't care"
They came. The captain, the artist,
the merchant, and the festivities began.
The first on the list being a croquet
party given by Mrs. Sparkman in
honor of her son a few days after his ar
rival. And the very first guests the old
lady had the pleasure of greeting were
the three elder Misses Thrush.
Peg had been invited, for although
| Mrs. Sparkman had only seen her when
her sisters had sent her to borrow or re-
turn book-the house boasted of a
voluminous library-she had taken a
great fancy to the innocent young face,
and had particularly requested that Peg
should be present.
But Peg had nothing to wear but her
sister BellsIs cast.off white dress, and
ofcourse that wouldn't do for croquet
party. So Cinderalla looked with wist-
|
young girl delights not in music, ice
cream and merry companyp-after the
| retreating forms of her sisters, arrayed
in their dark grenadines freshened with
knots of blue and lavender ribbons,
with their broad -brimmed, quaint
looking hats garnished with grasses,
buttercups and daisies, shading their
aristocratic noses; and then tying her
old fiat on her head by passing faded
crimson scarf--one of Aurelia's gifts
over the crown and knotting it under
her chin, she took basket on her arm
and went into the back garden to pick
black kberries for supper. Peg always
had the berry-picking to do, for the
white hands could not be stained and
orn-torn, and old Lucy had as much
as she could accomplish in the house.
And rs she picked the berries she sang
loud and clear-Peg had a voice like a
birds, full of sweet little trills and
| shakes
"I love you we'll, my bonnie maid my bonnie
maid, said he,
| And have come, this summer day, to ask if
you will be
My own dear wife, my sweet, true WIFE, Per
haps will, said She"
And stopping suddenly to put thorn
wounded finger in her mouth, became
aware of a strange face looking down
upon her from over the high fence-a
face with dark brown hair, dark brown
eyes and whiskers of the same color.
beg pardon-hope haven't fright
ened you," said the voice belonging to
this face" but may come in and get
drink from the old we'll see yonderp
| have been walking fast and am ex-
ceedingly thirsty"
Certainly" said Peg, with a painful
consciousness of her extremely short
| calico dress and scoop bonnet; and the
| stranger came in. hat in hand.
81 will bring you a glass;" said Peg,
| dropping toward the ground in a vain
endeavor to lengthen the skirt.
"Oh, 70, indeed; this is famous!'
drinking from the bucket; and then, as
he let it fall again, he added, looking
| about him with an air of recognition,
Captain Thrush's place, is it notP"
| EYES," answered Peg.
"Is he at home? How I'd like to see
the dear old boy! Many a dime he's
given me in days gone by. And 1 will
see him, too; though my mothe" and
sister must be calling me all sorts of
hard names, for they are at this moment
giving a party in my honor. ! went to
the city last evening and promised to be
back to-day two hours ago; ; but missed
my train, missed the phaeton which
was to have met me at the station, and
missed the road"
Then you are Captain SparkmanP'
said Peg, who had forgotten the shcrt
dress and scoop hat in the delight oi
hearing the handsome young fellow cal
her father dear old boy"
The same, at your SERVICE" said
the captain. And may l have the
honor"
"Oh, I'm only Peg-I mean Mar
garet Thrush"
"The little curly-headed three-yea
old kissea goodbye the day left this
place to start upon my wild career
exclaimed the young man. is it possi-
blep But pray, Miss Margaret, why are
you not at my partyP"
And now Peg was in dilemma. Sht
had never told falsehood in her life
bless her innocent young heart! Sht
looked at the captain, and she looked
down on the ground, and in her confu
sion began hurriedly eating the berries
she had gathered, wishing from tn,
bottom OF her heart meanwhile tina
Ellie would cry-but she didn't. Th'
young man watched her for moment
|
on the way to her mouth, repeated tn,
question.
Il had no dress to wear" at last salt
Peg.
Captain Sparkman burst out laugh
ing. Peg couldn't see why-it was NJ
laughing matter to her; and his laugl
awakened Pegs father, who was taking
his afternoon nap in his big armchair ol
the back porch, and the old gentleman
came out in the garden to find there, t,
his great surprise and delight, the sol
of his old chum and brother Office
Colonel Sparkman. And instead OF 60
ing straight home, as he should hav
done after shaking hano with his senior
the young man marched into the house
played with Efie, smoked with hi
host and looked at Peg for anothe
hour, and so arrived at the croque
party just as it was on the point c
breaking up.
And when Mrs. Thrush and the Misse
Thrush returned with clouded faces
the merchant didn't play croquet, an
the artist flirted abominally with Jenn
Starr and didn't care how he played, an
as l said before the captain only arrive
in time Tor an introduction all around
and learned that their rude host ha
actu ally been, while all Laureltown wa
waiting to welcome him, wasting hi
time with father, Effie and Peg" thei
indignation knew no bounds.
wv hat must he have thought of ths
pugP" said Amanda, with sneer. An
then the questions came fast and thicl
| and in answering them frut hful pao ~