Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-03-02
The Asylum Girl.
BY HELEN FOREST GRAVES.

Aud peggy" herself, tall, Sigh
girl, of sixt' en- or seventeen, in mad
der-red calico dress, AMI dropping
head all covered with jet-black rings o.
curling hair, stood before the ponderoui
elder, as a Circassian slave might have
stooda possible purchaser,in old
en- time.
"Seems like nice girl enough" said
the elder.
"Oh, yesP said Mrs. Montacute, G
little gray haired lady, with black sill
dress and old-fashioned garnet earrings
"Peggy'sa good girl. She's been a help
and comfort to me ever since I took her
out Of the orphan asylum, three years
ago come Thanksgiving Day."
"Mrs. Doubleday want, a girl, to
make herself useful about the house. u
said the elder, obviously. "Young
woman, can YOU WASN'T"
ooh, yes, sirl" said Peggy, in low,
soft voice, that made the elder think of
the striking French clock on the squire's
mantlel
"And iron, and bake, and make soft
soap, and cleaI house, and mind little
children ~
To all these queries, Peggy inclined
her head asseptingly, while Mrs. Monta-
cute made haste to declare that peggy
was a m asterhand to turn off work. for
all she looks so SLIM"
II like slim gals" said the elder.
"They arn't apt to be such heavy eat
ers, and they don't wear SO hard on
stair carpet. I've rotion to take
her."
"You won't regret it," said Mrs.
Montacute. II should reyer thipk Of
parting with her, if it wasn't for my
son-Clement, you know, the college
graduate" with q little flush of mater
nal pride on her cheek. Clement can't
bear the idea Ct an asylum girl about
the house-he is so refined in his taste
and IDEAS; so we're 10 have regular
cock and chambermaid from the city
an esiabis hment, Clement calls it-and
I must find as good homo as I can
for Peggy
"Well," said the elder, rising up like |
a mountain (of black broadcloth and
smooth shaver chin) in Dion. "Ill |
try her, anyhow. And I've a notion
she'll snit Mrs Doubleday, though Mrs.
Doubleday amt easy suited, neither
So the elder trundled himself pond
erousy away, and Peggy turned her
dark eyes, like those of a startled fawp,
on Ler mistress face.
"NIuSt &C tn ere % she faltered.
"Now Peggy, don't be unreasonable"
said Mrs. Moptacute, briskly. '1t'll be
4 good home for you."
I'D rather stay here" faltered Peg
gy. with a culver Ct the full red lower
III.
"But you know that you can't, dear,
on account of Clement" said Mrs.
NIontacute, patting the girls shoulder,
rs ore might soothe o fire. full child.
Il would be very quiet said Peggy.
''And l would never come in his way"
"It'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
get to be humored."
"But it isn't my fault that I'm an
asylum girl" argued Peggy, with a
strong sense CT injustice swelling at
her heart.
Il know that, Peggy" sootbed the
old lady; shut folks often have to suf-
Ter for what isn't any fault of theirs, in
his world, as you'll find out by the
time you've lived to be as old as l 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 gel your wardrobe iu as good or
der as you can"
And Peggy went slowly upstairs to
her own room, little slopin g-rocf den,
under the very caves of the house, with
l window that looked down into the
emerald pillows of the apple orchard,
md a shelf of rough, implanted wood,
ipon which Peggy kept her small store
If books and the worn folio Of papers,
where she Lad hidden away her own
ambitious little efforts to initiate her
standards Of perfection. For Peggy,
he asylum girl, had had her dreams of
uture rank and greatness, and some-
ines, Us she look ed into the little square
t warped looking glass that hung
lose to the window, face looked back