The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-05-21

out tFrf being Discovered. They stored
away he results OF their labor1 and
smiled in cool defiance Of the internal
revenue laws.
Now, they might have gone on for a
quarter Of century IA this way and
their Golfers might have swelied with
richness, but FOR one ching that came to
pass. And but for that thing this story
would never have been written.
Peggie Baskins was the prettiest girl
| in all the vicinity Of Hawkins Fork.
She was a healthy, weIl-deveIoped,
rosy-cheeked mountain girl, simple in
| life and simple in habit. She played
sad havoc with the hearts Of the noun
| tain youths who came to know her. In
her simple homespun frock, with her
wealth Of golden locks caught lightly to-
| Rether by ribbon, and allowed to fall
| in luxuriant masses over her shapely
| shoulders, she made pretty picture to
look upon.
Ii was long way up thc ravinc from
where the Baslxins lived to the distilIery,
and every day Peggie would carry the
MONDAY meal to her father and brothers
at their work. Hez would steal sly
chances at her, but he never ventured to
speak to her more than saying ssHowd'ye,
Peggie." The heart OF youth like Hez
Sniggletree is very susceptible to femin-
Inc charms, and it was only in the natural
course Of things that the bashful youth
should completely lose his heart to the
fair Peggie.
When Hez's love for Peggie began, he
could never tell. It ties crowd on
him, = he said, and he awoixe to the con-
seriousness that he was in love one fine
morning. How many hundred times
did he plan to speak to her, and how
many hundred times did his resolution
| fail in her matchless presence.
But finally his consuming love made
him bold. One day at the distillery
while Peggie was waiting for her father
and brothers to finish their dinners, Hez
ventured up to Peggie, and said In q
trembling voice:
"Peggy, you air purity as pink
s.Oh, Hez you teasel" she exclaimed,
and Hez was frightened out Of his wits.
II ~
caught sight OF him, and bawled OFT:
ssHa, ha, ha, lookee yonder. Hez is
maxim love ter sisi That do beat me. /"
Covered with confusion Hez rushed
back to his work, and for three whole
weeks be would not even look at Peggie
on her visits to the stillhouse. But all
the time his love was growing warmer,
and one day he grew bold again, when
all eyes were turned away.
'sPeggie," he said in q pleading tone,
ssI'm asgoin' ter walk down the ravine
with you.n
| She blushed prettily and laughed
moderately.
"Well, you air sumner" she de-
| clared.
Hez was doubtful what was meant by
that, and he debated mentally for mo-
mcnt whether it was wise to go with a
young lady after having, received such a
criticism as that, but he determined to
| go.
4 He walked along beside Peggie for
to say something. The words choked in
his mouth.
i .'Peggie, !" he said finally, getting his
breath rapidly, ''wben told you you
wur purity as pinks, Imeant it,
/ aOn, Mr.. Hez!p she exclaimed in a
shocked tone, and then she burst out
laughing.
| Hez stopped stock still in the pathway
before her. There was hurt look on
his face, and he fumbled nervously with
his hands.
| 'sSee here, Peggy" he said, reprov-
ingly, 'you orient ter laugh at Teller
| like that. I meant it--I-I-Peggie,
you know what meanl'
| He stammered hopelessly; she laughed
more and more.
'tPeggiep Hez continued solemnly
and placing his big hands across his
stomach, 81 am all broke up in here
about you. ! can't sleep fer thinking
Of you. I-I--want-you--say Peggy,
will you have met"
He broke off in a most appealing
tone and Peggie stopped laughing.
"Mr. Her, she said stern, saint you
| 'shamed."
! Hez looked crestfallen, indeed.
II mean it, Peggy" he said apollo
geticaliy. 81 want you ter marry me.
Will you have met"
"Ohl" Peggie calculated. She seemed
to be deeply interested in christening
knot she had tied in the strings Of
her bonnet. She did not reply.
''Say, Peggy" Hez pleaded desper-
lately, twill your"
She looked up quickly at the lovesick
youth.
'.Do you mean it, shore snuff2" she
asked. III
Store God do" affirmed Hez.
| "Weil," said Peggie. "I-I-yes. !"
What anxious young suitors do when
accepted of the maidens they love is q
matter irrelevant to this story. But for
long fine after Hez had been accepted,
he stood gazing at Peggie, without say
ling word.
1 41tTY.- u. ELL