Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-26
PEGGY.

"Well, Peggy, I'm afraid you are
destined 10 be an old maid, after
all.
"Oh, you know that always was
my accepted destiny" said Peggy,
lightly. land now that all the gayely
and hustle OF Franks wedding are
over, can't help thinking 10 will be
so nice to settle down into quiet, every
day life again. D
Mr.. Merryman took snuff, and look
ed sharply at The little girl IN the
white dress and cherry colored rib
bons. 1t could not be true, them
what his wife had said about Peggy's
being fond Of Frank IN her secret
heart. He never suspected how Peggy
cried herself to sleep that night, nor
how heavy her heart was in her bosom
for days and weeks
For Peggy Percy had allowed her
self to fail IN love, almost UNI
consciously, with that tall handsome
cousin of hers; and Frank himself,
having in his college vacations moth
ing particular to 60 but TO hirt and
enjoy himself, had carried out that
mission with especial regard to his
dark>eyed little cousin. And then,
just as Peggy, in the blithesome tlut-
terings of her secret heart, had de-
eided that Frank really did love her,
Helen Lockwood came to visit her
Helen, with ner hair like yellow floss,
and great blue eyes, and slender,
willowy figures; and just three weeks
afterward Helen whispered to Peggy,
the faithful conhdante of her school
days, that Frank had asked her to be
his wife
you'll be my bridesmaid, won't
you. dear2' sud happy Helen.
ooh, Of course l will" said Peggy
choking down a sob.
So fell her air castle into ruins.
But Peggy Percy went about as ra-
diant as ever.
Because I've made a fool of my
self, there's no reason for looking
black about it, she said to herself.
II ought to have kuewu better than
to suppose any one could fall in love
with such little, homely, pock-mark
ed elf as am,
"gly dear, said Mr.. Merryman to
his wife, you must have been mis-
taken about Peggy's caring for
Frank. -
"Well perhaps l was, 50 said Mrs.
Merryman.
The years passed on Old Mr..
Merryman and his wife were laid
down to their eternal rest in a shady
corner of the churchyard, and Frank
came home from foreign parts, q
bronzed and bearded man, with a
black weed around his hat, and three
unruiy children hanging around him.
You see, Peggy SAID her cousin,
II couldn't do anything with them
after poor Helen died. They needed
a mothers care, and l knew l could
depend on you, Peggy, 1t would be
different of course, if you were mar
ried and settled, but. as you're Only a
quiet, little old maid --N
Yes, exactly, interrupted Peggy,
you must all come back to the old
homestead | little thought, when
dear Uncle Merryman left ii to me,
how il would enfold YOU ali once
again.
And Frank Merrymau, with all q
mans unconscious sel6sAness, settles
snugly down, with his three noisy,
i'll disciplined children, into the serene
peace and regularity Of Peggy Percy S
household.
ITS just exactly like home, said
he. And its such a relief to have
the small-iry cared for as YOU care for
EN-, little Peg. Do YOU know.
think it's a regular dispensation of
Providence that you never married .'
Peggy smiled and said nothing.
Frank was tho same old Frank as
ever; that was evident enough. And
how glad she was that they were not
all within the famous Palace of Truth.
and Frank Merrymau could not kgow
how dearly she loved him still. 1t
was enough TO be useful to him
enough To take a mothers place to his
motheress children-to feel that
home was the brighter to HIM for her
presence.
So poor Peggy sacrificed herself,
womanlille, on the altar of mans
convenience.
But suddenly, Que day, Frank
Merryman discovered that some one
else appreciated dear, sunny Peggy
as well as himself.
1T seems 20 me- he said. "that
Judge Rochester comes here r great
deal.
DO sou think so9' said uncon-
scious Peggy You know his father
was one Of Uncle Merryman's dearest
friends, and he has always visited
here, more or less. 1t isn't disagree
able 10 you, is iti'
Mono, hesitated Mr.. Merryman,
in tone that meant yes" "Onl,