Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-02-10

who'd get the bread an butter? No,
no; I'm havin' my lark today with you.
I'm satisfied. We old fellows at the
store have to stand by the ship while
the young bloods are havin' their out
ms. It's the law. Besides. a place like
this, my dear, wouldn't do for me.
Think of your ma. No. no; Id rather
20 to the trout brook at home an lie
on the banks an fish,"
Yes. daddy, yes-go on" Her eyes
were on his kindled old face. and bis
were on feck Of white sail in the
offing. He began to speak again dream
lily, as If to himself:
I'D like to see Simeon again too. We
always went troutin' together. he an
me- but could haul in the most fish
| every time. Sim warn't much Of an
angler He'd lay with his eyes shut
an say poems to me. Poor Sim. That's
about all the poetry he ever had. or me
either. 1t would be like rpvlewin a
poem. though. jest to 20 back an lay
under the willows at home shady:
Well. | guess. An cool: There amt
cooler place anywhere IN the heat OF
summer than on the bank OF that Old
troutin' stream waS-no. sir Al you
could hear the stiddy song of tie water
1T never stopped-an' smell the pine
needles. het up with the sun IN the
middle of the day Smcll good did Il:
| get to hankarln after that sErll b1t
days behind my counter amor ;Ge
stockin's Yes sir. when the GOOD Lord
gives me Il whole week of l'm Go!n'
HON" to go troutln with my brother
Sim"
He woke out of his day dream II min.
ute later in time 10 SEQ Fey skim
ming over the beach toward one of the
looming hotels in the background OF
the Se:i She had forgotten all about
her dip In the surf. She came back
again by and 10y with the paper bag or
lunch. and they ate II together in the
lee of the big bowldcr. Daddy was
very gay and scarcely noticed l'rgSy'S
prcOccupation. She SAID soOdby to
him in midafternoou. and he waited
alone for tralntime.
Ma" Peggy said. coming upon her
suddenly. with hcI novel. OH the broad
hotel vrranda-"Ina. it's played out
I'm going up home. I'm going tonight.
this very tonight that ever Is. ] guess
daddy II be glad to see me, and I've
got enough OF this place. I'm too young
,rir m
too old to dig in the sand with the
babies. That's what I'd like to have
little rcd pail and Il shovel aud dig.
That's living. But as long rs can't
guess III 20 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 whiniS ana 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. Peygy's ways were
apt to be diSconcerting. and she would
be safe and we'll with pa. Shed be
company for him. too--poor pa!
Without any objection Peggy was al
lowed to put her things together and
90. 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 un-
twisting it. Peggy saw the tragedy
coming She got there just in time to
see daddy regarding the torn bag IN
dlsmay. while fragments Of ham sand
wiches 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
rather ambiguously that she thought
she'd run up home for day."
Take 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 | can do some shopping between
times. If you're Il very good old dad
dy indeed. III buy my stockings OF
your
On the next morning but one daddy
went down to Bruce's with a long face.
and weary, but she smiled ingratiating-
" and twirled the stockings about with
an air of long acquaintance with their
kind.
Peggy. In an instant it was all clear
to him. He knew it was to Peggy he
owed his beautiful two weeks of rest.
1t was Peggy's doings!
He felt an irresistible impulse to
vault over the counter like boy and
take Peggy in his arms. The sly, little,
harum scarum girl, to cheat her old
daddy. He wanted to squeeze her
pale little face between his palms and
kiss it a hundred times. He wanted to
scold her and thank her and get her
away from that place. The stocking
counter at Bruce's was no place for
blithe little Peggy.
The customer was turning away and
Peggy was putting back the boxes.
Even from that distance daddy could
see that she put one In the wrong
place.
In the moment Of starting down the
aisle he changed his mind. An instinc-
tive delicacy restrained him, and he
hurried round the corner out Of sight.
No; he would not spoil Peggy's little
scheme. She would like it better to
have it 60 ON uninterrupted. Peggy
was travelling incog." now. He would
wait. But he told himself that by and
by he would have it out with Peggy.
There was a reckoning day ahead
somewhere.
He went home and waited. Closeup
at Bruce's was at 6 sharp, but 1t was
late twilight when Peggy came home.
She knew daddy would be there. and
she had fingered ON the way. He
heard her coming in and called out
brusquely:
who's there? Hold up your hands"
Cant do 1t, daddy. They're plumb
full. Why don't you have light"
She spoke with nervous hilarity,
III, t,,If OF n