The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-10-16
THE HIGHEST BIDDER.
He Got Not Only the Broken Slip
per, But a Wife.

Peggy Hildreth was the belle of the
village. No one ever questioned that
fact There were many girls rs pretty
as Peggy, but none rs BRIGHT and
saucy. Certainly no young girl of eight
cen had had more suitors or knew bet
ter how to refuse them and still keep
them at her feet
Now, Peggy had a stepmother and
no father, and like the traditional step
mother. this one was hard To live with.
Perhaps Peggy was a little TO blame
herself, for she strongly objected being
dictated to, even when, as Mrs Hill
dreth would inform her, lit was ONLY
for her own good" but as it was only
the week before she had been heard Il
say she should he glad when that
witch was wei married and ont of the
house." we can hardly blame Peggy
for not ha~ing unqucstioned faith IN
Mrs Hildrcth's desire for her good
One afternoon, when these two had
had few words of anything but an
amiable nature, the servant announced
a caller Tor Miss Peggy, Mr. Jack Les
lie. of the Seventh regiment, it APP
peared from the card, and Peggy has
tened 10 meet him, looking, with her
sparkling blue eyes and golden curls,
gowned in n short-waisted white mus
lin tied up under the arms with broad
sash, like am animated Kate Greenaway
picture.
''Oh, Jack I am so glad you've come,
Mrs. III. and ] have been having it
again, although l came .out ahead, "
with a laugh
"As usual, see. But what Were you
quarreling over this time?'
We'll, I'll tell you. I called that
young Bliss fool or an idiot, / don't
remember which, and as he is distantly
related to Mrs. IL, she naturally oh
jected We argued the matter to some
length, and then she told me to prove
my statement or take it back. l said I
couId. and that she would agree with
me if she had only heard him propose
the other night ---.--
lit was done in this way and Peggy
stood up at an angle of forty-five de-
grces and toyed with an imaginary eye
glass: '.Weally, Miss Hildweth. You
weally 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. / know
you've brought some good news by the
disagreeable way the lines in your fore
head rum
''Well, you've guessed Alright, so just
catch your breath while / relate all i
know. The Seventh intend giving a
ball on the third of next month, and I've
come over to invite you early SO there
can be no mistake about your going
with me-"
Really; honor bright; cut your
throat oh, how lovely. How nice of
you to come 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 0veralle or
any of the Wainwright boys, / shall
feel repaid 3
Peggy actually colored, for Howarth
Overalle was one of the few men whom
she could not bring to her feet Not a
very handsome man, but tall and dis
tinguished looking, bearing himself
like the true, honest soldier that he
was. He had often watched Peggy
Hildreth from afar, and contrasted her
with the pale, tired, invalid sister he
had at home in far-away Montana Jack
Leslie had purposely mentioned Over
allie just to tease Peggy. He had always
known her. and as she pestered him
when 1t suited her mood, he once in
awhile retaliated.
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
bail. She came across beautiful white
brocade with tiny pink rosebuds en-
broidered over it.
Now" she soliloquized, this would
just suit me made up with q little of this
horton lace. Mrs. Hildreth will faint
with horror at the idea, and say I'll
look like my own grandmother. Then
perhaps somebody viii fall in love with
my own grandmother. Now, III put
ii on and dance the minuet with some
body's grandfather. i wished the
somebody's grandfather looked like
Howarth Overalle, the hateful old
thing. I'd like the fun of refusing
him Now, Peggy, wait a moment
IL Mr. Overalle should ask you to ac-