Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1903-09-03

nOunceS the maid.
Margaret? Oh" says Catherine, puz-
zled. "Oh, Peggy. she means YOU
"Yes." says Peggy and reaches out
her hand
The girls watch her while she unties
the string.
do you wish a light. miss?" asks
the maid.
But Peggy does not hear her, for
there steals into the room faint, Won
derful fragrance, the fragrance of the
pines of Virginia.
Louise steps forward and lifts the
cover. Under the waxed paper in the
long box are silky tassels of shining
green, wet still with the moisture of
the woods.
There is an envelope, half hidden un-
der the mass of green. Peggy's hand
shuts over it: she has seen the writing.
No prying eyes shall read John Carriers
message to-''his fourth girl" as she
calls herself bitterly.
"Read it, Peggy" cries Louise.
But Peggy stands up defiant, the box
in her arms.
'Go and dressw she commands. 1--WE
shall never get ready"
1.-THE country lover" comments Cath
crime, as the girls 90 to their rooms.
But when the girls are gone Peggy
does not move for little while. She
stands very still, with pale little face.
Then suddenly she buries her face in
the scented green. At last. with trem-
bling fingers, she tears open the envel-
ope. But no single line of wornOut
sentiment confronts her. Within is
sheet of closely written paper:
My Dear Peggy-I am in paradise. with
the Eve left out. 1 am in the woods, but
the spirit of the pines is away. and the
old, old trees sigh and sigh and whisper
with me, broken heartedly, Where is our
Peggy?'
When Nanny Chloe told me that you
had joined Louise Dalton's house party
the light went out Of the sun. I want
you here, and l had travelled all these
miles that 1 might come to you on St.
Valentines day and ask you again-for
the thirteenth time dear-if you wouldn't.
Nanny Chloe says that you are home
sick. &c. dear heart, 1 send you a bit Of
home To the other girls l have sent
flowers and verses that mean nothing,
but to my Peggy l send her own pine.
l shall get back to New York with this
and send 1t up to you to let you know
that 1 shall dine at the Daltons' tonight.
I found note from Louise and will tele-
phone her. Come down early, and I will
meet you at the foot of the stairway.
And, Peggy, oh, Peggy, If you mean to
say Yes this time wear bit Of the
pine, and I will know that my Peggy is
my own-at last. JACK.
An hour later a wonderful little fig
ure in pale green trailing gown, with
a rope Of pearls around the young
neck and silken bit of pine among
the laces at her breast. comes out Of
the door and glides down the hall. AS
she reaches Louise's room she sees
through the open door that the rest of
the girls are there. but she passes by
unheeding
Down the long corridor to the stair.
way. The girls follow her, and look
over the railing as she turns the curve
below them.
"She is really beautiful" says Cath
crime. as the light falls on the upturned
radiant face.
Poor Virginia lover" laughs Edith:
IF Peggy looks like that all the even
ing, he will have rivals"
Just then man comes across the
broad hall and advances to meet Peg
gy.
He is tall, strong and handsome.
John Carter" breathes Catherine,
and starts to descend.
But Edith holds her back.
Look" she says.
They meet half way up the stairway
little Peggy and John Carter He
takes her hand in his. Then there is
breathless moment and the watchers
slip away discreetly.
Jack" they say. with a light break
ing in upon them.
And then they know-beautiful Cath
crime, and stately Edith. ana gracious
Louise-that it is little Peggy, after all
little Peggy of the Pines.
-he Value of Sunlight.
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