The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-06-07

hard 10 loose her Imprisoned fngera
Instantly. all the teasing FED from his
manly face. and he dropped her hands.
Very well. Peggy; but may I ask
you this: Do you realize that Il
wouldn't BE qulte-kind. 20 give me
permission 10 tell you some day. and
then no, to make me happy by Civ
ing me the right answer
Peggys lips quiyered helplessly. but
she finally lifted her eyes to him brave
~ and answered: Yes. realize. and
fll-be-klnd."
For a moment she feared that he was
going 10 kiss her. But after a mo-
ment with a wistful. half-contented
sigh. he turned away and with one ac-
cord they walked toward the door. Al
the portal he stopped her and asked
again; Don't make me wait long.
little girl And don't let any one else
tell you the same story in the mean
time. I'm no, afraid TO trust you with
the other fellows. but-but I shouldn't
be happy 10 know that they had told
you that-told you the story. even
though | knew you wouldn't care for
them"
She answered him only by a look.
for some one came up with the frantic
explanation that he had been looking
everywhere for her. as this was his
dance. So she slipped away from the
yearning Richard. who made himself
ridiculous all the rest Of the evening by
forgetting that he had left his name on
half a dozen programs before he had
carried Peggy of to the library.
When supper time came Richard all
at once lost sight Of his lady love. He
hadn't had a chance TO speak 10 her
since the little scene In the big arm.
chair. but he had not for an instant
lost sight Of the pretty white muslin
gown. with It's tiny sprigs Of pink rose
buds. Bui In the confusion OF the
breaking mp Of the last waltz she mys-
teriously disappeared and finally. In
sheer desperation. he hunted out her
mother. hoping 10 find the lost maiden
under the careful wing OF the loving
chaperon.
Where Is Peggy" called the sweet.
faced little mother i've lost her. and
I hoped you would bring her" Poor
Richards heart sunk and with some
murmured explanation that he would
find her In a minute he plunged on In
the midst Of the gay little throng.
The search was fruitless Everybody
seemed 10 have drified into the supper
room. and still Peggy was not among
them. lie plunged into the most i'm.
possible corners and hiding places. lie
even looked into the depths Of the
big armchair In the library and still
there was no Peggy At last. when his
face was white and his palms we're
burning where his impatient nails had
dug into them. he heard a soft. tear.
ful little whisper from the stairs. and
there. In turn above the landing. he
found her. sobbing to herself as though
her very heart was broken.
Peggy" he cried knecling on the
step beside her and chatting her cold
bands between his feyerish palms.
feeggy. what is the matter?"
Fees,r dabbed her wet little bali q,
handkercH1ef into her eyes and swal.
Owed sob. "lJsr-it's that big George
Waters, she choked o,qt and then with
b new n o. sobs. she AurIsd no. dis'
consulate little head in herr lap and
could go no further.
Richard set his teeth and wan..,
Then, all at once. he understood. f1r
be had been afraid Of Waters an winter. .
There was no further room for delay.
Leaning over he caught the sobhiug
little figure IA his arms and there never
was any JOY 90 the world so dear as his
when be fclt her nestle her face on his
.houldcr, while her crying grew less
violent and finally subsidized into an
occasional sigh OF growing content
When she had become quiet De- gent
y turned her face 90 bis and said:
Never mind. little girl. you needn't .
explain. ! know -that-that lrs.
pudent cad has presumed 90 tell vDu
what you didn't want 10 hear ani /.
know u wasn't your fault Bu, don't
you think, little girl. that @ is time
Tor me 10 tell You what had 10 say
! couple ~ hours ago."
And Peggy actually smiled through
her tears while be- went Oh into an
elaborate recital OF the secret whlcl
hey congratulated themselves was ,ll |.
heir own and had never been so eoll.
'iously told by any one else ir the
world