Evening star., 1900-07-14

! oelore her and daddy's experienced ewes
1eii on them at once. He was so well ac-
quainted with stockings! He noticed in.
sS ss,San.y mat they were rusty and loose
noereo- linen he saw the little ''gobbled'
darns in them. Peggy was not renowned for
need evork.
Poor dye. slazy weave" he thought.
Couldn't have come from Rruce's Mine
are fast black and you can't see daylight
through 'em. either
Fire away. daddy. Don't you see the
lady's waiting?"
Peggy's clear. laughing voice interrupted
his thoughts. and brought him back from
the stocking counter at Bruce's to the
great. hot beach with the sea at his feet.
sayin?
That's the trouble: you weren't saying
a solitary word. Daddy Knox! Just moon
ing-or selling stockingst''
"sellin, stockings-you've hit the nail.
PegSy! that's what l was doin', sure. 1t
kinder comes second nature to me. That's 8
what l expected to be doin' this minute,
but the boss gave me a day off. so l ran
down here-I hankered to see little ha-
rum-Scarum girl o mine. But you See' Che
lowered his voice confidentially), "I never
Thought to fix up, so I'm keepin' dark. !
wouldn't have your ma see me this way
Tor the best pair o silk stockin's at
Bruce's''
Peggy eyed the crumpled shirt bosom with
palpable disfavor. Her eyes trave ed over
the shabby little figure, taking in the shiny
seams ana tle ITdyeQ cages UlSdpprONlISly
How little and-and seedy daddy was,
Yes. mad have a fit-two fits she said
promptly. You'll have to remain incog.,
, daddy. Now. 1 don't mind-I'm not in full
dress myself So I'm wi ling to fellowship
with you. I'll run up across lots to our
room and tell them I'm not going down to
dinner. and then I'll trouble you for sill
yer half dollar. kind sir, and buy our .unch
at a restaurant. And we'll eat it right here
out of a paper bag! Larks.''
Her eyes We're still on daddy. She was
seeing many new things-the holows in
his temples, the patient droGp to his lips,
the whitening hair around his bald spot.
She was seeing how "stoop shouldered'
daddy getting to be. and how tired
tired-tired he looked. 1t seemed to Peggy.
lying there in the warm sand beside daddy,
as if she was just being introduced to him.
She reached out a little sea-browned hand
and slowly threaded the scant gray hair
between her fingers. The softness and silk
mess of it surprised her. She had never
known before that daddys hair was soft
and silky.
But it's thin. daddy. I believe to my
soul you're growing old. Aren't you
ashamed of yourself. sir? The idea"'
No older than some other folks this side
o. the sea. puss.' retorted daddy, with a
boyish laugh. He did not feel just then.
He felt young 1t was so pleasant to have
with the gentle boom of the breakers in his
ea--
You're CROWN old. too, maam. Bless
my SOUL wasn't 1t day before yesterday
You had the collie and l toted you up and
down the nursery floor, Up and down-up
and dOwn-did you ever say enough? Not
YOU
He prodded her whimsical,y with his fin
ger, but she was not listening to his banter.
You're tired, daddy, that's what" she
cried. abruptly. You need a lark-a lou,
one: not just a little twentyfour
hour one like this. See. there are crow
feet around your eyes. and you're not old
enough for crows feet. One. two. three.
four-who ever heard of a crow with four
feet? Daddy, do you hear? You must have
a good. long holiday. You shall stay right
! down here with u.s. I guess We can find
clean shirts enough You shall not go home
a step till we CO.
Gregory Knox shook his head slowly
And lose my job. little one? Then who
get the bread and butter? No, no; I'm hav-
| ing my lark today with you. I'm satisfied
| We old fellows at the store have to stand
| by the ship while the young bloods are hav-
| ing their outings It's the law. Besides, a
| place like this. my dear, wouldn't do for
| me. Think of your ma. No. no: I'd rather
| go to the trout brook at home and lie on
! the banks and fish"
Yes. daddy, yes; go on Her eyes were
| on his kindled old face and his We're on a
! feck of white sail in the offing. He began
| to speak again dream.ly, as If to himself.
! I'D ike to see Simeon again, too. We
| always went troutin' together-he and me-
| but / could haul IN the most fish every
| time Sim warn't much of an angler. He'd
| lay with his eyes shut and say poems to
\ me. Poor Simi That's about all the
poetry he ever had. or me, either. 1,