The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-07-17

stretched out before her, and daddy's
experienced eyes fell on them at once.
He was SO we'll acquainted with stock
ings! He noticed instantly that they
we're rusty and l~oose-fbred. Then he
saw the little ''gobbled' darns IN them
Peggy was not renowned for needle
work.
Poor dye, slazy weave" he thought
Couldn't have come from Bruce's. Mine
are fast black and you can't see day
light through 'em either"
Fire away, daddy. Don't you see the
lady's waiting?"
Peggy's clear, laughing voice interrupt
ed his thoughts and brought him back
from the stocking counter at Bruce's to
the great, hot beach with the sea at
his feet.
'Er-why. yes, Peggy, yes. What was
l sayin'?'
"That's the trouble-you weren't say
ing a solitary word, Daddy Knox! Just
mooning-or selling stOckingsi"
"Sellin' stockings-yOu've hit the nail,
Peggy! That's what was dom sure.
1t kinder comes second nature to me.
That's what / expected to be dom this
minute, but the boss gave me a day off
So l ran down here-I hankered to see
a little harum-scarum girl O mine. But,
you see" Che lowered his voice conf
dentiallyl, never thought to fix up,
so I'm lleepin' dark. | wouldn't have
your ma see me this way for the best
pair O. silk stockin'S at Bruce'S.'
Peggy eyed the crumpled shirt bosom
with palpable disfavor. Her eyes travelled
over the shabby little figure, taking in
the shiny seams and the frayed edges
disc nrrnyin | ~ How litt1n oT1 md
seedy daddy was.
yes, mad ave a Gt-two fits" she
said, promtly. you'll have to remain
incog, daddy. Now, don't mind-Tm
not in full dress myself, So I'm willing
to fellowship with you. III run up across
lots to our room, and tell them I'm not
going to dinner. and then I'll trouble you
for a silver ~half-dollar, kind sir, and buy
our lunch at a restaurant. And We'll
eat it right here, out Of q paper bag!
Larksi"
Her eyes were still on daddy. She
was seeing many new things-the hol-
lows in his temples, the patient droop
to his lips, the whitening hair around
his bald spot. She was seeing how
"stoop-shouldered' daddy was getting tC
be, and how tired-tired-tired he looked
1T seemed to Peggy, lying there in the
warm sand beside daddy. as il she was
just being introduced to him. She reach
ed out a little Sea-broWned hand and
slowly threaded the scant gray hair be-
tween her fingers. The softness and
sickness of it surprised her. She haC
never known before that daddy's hair was
soft and silky.
But it's thin, daddy. believe to my
soul you're growing old. Aren't yo,
ashamed of yourself, sir? The ideal"
n older than some other folks TIL.
side O. the sea. puss," retored daddy
with a boyish laugh. He did not fec
old Just then. He felt young. It wa:
so pleasant to have Peggy all to him
self, and to lie, resting, with the gentl;
boom of the breakers in his ear.
@ CROWN old. too, ma'am. Bles:
my soul, wasn't it day before vesterda,
you had the collie, and | tOted you u,
and down the nursery floor! Up anC
down-up and down-did you ever sa,
enough? Not you!"
He prodded her whimsically with hi
finger, but she was not listening to hi
banter.
You're tired Daddy, that's what" sh,
cried abruptly. You needs a lark;
long one, not just a mean little 24-hou
one like this. See, there are crows fee
enough for crows feet. One, two, three
four. Who ever heard of a crow witt
four feet? Daddy, do you hear? Yol