The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-15

DuI IL Au4u, Oduuy, L DS11cVc U
My Soul You're Growing Old"
of lunch, and they ate 1t together in the
lee of the big boulder. Daddy was very
gay and scarcely noticed Peggy's pre-
occupation. She said goodby TO him in
midafternoOn and he waited alone for
train time
Ma" Peggy said, coming upon ner
suddenly, with her novel, on the broad
hotel veranda. Ma, it's played out
I'm going up home. I'm going tonight
this very tonight that ever is. I
guess daddy'll be glad to see me, and
I've got enough of this place. I'm too
young to flirt around with the girls
and I'm too old to dig in the sand with
the babies. That's what I'd Eke-to
have a little red pail and a shovel and
dig, That's living. But as long as
can't, L guess I'll go home. I'm going
upstairs now and pack up
Ma folded down the corner of a leaf
to keep her place. She was used to
Peggy's whims, and was sInastonished
But. Peggy, it's only half through
the month-there's 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. Shed be
company for him, tOo-pOOr pa
Without any objection Peggy was al
lowed to put her things together and
go. When the train was well under
way she went ahead to daddys car to
surprise him. He was sitting by him
self in the front of the car. The paper
bag of lunch remnants was in his
hand. and he was absentIy twisting and
untwisting it. Peggy faw the tragedy
coming. She got there just in time to
see daddy regarding the torn bag in
dismay, while fragments of ham sand
witches OoZed out and dropped to the
floor.
"Pll pick 'em up-dont stoop, daddy
she said. quietly
Peggy Knox" cried daddy.
Don't mention it-Shl 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 a dav
Take my day off, you know, daddy, -
she said, gayly. You won't mind haV-
ing me keep house for you day, win
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 your
On the next morning but one daddy
~ Z.
1t was the morning Peggy was going
back to ma and the girls. He had taken
it for granted, and it filed 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-
chemically 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 little, harum- scar
UNI Peggy-daddy was thinking Of
20, I say, Mr.. Knox, good day to you.
sir" some one out in the aisle was
saying. 1t was the boss. He leaned
over the counter and pulled his sleeve.
L say, Knox, you don't look pulled to-
gether yet. You need another day off
Why not take-Say, a fortnight, and
go somewhere trout fishing-Adiron-
dack way, you know? Can as well as
not-dOn't say a 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. ThatH go right on, you
know. Might as well 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
won't be half man till you get out
into the woods somewhere and hOller.
Put in for all you're Worth-you need
it, Let yourself go, old man, for once
I'd go with. you if ! hadn't got an en-
gagement with my wheel. 1 say, man,
I'm powerful glad the boss has come
round. He amt half bad. Now put on
your hat end Start-Shooi"
1t was halfDast eight-there was
time to get the 10 o'clock train that
went straight toward the little dark
brook under the willows, There was
time.-time,-timei
If Peggy had only stayed long enough
to know 1t would please Peggy.
On the T. o'clock train, Gregory Knox
sat back IN his seat and wished again
that Peggy could know. He had half a
mind to telegraph her, but, on second
thought, decided TO wait and write from
SIMS He could tell Peggy so many
things that would be interesting then
how her Uncle Simeon looked, and how
the old place had stood the wear and
tear of thirty years-and whether the
tall tree apples tasted as good as they
used to-and If the srout were biting
we'll He would write Peggy a long let
ter-the first letter he had ever written
to one of the girls. He was glad the
first one would be TO Peggy.
Two weeks later. Gregory Knox,
brown and happy, got off the train in
the crowded city station. He walked
away with suringy stride that fitted
his little stopped figure oddly. People
turned to look again at his happy face.
The whin seized him to walk by
Bruce's and see how it looked from an
outsiders Standpoint-tO stand and
look idly in the big windows, as out
siders did. Then another whim, to go in
at the great swinging doors md loiter
through the aisles--alI but the stock
ing counter isle. Not that-that would
break the SPELL
I'm buy little mite of present for
Peggy-that's what Peggy always
said that's what" and he smiled at
the thought His heart was hungry to
see Peggy, and he had reckoned that
she and ma and the girls would be
home, now. in day or two Their
month was over.
Nov, whatll 1 get?r he unused,