St. Landry democrat., 1883-06-02
here, Grandma? Was it while was at

here, Grandma? Was it while I was at
school?''
+" Yes; it was day before yesterday,
| in the afternoon. She went up to the
boarding house through the orchard,
because it was cooler, she said.''
WE'LL" said Mrs. Smart, .I must
90, for want to see that guilty gyurl
off. She was a-sittin' in the kitchen
cryin' as # her heart would break, and
a-tellin' how she never done no such
thing; but you never can tell! Those
gyurls are so deceivin'. l presume she's
got the ring somewhere about. her
clothes now. At any rate, she won't
get another place very soon. kinder
pity her, and yet it serves her right
Is she going away?' asked Grand
ma.
I" Yes; in the why, I hear it
now-good-bye. I'm agoin' to see how
she takes it when she goes''
Peggy sprang upstairs like deer.
She went straight to her chest.
Through the window came the rumble
of the stage, nearer and nearer. In
minute or two it would reach the board
ing-house, and go on. Peggy looked
for the key. 1t was not under the mat,
as usual. Where could it bep Peggy
tried to think, but her head seemed in
a whirl. What could I have done with
the key?" she sobbed. Putting her
hand up to her neck, she happened to
feel a little ribbon. "Oh, yes,' she
sighed in relief. She had tied the key to
a ribbon, and placed it about her neck;
for now that she had diamond ring
in her chest, she would have to be
more careful, she had said to herself.
But the ribbon was tied in hard knot,
and was too strong to break. The
ominous rumble had stopped; the stage
had reached the boarding house. aWhat
shaNI dopn groaned Peggy, her heart
beating with fright and anxiety. s.Oh!
I must get into my chest" Then she
saw penknife on the table. In an in
stant she had cut the ribbon and un-
locked the chest, caught up the ring,
and run downstairs. Her grandma
called: ''Where are you going?' but
she dashed like whirlwind through the
kitchen, cleared the two steps at a
bound, and went up the road like q
flash. How she ram. Her heart beat
like trip-hammer, but her ears were
/ w luC Opeu W ttIC SUuAu VI itlC
stage. Round the corner, by the end of
the orchard, she still kept on; but just
as she came in front of the trim croquet-
ground, she saw the stage start off from
the door. -
After it she sped with all her might.
The summer boarders were all collected
in front of the house. Mrs. Smart was
by the road, watching the last tears of
the unfortunate maid; some fashionable
city children, whom Peggy had always
feared, and almost disliked, because
they were so airy as she called it,
were right in her path; but she
went after the stage as if her
/ life depended on it. whoa"
she cried. ..Stop! Whoa! Driver!
Driver! Stop!'' G" Oh, dear!' !'-under
her breath-'I can never make him
hear. l can; I will!'D "Stop"' she
screamed, this time with all her little
might, and, as she had almost reached
the stage, the driver heard, and brought
his horses to standstill.
(which is the grip" said Peggy,
breathlessly, adding, as she caught sight
of the poor maid: Here's the ring!
You must get out and 90 back! You
must! I found it. I'll tell them.
Gomez
The girl gave cry of JOY, and imme-
diately got out of the stage.
"Yes,' said she to the astonished
driver, you must put my trunk down.
for I shall not 60. They will all see |
did not steal the ring nowr' and, as he
complied with her order, she clasped
Peggy to her heart, and said: .You
dear little girl! How good of you to
run so! How glad am you found it! |
can never thank you enough. .
Peggy was painting and half -sobbing,
but she went with the happy maid to the
| house, and handed the ring to the de-
! lighted Miss Dulcimer.
'..Where did you find it, you
splendid childpn said that gushing per-
son, who had not been kind and just
enough to make sure before she had
had the unofending maid discharged
!" ] want to make you little present,
to show my gratitude. Here are ten
1 dollars, and / can not say how very
thankful I am to you for being so.
honest and good. .
. was not honest at all, " said
Peggy, whose flaming cheeks and ex-
cited eyes made her look very pretty,
indeed. g I thank you very much, but
don't want any present. [ don't
deserve it. Yes, [ will take it,
though she added; and, having taken
the bill in her hand, said to the maid, who
was standing by, silent witness of the
scene: You deserve it much more than
/; keep it, and with half laugh, half
sob, she put the bill into the maids
hand, and fled out of the room and
down the lane without another word.
It was not very polite, but she really
couldn't stay there another minute.