Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-03-11

suddenly, With her mover, on the DrOau
hotel veranda-"ma, it's played out.
I'm going up home. I'm going tonight,
this very tonight that ever is. guess
daddy IL 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
little red pail and a shovel and dig.
That's living. But as long as I can't
1 guess I'll go home. I'm going up
stairs now and pack up"
Ma folded down the corner Of leaf
to keep her place. She was used to
Peggy's whims and was unastonished.
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
CO. When the train was well under
way, she went ahead to daddy's 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 absently twisting and I'M
twisting it. Peggy saw 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.
"I'll pick 'em up. Don't stoop, dad
dy," she said quietly.
Peggy Knox!" cried daddy.
Don't mention it-sh! I'm travelling
incog," whispered Peggy. Then they
both laughed and settled comfortably
for the trip home. Peggy explained
father ambiguously that she thought
she'd run up home for day"
"rake my day off, you know, daddy"
she said gayly. you won't mind hav-
ing me keep house for you day, will
you? can boil tea to perfection, and
I'll make you fritters for breakfast.
Then l can do some shopping between
times. If you're very good old dad
dy indeed, I'll buy my stockings of
you!"
4 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 tax
en- it for granted, and it filled him will
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 scar
UNI Peggy-daddy was thinking of.
"Oh, say, Mr.. Knox, good day t
you, sir" some one out in the aisl
was saying. 1t was the boss. II
leaned over the counter and pulled hi
sleeve. 81 say, Knox, you don't lool
pulled together yet. You need anothe
day off. Why not take, say, foltnigh
and go somewhere trert ishing-Adi
rondack- way, you know? Can as wei
! as not. Don't say word! Fact is
I've made arrangements with some
body to take your place, and you've &c
to go; can't help yourself. Stay tw
weeks, and-er-you needn't troubl
about your pay. That'll go right OF
you know. Might us well go toda,
Why not?"
He was gone before the astonishe
little man behind the stocking counte
had recovered himself. Old Adam wa
} regarding him with grin.
Got your walkin' ticket, eh?' b
drawled. "Well, you deserve it. 70
\ won't be half man till you get O,
into the woods somewheres an hole