Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-05-19
HOW PEGGY LlSTENEElD

II -
Society people might have thought
tnat 1t was not exactly up to the high
est notch of elegance, but since the
participants were wholly unconscious
OF Its shortcomings, what did it matter.
Ihere is more real weight in the ex-
preston of ignorance being the great
est bliss where social matters are con-
cerned than in any other condition of
lle. The ordinary little girl, who
slips into thin gown and dances all
night with "the boys" whom she has
known since childhood, in the simple
ballroom of family club finds more
unalloyed enjoyment in the entire pro-
cedure than does the veriest brocade-
clad, jewel-weighted belle, who glides
IN stately elegance through the gor-
geous cotillon in the most sparkling
ballroom of one of society's real lead
ers. When the little girl has romped
her cheeks red through a gay easy ger
man, or, more frequently, through a
hackneyed waltz, she would open her
big blue eyes in amazement if a frigid
debutante in the real thing stared at
her as decidedly unconventional. But
the little girl doesn't even dream that
there is any difference between her
dance and the one whose details are
so exploited in the society columns, so
she is thousand times happier than
is her blue-blooded sister, breathing
the atmosphere of wealth and all the
gnaWing envies, rivalries and disap-
pointments pertaining thereunto.
Peggy was very pink after the last
dance. Richard always went into that
particular waltz with especial fervor.
Afterward he explained to her that it
was because his first dance with her
had been that particular one and she
was tease enough to act as though
she wasn't at all conscious of the par
ticular significance of the thing. So
tonight, when he reluctantly let her
Slip from his arms, she hadn't quite
the necessary courage to refuse his
plea that they Ego somewhere to rest. "
She knew what that meant. Hadn t
he carried her off to that particular
somewhere" every night since the lit
tie club had begun it's informal fort
nightly dances? Still, she knew that
she would better not go tonight-she
had known for weeks that it was COM
ing and this last waltz had convinced
her that it was coming very soon. And
Peggy didn't want it to come, at least
not just now, for this was Peggy's first
winter and it seemed a shame for a
girl to tie herself her first season.
Then, too, Richard wanted so much
that it should come, and there wasn't
anything in the world that Peggy
loved so much as to make Mr.. Richard
wait. 1t didn't matter whether she de-
layed him by taking an unusually long
time to adjust her veil when he had
called to take her some place in the
evening, or whether he had to toast
his toes before the fire while she dali
lied over making his cup of tea, or
even in the telling of his great secret,
which poor Elf;nard congratulated him.
self no one, not even Peggy, knew.
To be frank, everybody in the little
club had discovered it before he had
confessed it to himself. Still Peggy
yielded and was led off to the big chair
in the corner of the library, where
Richard could perch himself on the
window seat beside her, and where the
other young people were Sood enough
never to intrude.
Peggy leaned back and let her white
lids flutter in happy content over her
deep-blue eyes, whereat Richard felt
his last bit of common sense leave h.za.
"Peggy?" he asked, leaning danger
ously near her.
Peggy sat up with little start, and
a half-air of rebellion. Then, all at
once, she felt his eyes burning INTO
hers, and her courage fed, leaving
a very weak, plant little girl.
Peggy" he began again, this time
laying his hand over hers as it trem-
bled on the arm of the big chair. II
want to tell you something" added
Richard.
Peggy closed her eyes again and
gathered together her fast-failing cour-
age with one mighty effort. Don't"
she pleaded. Don't, Richard"
His face grew trif1e paler as he
asked; why not, little girl?"
Peggy's white cheeks all at once grew
fiery, but she said it: Because I