Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1903-09-03
PEGGY OF
THE PINES
By TEMPLE BAILEY
Copyright, 1905, by T. C. Mcclure
. +o+o* + . i q

AC A"Aic occiAS 10 come out OF ler
dream. Peggy opens her eyes, little
dazed.
OF course there are other John Car
tiers. 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 kimonoad
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.
II wonder which one of us it is"
signs Louise
IF the corner of the conservatory
could speak l 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 out 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 say?"
"Red as rose is She"
"Rather hackneyed for a clever
man." comments Edith.
'There is another box for Miss
Edith" says the maid, land one for
Miss Louise"
mot 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 tlickers just the shadow of a
frown, but she rallies.
"F1ow impartial. What does he say
on yours. girls?"
Louise has orchids, Edith violets.
Each card contains a maudlin valen-
tine sentiment, but Peggy listens to the
conventional lines with preiudiced
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 dissatisfa ction.
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 can
see the blurred lights of the big city.
Oh, how homesick she is! She wants
to see Nanny Chloe and Aunt So
ph1a. 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 big
Dox, and as the darkness comes on she
muses. sadly over the bits of lace pa-
per and faded ribbons.
The girls find her thus when thew
come in later
Valentines| says Louise. "Old
ones" She picks up tiny lace paper
affair with two red hearts and a Cupid.
Roses red and vilets blue,
Sugar Is sweet and so are Won
That came when l was seven" saws
Peggy.
Are they all from one man? Oh.
Peggy, Peggy, believe you have'a TO-
nance"
Ihey are all from Jack" says Peggy
without malice, and then she stands
blushing, for what will they think of
Mr.. John Carter now?
But the name suggests nothing to the
three girls.
"Some one you know in Virginia ?"
asks Catherine.
And Peggy knows that. after all, she
has told nothing. and she resolves to
hold her own.
HE has sent me one each year since
l was five. We grew up together"
why. What little romance" SAYS
Edith indulgently. with amused and
Cplifted eyebrows behind Per,.y's hack