The Opelousas courier., 1903-05-09
THE WOOING CT PEGGY.

81 wish to see Lady Vesdris Pen
dual"
The soberly dressed little man
looked ~questioningly at the maid serv-
ant who opened the door for him.
Nobody of that name in the hou=c,
sir"
mo? You surprise me-" he smiled
then added: However, as I am not
blind, l can see her at this very mo-
ment playing tennis in that court"
He pointed casually in the direction
Of the distant lawn.
THAT is Miss Peggy Smith, sir. The
gentleman she is playing with being
the young master.
The little man coughed.
Then, my good girl would you have
the kindness to tell Miss Peggy Smith
that Mr.. George Brent, solicitor of the
late Earl of Porthaven, would like to
see her for a few moments?"
The servant stared, then, asking the
solicitor into the house, she bowed
him into the drawing room and de-
parted on her errand. Brent had not
long to wait, for ere many minutes
had elapsed the door opened, and a
pretty, winsome girl entered the room,
closely followed by the young fellow
whom the solicitor has seen playing
tennis with her when he had entered
the grounds a short while before.
Like his partner in the set, he looked
hot and somewhat moist visaged.
$50 you have found me out at
last, Mr.. Brent" she remarked by
way Of greeting.
"Um, yes, my dear Lady Vesdris,'
replied the solicitor. his eyes twink
ling with latent merriment. And a
fine dance you have led me, too! re
come down to Yorkshire from London
is quite an undertaking for a man OF
my age, you know. Now that | have
at last arrived in this very pretty, il
extremely out-of-the-way locality.
should be pleased if you would accord
me a few minutes private converse
tion-alone."
"We1l, we are alone, dear Mr.
Brent" said Vesdris, smiling. Der
being in the room does not alter thai
fact, for-we, you see, have no secret:
from each other"
"Ahem." The solicitors eyes twink
led more than ever. 'Am l to under
stand, by that confession that yot
are engaged to this gentleman"
"Not yet" replied vesdris, hurried
ly, before Bertram Wilmot had TIM
to get a word in ~edgeways. We
We She paused, then flushing
holly, said, what was it you wantet
to see me for?"
"Ah, of course, I was forgetting thu
object of my visit in the pleasure o
seeing you." The smile died from hi
lips, as he added seriously. 1T i
my pleasant duty to inform you tina
my late client, the Earl of Porthaven
died intestate, and such being tn
case, you, as his l%ordship's only SUI
viving relative, inherit alike hi
estates in the Duchy Of Cornwall an,
his fortune" He paused, then added
"The title, Of course, lapses, though !
could doubtless be revived, Away
supposing you contracted . suitabl
marriage"
Vesdris laid a hand on the littl
mans arm.
"That, Mr.. Brent, you know that
should always do" she said, smilini
into his eyes.
II am far from being certain o.
that point said the solicitor, a Sigh
9 note of testiness apparent in hi
voice. 81 remember the time whe,
you told me in all seriousness tina
you wanted to marry the gardner
boy"
But that was when I used to il
vite you up to the schoolroom to tie
: with my dolls, Mr.. Brent" Away
pretty. she looked singularly winnin
: at that moment.
u Brent being merely a man suffere
! the smile TO be won back to his fac
as pinching her gently on the cheel
he said:
Those were happy days, Vesdril
] when | used to come and drink thin
blefuls OF tea with you, and listen t
the respective family histories of you
dollies! Eli? / little thought the
that you would ever have been throw
! alone on the world as Miss Pegg
Smith. You should have come to N
]. house, little girl, instead OF hidin
I yourself away in the wilds of Yorl
! shire as q companion. Two year
hard hunting it has taken me to I'm
! you.
81 knew that you would want me |
!, come to you. If / let you know of m
, whereabouts" Vesdris said softl,
II did not want to be a burden on y6l
I for / thought thar ! could earn my ow
living! Rather than do that
would have accepted the hundred
year Uncle Walter offered me, whe
be stepped into everything at ii
! desth of ny poor father" Her lii