Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-08-26
PEGGY OF
THE PINES
By TEMPLE BAILEY
Copyright, 1908, by T. C. Mcclure
.s.s.s.s.s.+s.sxs*s*s+s

dream. Peggy opens her eyes, little
daZed.
OF course there are other John Car
ters Carter is rather commonplace |
name after all So is John.
The high heels of Peggy's patent
feathers click on the polished floor of
the alcove and Peggy's blue kimonoed
figure appears between the curtains of
the arch that divides the room.
"Sleepyhead" is GATHERINGS scornful
welcome.
Peggy smiles and trails languidly
over to a low chair by the fire. She
sits down and shakes a veil of soft, red
brown hair over her flushed cheeks
Edith passes her the box of choco-
lates and the conversation goes on.
81 wonder which one of us it is
signs Louise.
IF the corner of the conservatory
could speak | think it would whisper
Catherine says Edith.
The color that flames up into Cath
crimes cheeks matches the red of her
Grape gown.
But Peggy looking through her veil
of hair. sees that she likes it-likes to
be leased about Jack; Peggy's Jack
well. not exactly hers-yet, but he has
proposed TO her every year since she
was in pinafores, and if she hasn't
said yes
"A box for Miss Catherine, states
the soft voiced maid at the door.
The box is full of red. glowing roses
American Beauties.
Catherine takes the card ont of the
little white envelope and looks at the
girls complacently.
John Carter" she reads.
Oh. little Peggy. little Peggy, it is
well that your face is hidden by the
silken veil. for the bushes are gone.
Edith's lips are set in rather tense
line.
What does he sayT'
"Red as a rose is she"
Rather haclneyed for clever
man." comments Edith.
There is another box for Miss
Edith" says the maid, land one for
Miss Louise"
Not a single valentine for you, ba-
by says Louise to Peggy. But the
men haven't found you out yet"
She opens her box, gives one glance
at the card and leans over to see
Edith's
Then the two girls laugh.
John Carter"
Across GATHERINGS smooth forehead
there fickers just the shadow of a
frown. but she rallies.
Y
on yours, girls?'
Louise has orchids, Edith violets.
Each card contains a maudlin valen-
tine sentiment, but Peggy listens to the
conventional lines with prejudiced
ears. There is only one consolation
Jack isn't a Mormon. He can't marry
all three of them.
But over GATHERINGS face there
broods something of dissatisfaction.
and Edith gathers up her violets and
slips out Of the room without a word
After awhile the other girls follow. and
Peggy is left alone.
She goes and stands by the window
where, through the gray mist, she car
see the blurred lights of the big city
oh, how hOmesick she is. She wants
to see Nanny Chloe and Aunt So
phia, and most of all she wants TO hear
the wind signing through the pines.
She goes over to her trunk and from
its very bottom she drags out Il big
box and as the darkness comes on shC
muses. sadly over the bits of lace pa
per and faded ribbons.
The girls find her thus when they
come in later
"Nalentines?' says Louise "Ol(
onesE' She picks up tiny lace pape
affair with two red hearts and Cupid
Roses red and vilets blue,
Sugar is sweet and so are you
THAT came when was seven" say
Peggy.
Are they all from one man? Oh
Peggy. Peggy, l believe you have a re
nance"
They are all from Jack" says Pegg
without malice, and then she stand
blushing. for what will they think o
Mr.. John Carter now?
But the name suggests nothing to til
three girls.
Some one you know in Virginia ?
aShS
And Peggy knows that after ALL sh
has told nothing, and she resolves t
hold her own.
''He has sent me one each year sine
was five. We grew up together"
why, what little romance" say
Edith indulgently, with amused an
uplifted eyebrows behind Peggy's bacl
''Of course he loves you
"Of course" says Peggy with an a
surance she is far from feeling.
And you love him"
Il haven't told him So" says Pegg
and the. girls look at her open eye
They are not used to small Virgin
princesses who have TO be wooed Ion
"A box for Miss Margaret" a
nounces the maid.
Margaret? Oh" says Catherine, pu
zled ''Oh, Peggy, she means YOU"
Yes" says Peggy and reaches o
her hand.
The girls watch her while she unit
the string.
do you wish a light, miss?" as
the maid.
But Peggy does not hear her..
there steals into the room a faint, VIC
derful fra grance, the fragrance of t
pines of Virginia.
T,oriSa stems foryya rf1 and lifts I