The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-08-28

4hOAlbttouUC.
And peggy" herself, tall, slight
girl, of sixteen or seventeen, in mad
der-red calico dress, and a dropping
head all covered with jet-black rings
of curling hair, stood before the pom
derous elder, as Circassian slave
might have stood before her possible
purchaser, in olden time.
"Seems like nice girl enough, -
said the elder.
ooh, yes!" said Mrs. Montacute, q
little gray-haired lady, with black
silk dress and old-fashioned garnet
earrings. ''Peggy's good girl. She's
been help and comfort to me ever
since L took her out of the orphan asy-
lum, three years ago come Thanksgiv-
ing Day."
''Mrs. Doubleday wants girl, to
make herself useful about the house, "
said the elder, obviously. "Young
woman, can you wash?"
"Oh, yes, sir!" said Peggy, in a
low, soft voice, that made the elder
think of the striking of the little
French clock on the squire's mantel
"And iron, and bake, and make soft
soap, and clean house, and mind little
children?'
To all of these queries, Peggy in
clined her head assentingly, while Mrs
Montacute made haste to declare that
Peggy was masterhand to turn off
work, for all she looks so SLIM"
SGT lilo al; 1. Il
"They aren't apt to be such heavy
eaters, and they don't wear SO hard on
astair-carpet. I've notion to take her. +"
"You won't regret it," said Mrs.
Montacute. 81 should never think of
parting with her, if it wasn't for my
son-Clement, you know, the college
graduate, with little flush of mater
nal pride on her cheek. element
can't bear the idea of an asylum girl
about the house-he is so refined in
all his tastes and ideas; so we're to
have regular cook and chambermaid
from the city-an establishment, Glenn
emit calls it-and must find as good
home as I can for Peggy"
well, said the elder, rising up like
q mountain (of black broadcloth and
smooth-shaven chin) in motion. "Tn
try her anyhow. And I've notion
she'll suit Mrs. Doubleday, though
Mrs. Doubleday amt easy suited,
neither"
So the elder trundled himself pom
derously away, and Peggy turned her
dark eyes, like those of startled
fawn, on her mistress face.
"Must I go there?" she faltered.
"Now, Peggy, don't be unreason-
able" said Mrs. Montacute, briskly.
eth be a good home for you"
"Td rather stay her." faltered
Peggy, with culver of the full red
lower lip.
"But you know that you can't, dear,
on account of Clement" said Mrs.
Montacute, patting the girls shoulder,
as one might sooth fretful child.
81 would be very quiet" said
Peggy. "And 1 would never come in
his way"
'Tt's quite out of the question, my
dear" said the little widow, nodding
her head. college young men have
their fancies, you know, and they've
got to be humored."
'.But it isn't my fault that I'm on
asylum girl" argued Peggy, with a
strong sense of injustice swelling at
her hearA
81 know that, Peggy" soothed the
old lady; ''but folks often have to suf-
fer for what isn't any fault of theirs,
in this world, as you'll find out by the
time you've lived to be as old as 1 am.
Now go up and cut out that new calico
dress of yours, for the elder will want
you at the end of the month, and you
must get your wardrobe in as good
order as you can"
And Peggy went slowly up stairs to
her own room, little loping-roofed
den, under the very caves of the house,
with window that looked down into
the emerald pillows of the apple
orchard, and shelf of rough, UNI
painted wood, upon which Peggy kept
her small store of books and the worn
portfolio of papers, where she had
hidden away her own ambitious little
efforts to initiate her standards of per-
lection. For Peggy, the asylum girl,
had had her dreams of future rank and
greatness, and sometimes, as she looked
into the little square of warped look
ing-glass that hung close to the win
dow, q face looked back at her that
startled her--her own, and yet not her
own. And still Peggy never realized
the fact that she was growing to be 9
beauty, =,