The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-27
THE ASYLUM GIRL.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

This is Peggy" said Mrs. Monta-
cute
And Peggy" herself, a tall, slight
girl, OF sixteen or seventeen, in mad
der-red calico dress, and dropping
head all covered with jet-black rings
OF curling hair, stood before the pom
derous elder, as a Circassian slave
might have stood before her possible
purchaser, in olden time.
Seems like nice girl enough" said
the elder.
"Oh, yes" said Mrs. Montacute, q
little gray-haired lady, with black
silk dress and oldfashioned garnet
earrings. "Peggy's q good girl. She's
been help and comfort to me ever
since l took her out of the orphan
asylum three years ago come Thanks
giving Day."
"Mrs. Doubleday wants girl, to
make herself useful about the house."
said the elder, obviously. young
woman, can you wash?"
"Oh, yes, SIR said Peggy, in a low,
soft voice, that made the elder think
of the striking of the little French
clock on the squire's mantel.
"And iron, and bake, and make soft
soap, and clean house land mind little
children?"
10 all of these queries, Peggy in
cllned her head assentingly, while Mrs.
Montacute made haste to declare that
"Pebby was masterhand to turn off
work, for all she looks 80 SLIM
II like slim gals" said the elder.
"They aren't apt to be such heavy
eaters, and they don't wear so hard on
stair carpet. I've a notion to take
her"
"You won't regret it," said Mrs.
Montacute. II should never think of
parting with her ii it wasn't for my
son-Clement, you know, the college
graduate" with little flush of ma
ternal pride on her cheek, "Clement
can't bear the idea Of an asylum girl
about the house-he is so refined in his
tastes and ideas; SO we're to have q
regular cook and chambermaid from
the city-an establishment, Clement
Gals it-and l must find a good
home for Peggy"
"Well," said the elder, rising up like
mountain (of black broadcloth and
smooth shaver chin in motion. 'Pll
try her, anyhow. And I've notion
she'll suit Mrs. Doubleday, though
Mrs. Doubleday amt easy suited,
neither"
So the elder trundled himself ponder
ously away, and Peggy turned her
dark eyes, like those of startled
fawn, on her mistress lace.
Must I go thereY she faltered.
"Now, Peggy, don't be unreason.
able said Mrs. Montacute, briskly
, "It'll be good home for you"
I'D rather stay here" faltered Peg
gy, with a CULVER of the full red lower
lip.
But you know that you can't, dear
on account of Clement said Mrs
Montacute, patting the girls shout
! ders, as one might soothe q fretfu
t child.
: Il would be very quiet" said Peg
gy. "And l would never come in biz
: way"
cts quite out Of the question, nv
DEAR" said the little widow, noddinp
her head. college young men have
j, their fancies, you know, and they've
J, got to be humored"
But it isn't my fault that I'm ar
asylum girl" argued Peggy, with q
e strong sense Of injustice swelling a,
4 her heart
Il know that Peggy" soothed the
old lady; "but folks often have to sui
! fer for what isn't any fault of theirs
in this world, as you'll find out by thu
time you've liv 4 to be as old az am
Now go up and cut out that new cal
leo dress of yours, for the elder will
want you at the end Of the month, ant
you must get your wardrobe in a.
good order as you cam
And Peggy went slowly upstairs II
her own room, little sloping-roofes
; den, under the very caves of the house
with window that looked down into
the emerald pillows of the apple orch
ard and shelf of rough, unpainted
i wood, upon which Peggy kept hel
small store of books and the worr
portfolio of papers where she had hid
den away her own ambitious little eff
/ forts to initiate her standards of per
t lection. For Peggy, the asylum girl
: had had her dreams Of future ranl
!, and greatness and sometimes, as she
t looked into the little square of warped
looking-glass that hung close to the
; window, a face looked back at hel
o that startled her-her own, and ye1
(; not her own. And still Peggy never
realized the fact that she was growing
u to be beauty.
q But that afternoon she dressed her
a slef in the faded pink muslin which
Mrs. Montacute had worn when girl
e and had bestowed on Peggy as
queen might bestow a coronation rob
on some favored subject and fool
"Monroe's Melodies" down to he
: favorite seat on the door step to read
while Mrs. Montacute was spending
= the afternoon at some neighbour
house.
q II shall not have manY more read
2 on this nice old door STEP" though
y Peggy, with tears in her eyes.
n But as she sat there, looking ex
quisitely lovely in the level afternoo,
sunlight. with her pink dress relieving
: her tropical beauty in true artist fash
lon and the faintest possible shade o
r rose glowing in her cheek, a shadow
: fell across her book.
. ~