The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-12-18

lage No one ever questioned that fact
There were many girls as pretty as Peggy,
but none as bright and saucy. Certainly no
young girl of eighteen had had more suitors
or knew better how to refuse them and still
keep them at her feet.
Now, Peggy had a stepmother and no
father, and like the traditional stepmother,
this one was hard to live with. Perhaps
Peggy was little to blame herself, for she
strongly objected being dictated to, even
when, as Mrs. Hildreth would inform her, cit
was only for her own good" but as it
was only the week before she had been heard
to say she "should be glad when that witch
was well married and out of the house." we
can hardly blame Peggy for not having un-
questioned faith in Mrs. Hildreth's desire for
her good.
One afternoon, when these two had had
few words of anything but an amiable nature,
the servant announced caller for Miss Peg
gy, Mr.. Jack Leslie, OF the Seventh regiment,
it appeared from the card, and Peggy has
tened to meet him, looking with her spark
ling blue eyes and golden curls, gowned
in short-waisted white muslin tied up
under the arms with broad sash, like an
animated Kate Greenaway picture
"Oh, Jack, am 80 glad you've come Mrs.
II. and have been having it again, although
l came out ahead" with laugh.
LAS usual, l see But what were you quar-
reling over this timer"
"Well, I'll tell you. / called that young
Bliss fool or an idiot, / don't remember
which, and as he is distantly related to Mrs.
H., she naturally objected. We argued the
matter to some length, and then she told me
to prove my statement or take it back.
said could, and that she would agree with
me if she had only heard him propose the
other night.
at was done in this way" and Peggy
stood up at an angle of forty-fve degrees and
toyed with an imaginary eye glass: "Wealy,
Miss Hldweth, you WEAKLY must do me the
au-extreme kindness of accepting my name
and-au-estates, doncher know and then
after that she gave in" and Peggy took two
waltz turns and sank into an easy chair and
said
Now, Jack, let's have it. l know you've
brought some good news by the disagreeable
way the lines in your forehead run"
"Well, you've guessed Alright, so just catch
your breath while | relate all know. The
Seventh intends giving a ball on the third of
next month, and I've come over to invite
you early 80 there can be no mistake about
your going with me-"
"Really; honor bright; cut your throat.
OD, now lovely. I1OW nlCC vi JOu W COtuC
over and tell me before the other girls knew
anything about it,
well as long as you don't throw me over
at the last minute for Overalle or any Of the
Wainwright boys. l shall feel repaid"
Peggy actually colored, for Howarth Over
allie was one of the few men whom she could
not bring to her feet Not very han dsome
man, but tall and distinguished looking, bear
ing himself like the true, honest soldier that
he was. He had often watched Peggy Hid
reth from .afar, and contrasted her with the
pale tired, invalid sister he had at home in
PARKWAY Montana. Jack Leslie had purpose
ly mentioned OVeralle just to tease Peggy
| He had always known her, and as she pes
| tered him when it suited her mood, he once
in awhile retaiated.
1t was war to the knife between the two
until Jack left, and then Peggy went upstairs
to pull over some Old trunks OF her own
mothers to see what she could find suitable
to wear to the ball. She came across beau
tiful white brocade with tiny pink rosebuds
embroidered over it.
"Now," she soliloquized, "this would just
suit me made up with a little of this honiton
lace. Mrs. Hildreth will faint with horror at
the idea, and say I'll look like my own
grandmother. Then perhaps somebody
will fall in love with my own grandmoth-
er. Now, I'll put it on and dance the
the minuet with somebody's grandfather:
wish the somebody's grandfather looked
like Howarth Overalle, the hateful old thing.
I'd like the fun of refusing him. Now, Peg
gy. wait moment. If Mr.. Overalle should
ask YOU to accompany him to Montana and
spend dull existence with an invalid sister
and an old mother, would you, after all, re.
fuse? Oh, bother, it's too warm to get into
discussions with ones self"
And doing the sweet, old-fashioned gown
up into bundle, Peggy sauntered down TO
the village dressmaker, and, after leaving
there, decided she'd just run in and see il
Widow fuckers boy was recovering from
slow fever.
1t was a poor little cottageinto which Peg
gy wended her way, and the widow herself
looked half.fed.
81 don't believe you've had any dinner TO.
day." thought Peggy, land as you're toe
proud to ask for it, III have to plan"
why don't you take walk while sit by
Jamie and tell him stories. ?'she said aout
"And, by the way, if you're going by my
house just stop in and get my cape and tel
Hannah to give you your dinner. 1t will
save you cooking here"
The widow gladly went, and Peggy anus
ed herself and Jamie inventing stories.
While in the middle of one she glanced W
and beheld Howarth Overalle standing in the
doorway with look of rapt admiration or
his face.
"Do you come here oftenf" was his frs
remark.
Never" she replied, while Jamie's eyes di
lated 10 such an extent one would know she
was not telling the truth
"What are you here for p he asked.
"My laundry" was the briefreply.
He saw her home through the twilight, anG
Peggy after that took more interest than eve
in her gown for The Third
The evening came and with ii Jack Lesli,
for Peggy, aud when he SAW her he exclam
ed:
"Why, Peggy Hidreth, you lovely littl,
picture Pm almost tempted to carry you of
by main force, you look so beautiful"
well, you needn't" serenely remarked
Peggy, as she gathered her opera cloal
around her aud let him put her into the ear
rage.
Words of admiration could be heard on al
sides as she entered the hall with her escort
And she did look lovely. The golden curl
were gathered on the top of her head, ant
the beautiful brocade was modernized. Slip
pers had been made to match the gown, ant
although Peggy took only three boot, sh
had squeezed her foot into two, the result