The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-15

who'd get the bread and butter! NO,
no; I'm having 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 having 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,
Eyes, Daddy, yes-go on Her eyes
were on his kindled old face, and his
were on fleck of white sail in the Off
ing He began to speak again dreamily,
and to himself.
I'D like to see Simeon, again. too. We
always went troutin' together-he and
me-but / could haul in the most fish.
Every time-Sim warnt much of an ang-
Ter He'd lay with his eyes shut and
say poems to me. Poor Sim-that' s
about all the poetry he ever had, or me,
either. 1t would like reviewin' a
poem, though. jest to go back and lay
under the willows at home. Shady?
Well, I guess. And cool? There amt a
cooler place anywhere, in the heat O.
summer, than on the bank O. that old
troutin' stream was-no, sir. And you
could hear the Study song o. the water
it never stopped-and smell the pine
needles, he't up with the sun in the mid
die O. the day. Smell good, did it? l
get to hankerin' after that smell, hot
days behind my counter, among the
stockin's. Yes, sir, when the good Lord
gives me a whole week off I'm goin'
home to go troutin with my brother
Sim
He woke out of his day dream a min
ute later, in time to see Peggy skim
ming over the beach toward one of the
looming hotels in the background Of the
sea. She had forgotten all about her
dip in the surf. She came back again,
by and by, with the paper bag of lunch.
and they ate it together in the lee of the
big boulder. Daddy was very gay and
scarcely noticed Peggy's preoccupation
She said goodby to him in midafternoon
and he waited alone for train time.
Ma Peggy said, coming upon her
suddenly with her novel on the broad
hotel verandah, MA, it's played out
I'm going up home. I'm going tonight
this very tonight that ever is. | guess
daddy'll be glad to see me. and I've got
enough of this place. I'm too young to
f1irt around with the girls, and I'm too
old to dig in the sand with the babies
That's what I'd like-to have a little
red pail and shovel and dig. That's
living. But as long as l can't. / guess
I'll go home. I'm going upstairs now
and pack up"
Ma folded down the corner of leaf
to keep her place. She was used to
Peggys whims, and was unastonished.
but Peggy, it's only half through
the month--theres two whole weeks
left" she said, slowly. In her heart
ma was relieved. Peggy's ways were
apt to be disconcerting, and she would
be safe and well with pa. She'd be
company for him too-poor pa!
Without any objection Peggy was al
lowed to put her things together and
CO. When the train was well under
way she went ahead to daddy's ear to
surprise him. He was sitting by himself
in the front of the car. The paper bag
Of lunch remnants was in his hand. and
he was absently twisting and untwisting
it. Peggy saw the tragedy coming. She
got there just in time to see daddy re-
garding the torn bag In dismay, white
fragments of ham sandwiches oozed out
and dropped to the floor.
I'll pick EN- up-dont stoop. daddy"
she said, quietly.
Peggy Knox!" cried daddy.
Don't mention 18th! I'm travelling
incog," whispered Peggy. Then they
both laughed and settled comfortably
for the trip home. Peggy explained
rather ambiguously that she thought
she'd run up home for day.
Take my day off, you know, DADDY,
she said, gayly. "You won't mind hav.
ing me, keep house for you a day, will
you? l can boil tea to perfection, and
I'll make you fritters for breakfast
Then l can do some shopping between
times. If you're a very good old daddy
indeed, I'll buy my stockings of you"
On the next morning but one Daddy
went down to Bruce's with long face
1t was the morning Peggy was going
back to ma and the girls. He had taken
it for granted, and it filled him with
homesick misery. 1t had been so pleas
ant to have the child at home. She had
taken his lonely old heart by storm.
He hung up his hat and began me-
chanically to straighten some of the
boxes in one of the tiers, behind the
counter. He had not thought to say
good morning to old Adam, as usual. 1t
was Peggy-gay, little, harum- scarum
Peggy-Daddy was thinking Of.
20, say, Mr.. Knox, good day to you,
sir" some one out in the aisle was say
ing. 1t was the boss. He leaned over
the counter and pulled his sleeve. 81 say.
Knox, you don't look pulled together yet.
You need another day off. Why not take
say, fortnight, and go somewhere trout
fishing-Adirondack way, you know? Can
as we'll as not-don't say word! Fact is.
I've made arrangements with somebody
to take your place and you've got to go.
Can't help yourself. Stay two weeks,
and-er-- you needn't trouble about your
pay. That'll go right on, you know.
Might as we'll go today-why not?"
He was gone before the astonished
little man behind the stocking counter
had recovered himself. Old Adam was
regarding him with a grin.
Got your walkin' ticket, eh?" he
drawled. well, you deserve it! You