The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-08-28

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 II: she has seen the writing
No prying eyes shall read John Carters
message to-''his fourth GIRL" as she
calls herself bitterly.
Read II, Peggy" cries Louise.
But Peggy stands up defiant, the box
in her arms.
"Go and dressr' she commands. I'VE
shall never get ready"
.sThe country lover" comments Cath
crime. as the girls 20 TO their rooms.
But when the girls are gone Peggy
does not move for a little while. She
stands very still. with pale little face.
Then suddenly she buries her face I'm
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 a
sheet OF closely written paper:
Ny Dear Peggy-I am In paradise. with
the Eve left out. / 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 Ia our
PeggyY'
When Nanny Chloe told me that you
had Joined Louise Daltons house party
the light went out OF the sun. i want
you here. and l had travelled all these
miles that / 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. So dear heart. / send you 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.
/ shall get back to New York with this
| and send IL up to you to let you know
| that shall dine at the Daltons' tonight.
| / found a note from Louise and will tele-
/ phone her. Come down early. and will
| neet you at the foot OF the stairway.
And. Peggy. oh. Peggy. IL you mean to
| say Yes this time wear a bit of the
| pine. and I will know that my Peggy In
my own-at last. JACK.
An hour later wonderful little fig-
ure I'm pale green trailing gown, with
a rope of pearls around the young
| neck and a 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 a man comes across the
broad hall and advances to meet Peg
tgy.
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 i'm his. Then there Is a
breathless moment and the watchers
slip away discreetly.
'Jackr' they say. with light break.
ing in upon them.
And then they know-beautiful Cath
crime, and stately Edith. and gracious
Louise-that it is little Peggy, after all
little Peggy OF the Pines.