The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-05

her afternoon round at the Grange, with
bright flowers and fresh green foliage
bursting forth on every side under the
magic breath of the young summer. ana
her own heart ihc',red 10 follow their ex-
ample. Peggy. like the trees and flowers
! ad had a hard winter OF II. and might
we'll rejoice and be ecstauc over
troubles vanquished. toll successfully ac-
complished. In her right hand Peggy
carried a large milk can. with a whole
family of little cans strung around IL
with hooks. and In an emnleniasuc r.s way
the large milk can represented little reg
gy. She had a whole family OF little mix
cans. so TO speak, fastened TO ner py
hooks. and all requiring TO be nlleo' leg
gy, In fact. though so young. was Httie
mother the largest OF her FAMILY peins
her grandfather. the next her brother
S9o' s sssa .ws.te; nxeS n,ne n' Why shars only
three altogether. or four II You count
Peggy" some one exclaims no very
large family that. True, when you have
. large Income with which 10 keep ~.
Peggy hadn't that, so the family was
large.
would refectively observe. when discuss
Ing the point Bob gets hall crown a
week for running messages, but the run
ming and the fresh air, think, only ,slye
him an appetite. He'd eat whole halt
crowns worth I'm ha':-a week IL o,dn I
watch and manage. Jessie and IN. don
grandfather AZ good as lives on air; put
boys must be fed, I've heard or they re
apt TO die. OH. ! couldn't live without
Bob. so I'd rather starve myself 10 a
skeleton. and oinsh aad save, than have
him hungry. And The best OF IL Is, he
never bothers his head where IL comes
from n he knew the thinking I nave ~
get IL, ] don't believe he'd halt enjoy IT.
But I've got through the winter after
,raSsea sa resSy orsve rows 20 Of
some villas, and through their sweet
swelling garden-plots which seemed TO
have been laid out expressly for her 10
with my milk In the mornings, gone TO
school in the day. and done rny. milk
them them ali right and straight. I'm not in
debt either though I've hard job 10
manage H. and all | need now IL a pair OF
chars charge 'os so much DGi for Soys boots II i
was only for me. now, anything would
do, but a boy mustn't get his ieet wet,
and they need TO be strong and good hut
Peggy was advancing To one of the
man. houses she serveu, and, IL might De
added. one Of the many houses in which
she was great fayorite, when her at
tention was diverted from herself and
her concerns by the approach of a gen
teel-looking woman. dressed In widow =
mournings, who hailed her with The
words
''Ar-nT you Peggy the milk glrl?'
Yes. ma am ana Peggy put down her
can To curts~y, the woman before her
having an engaging and attractive man
ner. which had deceived more experienced
tnsf she had more Than once OF late mo-
ti,s. the strange woman ia going her
yn,n'n no, an1 ,no"sn e prsu sure IRE, 'na .,n,e ls
thns she might be looking for some one
whom none but Peggy was likely TO
Se se
Peggy had no knowledge OF thieves. and
az 4 III could put on an artless appear
cefved even ministers and magistrates
when she favored them with call. IL was
not likely that she would be less success
1ui with simple milk girl.
You serve Mrs. Naismith with milk, I
beiieve?' sweetly continued the strange
woman. THAT is.at Iiill View Nilla?'
'Oh, yes. am; and Mrs. Naismith Is
very kind 10 me. and the servants too.
got this dress from hers ana i,eggy red
dened little as she indicated the frock,
which she had made down for herself In
style that would have sent skilled
drcssmaker into Mysteries.
Yes. Mrs. Naismith is dear. kind
lady said Bell Murray With affected
rapture. but do you know the vervent?
(which one?"
Peggy asked the question simply. and II
appeared for a moment to stageer her
ouesticner. who. however, vaguely an
swered--
"on. the one that takes In the milk
That's Maggie Gray" said Peggy.
with Frightening aspect. "Oh. I'm aw-
fully fond of her. for she often gives me
piece with meat between IL, enough to
Peggys enthusiasm appeared to be
catching, for the woman in widow s
mournings hastily took out a white pocket
handkerchief and wiped diligently az her
eyes, as IL quite overcome with emotion.
Yes, YES, shes good girl-a good
girl; she said. In broken tones; "and
letting you into a secrct-blt NDu VIII not
tell any one? not even Maggie herself? IL
l gi-'e YOU half-a-crown To yourself. you
ilskccp the secret
Half-a-crowu, the word almost took
Peggy breath away ana her senses
along with 1t, but she hastened To OBJ
serve
"oh. yes. ma am, ] can keep your Sc
cret for nothing"
No; no: that would never do" firmly
insisted ben murray, producing n half
crown and generously pressing II into
Pesgys hand. II must pay you, and. be-
sides. | wish you TO help me TO see and
speak TO my daughter without any one
else IN the house knowing anything
Your daughter. ma'am?--is Maggie
your daughierg" cried Peggy I'm surprise.
scanning Bell Murray's face in vain for
traces of resemblance.
Yes dear. | am Mrs Gray and Mag
eF ~ my daughter. coOliy returned the
ifhpostor: but I have been unfortunate
and Mrs Naisniith has forbidden me TO
come near the house to speak to Maggie.
just noN Mrs. Naismth and the family
are away from home. but IL any of the
otner servants saw inc they would tell.
and Maggie would be discharged
Then. would you like me TO tell Mag
eie you're here, and como out and speak
To your quickly inquired Peggy.
Yes. that would do I darcsav." du-
biously answered the thief "Or I can
tell you what would be better. You
KNOW the scullery at the end OF the house,
close TO the Kitchen"
"Oh, yes: J know II well: I've often
bsen IN II, eagerly answered Peggy
Ahc haggie often goes into IL when
none OF the others are near" observed
Bell Murray. with wonderful acuteness
There's window To it close To the gar
den walk at the back. So that y that
window wasn't barred on the inside I
could GO round and throw NJ the window
whenever l saw Maggie come into the
scuiery"
But tho window Is barred and the ~
is never out az g." said Peggy N ,-e
seen W often. aud think its because It's
the only window that hasn't a shutter in
aide 10 close al night 60 keep thieves ont .