The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-07-23

Nllfsil liOi III 4 IitbilN llOl' I''h''N
on this nice old door-step," thought
| Peggy, with tears in her eyes.
| But she sat there, looking exquisite
ly lovely in the level afternoon snn-
! light, with her pink dress relieving
her tropical beauty in true artistic
fashion, and the ttintcst possible
shade of rose glowing in her cheek, u
| shadow fell across her look.
! She started up to behold Il tall,
linen-suited young man, with Il trisv-
| cling knapsack strapped Oh his
! shoulder, and II golden beard and
mustache covering the lower part of
/ his countenance.
Il beg your pardon" he said, lift
ing his cap. Il fear that | have dis
| turbed your studies Is Mrs Monta-
cute ut home"''
Peggy had started up, with dark
eyes ghttcring beneath her Jet black
iashes, and cheeks burning with en-
Darrassment.
she is not at home. She has gone
to Mrs. Deborah Deals" she said,
dropping "Moore's Melodies in her
CONSERVATION. Il will go for her at
oncen
Il cannot allow such a thing" said
the college graduate, courteously. Il
kn"" where the place isl will 20 my
self"
But Peggy had flown like a startled
bird across the elm-shaded yard and
had vanished before he could recall
her
BY Jove" said Clement Montacute
what ID beauty!n
He sat down on the seat she had
jnsC vacated, and took up the volume
of poems.
And she has brains, too, and u cul-
tivated sense of the beautiful" he
added, as he observed the penciled
marks along the margins of the
sweetest verses. Visiting my moth
er, | suppose | wonder where she
picked up such a little gem?'
Presently, Mrs. Montacute made
her appearance, rosy with the com
blinded influences of maternal gratiti-
cation and her hurried walk.
Clement welcomed her with true
tilial warmth, and, at the same time,
he looked over her shoulder, as if he
expected TO see some one else.
Where is she?n he asked.
Where is who? demanded Mrs.
MOntacute, tanning herself with
turkey feather fan and painting for
breath.
The young lady"
What young lady
why, your visitor, suppose"
Mrs. Montacute stared.
My dear boy" said she, Il have
no visitor
The young lady with the dark
eyes and curls," said Clement, i'm
patiently.
The young lady that was reading
this" holding up the volume Of
''Moore's Melodies"
Why" cried Mrs. Montacute, its
Peggy"
Its who?'
"Peggv--the asylum girl
NONSENSE cried Clement, very
red. Don't l know a lady when
see her?''
But it's our Peggy, all the same, "
Stoutly insisted Mrs. Montacute.
The moon, which had been only
slender silver thread when Elder
Doubleday made his first visit to the
Montacute farmhouse, was Il globe of
shining silver when his cumbrous
onehorse chaise rumbled up second
time TO the doorstone.
Well" said the elder" where's the
young woman? I've come to fetch her
to our place.
Mrs. Montacute hurried to the
door.
Indeed, elder" faltered she, I'm
very sorry-that is, Pm very glad-or
rather ! really dent know whether to
be glad or sorry on your account.
though OH my own I'm perfectly de-
;,,h CLAIMANT iL,
gagged
Engaged, is he:" said the elder
But | don't see as that need alter
my plans"
But it does" cried Mrs Montacute,
more confused than ever. because he
is engaged to our Peggyn'
En-" said the elder.
And they're to be married in six
weeks said Mrs. Montacute, radiant
ly; and Clement is to settle down
here on the old farm, and we've all to
be as happy as the day is l0ng."
"HuInph!" grunted the elder. Il
thought he didn't like asylum girls.
You never saw Il man so mnch i'll
love in your life,n said Mrs. Monta-
cute; land he's teaching Peggy Latin
and he says she is a genius, and he's
going to have some of her poetry pub
lishedn
Then on the whole said the elder,
Il may as we'll get home again as fast
as l can, and tell Mrs. Doubleday to
look out for another girl
well, perhaps OH the whole you
had better" said Mrs Montacute.
So the beautiful girl was a slave no
longer, but matters,were reversed; Mr..
Clement Montacute had gone into life
long bondage.