Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-04-13


see who that man is"
"Oh. aunt. can't. ! couldn't ask
such n question:
You don't need to ask. Worm II out
while you're there. You can take up
that new set OF points you've made.
Perhaps Mrs. Burkett might lik. TO
wear them with her widows black"
The last words came spitefLlly.
The girl stood in a pleading altitude.
This Is a nice way TO treat your old
aunt that's given you bed and board
for ten years now. Now you stop sniv-
cling and trot along"
Poor Peggy! Before those words
''bed and board" she never hesitated.
They formed the spiritual lash which
her aunt swung with unmerciful hand.
The girl never stopped to reckon the
mittens she knit for the shop. the lace
abe made or the interminable days OF
fne sewing as q recompense for the
obnoxious bed and board"
Drearily she lifted her simple sailor
hat from the shelf beneath the counter
and started on her hateful Grand
over her head, the wild strawberries
bloomed at her feet, and from the
woodlands came the calls of her favor
ite birds. But her eyes were heavy
with unshed tears. Was it not bad
Snough to listen day after day to the
gossip that emanated from her aunt's
shop without being forced into part
nership with the gossipers?
Languidly and tremblingly she
mounted the broad steps leading to
Widow Burkett's porch. That much
discussed lady met her at the door.
Her quick glance detected the misery
in Peggy's face.
"Come in, child. You look utterly
worn out" she remarked, ushering
Peggy into the dim. cool parlor. what
have you there? Oh, such lovely lace
collars! l must have one of them. But
I'm afraid this sort of work is pulling
you down. You're looking badly, Peg
gy."
The girl flushed guiltily, and her
tongue chung to the roof of her mouth.
Mrs Burkett studied her curiously.
at is a long walk from the village,
and as soon as Ned comes in We'll have
some lemonade. He makes famous
lemonade"
Nedl That must be the awful man.
And she called him by his first name
with such a proud light in her eyes.
| A brisk step sounded in the entry, the
knob ratified, and Peggy turned dizzy
and faint.
Ned, dear. this is little Peggy Smith
ers, who made that lovely lace for me.
| Peggy, this is
Peggy had risen mechanically, and
! as she caught the next words she
raised her eyes, swimming with tears,
to Mrs. Burkett's astonished gaze. De-
licious little chills were chasing up
! and down her hot spine. Oh, if only
she might rush from the house, down
the shady street to the shop. But no;
that man stood between her and the
door.
Peggy had never seen just such a
man before. He stood so very tall and
straight, laughed In such friendly fash
Ion with his eyes and helped her to
tiny cakes and a drink, all cool, sweet
| Il III
ing OF fairy book fame. From some
where-far. far away-came the trill
of a riotously happy bird. Peggy
raised her eyes once more to Mrs. Bur-
kett's face, and this time there wer,
no tears.
why, you're looking better already,
Peggy. And now. II you won't have
any more cake or lemonade, l shall
carry you Off to my room. / want you
to see the beautiful silks and embroid-
cries Mr.. Lameroux has brought me
from Japan and China"
The gossips at Mrs. Smithers' shop
were becoming restless when Peggy
came back. The girl fairly shivered
with suppressed excitement, and her
hand trembled as she stuck the hatpiD
through her sailor
We'll. amt you never going to
speak?" snapped her aunt. "Didn',
you hear anything?"
Eyes, heard lots, aunt" answered
the girl, trying hard to keep the ex-
ultation from ringing In her voice The
women leaned forward eagerly.
His name Is Mr.. Edward Lame.
roux"-
"Hoity-toity," smiled Miss Lavinia.
"Just like a novel," murmured Mrs
Marsden.
And he's Just home from China and
japan. and he's going to stay a year
this time, and he's brought her the
most beautiful silks you ever saw. and
I'm going there to sew on 'em for a
whole week, and she gave me the
Queerest candy. 1t came from China
too, and it burns your mouth, but it's
good-and"-
"Lawzee, Peggy, why don't you gel
down to facts?" calculated Miss La
vinia. us he going to marry her?"
tsNnr, acclaimed Pnonu In O Hnnl