The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-03-02


in the world that Peggy loved SO much
as to make Mr.. Richard wait. 1t didn't
matter whether she delayed him by TAX
ing 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 dallied over. making his cup
OF tea or even in the telling OF his great
secret. which poor Richard congratu
lated himself 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 good enough
never 70 iDtrude.
Peggy leaned back and let her white
lids f1utter i'll happy content over her
deep blue eyes, whereat Richard felt his
last bit of common sense leave him.
"Peggy?' he asked. leaning danger
ously near her.
Peggy sat up with little start, and
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 lrcmb1ed
ON the arm of the big chair. II want
to tell You something" added Richard
Peggy closed her eyes again and gath
cred together her fast failing courage
with one mighty effort Don't" she
pleaded Don't, Richard. -
His face grew trifle paler as lie ask
ed, "Why not, little girl:"
Peggy's white cheeks all at once
grew fiery, but she said it: Because l
know what you are going to say, and ]
don't want to hear it.
Poor Richard! So she knew, after
all, the secret which he had f1attered
himself he had kept from all the world,
most of all from the tiny, pink and
| white girl whom it most concerned
Then ali at once it struck him that
there was ludicrous side to the situa-
tion, and Peggy was amazed to see a bit
of a roguish smile about the corners Of
his fine mouth as he asked:
Chow do you know that you know
what I was going to say?''
It was a mean thing for him to do,
and she afterwa1d told him SO. Now,
however, she put herself ON the defen-
sive as much as possible and answered
valiantly:
81 do know. no matter how, and !
don't want to hear it, then a pause
and finally o whispered lust yet
Richard sprung to his feet with
enough exultation i'll the movement to
startle her.
"When may tell you, Peggy mine?''
Perhaps he drew her to her feet, per-
haps she rose. but all at once she found
herself standing before him, with him
holding her dangerously close by the
two tiny, burning hands.
"Some day." she stammered. Then,
noting the happy laughter in his eyes.
she cried out: ooh, Richard, why dit
you do it? 1t 10 almost as bad as ii yol
had really told me, and you We made me
say things had no right to say, and
There was hint of tears in her re
proachful, big eyes, and she tugged hare
to loose her imprisoned fingers. Instant
ly all the teasing fed from his mani,
face, and he dropped her hands.
Every we'll, Peggy, but may 1 ash
you this: Do you realize that it woul6
not be quite-kind, to give me permits
sion to tell you some day. and then no
to make me happy by giving me thu
right answer .
Peggy's lips quivered helplessly, bu
she finally lifted her eyes to him brave
ly and answered, "Yes, realize, ant
PlI-be-kind.'
For q moment she feared that he wa
going to kiss her. But after moment
with a wistful, half contented sigh, b,
turned away, and with one accord the,
walked toward the door. At the p0rta
he stopped her and asked again: don
make me wait long, little girl, ant
don't let any one else tell you the sam'
story in the meantime. I'm not afrait
to trust You with the other fellows
but-but / shouldn't be happy to know
that they had told -told you the story
even though ] knew you wouldn't car
| for them. >
She answered him only by look
fer some one came mp with the frantic
| explanation that he had been looking
everywhere for her, as this was hi
dance. So she slipped away from tn
yearning Richard. who made himsel
ridiculous all the rest of the evening b,
forgetting that he had left his name o,
half a dozen programmes before he ha.
carried Peggy off to the library.
When supper time came, Richard al
at once lost sight of bis ladylove. HI
hadn't had chance to speak to he
since the little scene in the big arm
chair, but he had not fer an instant los
sight of the pretty white muslin gown
with it's tiny spries of pink rosebuds
But in the confusion of the breaking u
of the last waltz she mysteriously disap
peared and finally, in sheer desperation
| ha hunted ont her mot her knlinu L