River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-06-23
MRS. PEGGY.

cordage. There was a courtyard in front
of the house with orange trees in tubs,
high stone WALL and barred gates shut
ting out the world.
The bars were necessary. A great
many idlers haunted the roadway out.
side and spent themselves in useless en-
beavers to bride Matthew, the surly old
porter, to carry messages or bouquets or
jewel cases to his mistress.
Mrs. Peggy is an honest woman" he
would growl, IF she is stage player.
Put up your guineas, sir"
1t was true that Mrs. Peggy was an
honest woman, and that piquant and un-
expected fact but whetted the desires
and ambitions of her adorers-and they
numbered all the towns pretty fellows.
Disappointed in bidding low, some of
these admirers were prepared to bid the
highest. Rumor had it that one of Mrs.
Peggy's rejected addresses carried a
duchess coronet. What if the duke was
old and padded and wicked and had
glass eye, her stage sisters, to say moth
ing of more reputable ladies, would have
given the world for her chances Mrs.
Peggy though late had made her stage
player, hardly saw the world she lived
Comic Muse-and on the stage she was
the wittiest, gayest, most irresistible
thing alive, sparkling and glancing in the
wild, wicked comedies of Vanbrugh and
Mrs. Aphra Behn-she had no more of sin
about her than a child or daisy, and
knew as little of the world.
She was learning a new part this gray
day of November when the short after
noon was turning to evening. The can
dies had not yet been lit in the great
drawing room and the fire had sunk low.
Such "a small, pale, tired face it was
on which the gray light from the win
dows fell. The eyes were glorious and
would have made a palmer woman than
Mrs. Peggy beautiful. Thed nose was
short and straight, the chin full and
white. But Mrs. Peggy had forgotten
her rouge, and the face amid the bril-
lance of the powdered hair showed visit
full and colorless.
She had the part nearly by heart.
When she was uncertain she had to ia
cline her head to the light to catch the
reflection upon the pages of her book
There was not a sound outside. Snow
was coming and tense stiffness hung
on everything
Suddenly the gate in the courtyard
opened and was shut to with violence
Of Sound which startled Mrs. Peggy
She stood an instant listening. The
fire fell in in the CRATE and flames fol-
lowed the shower of sparks. There were
footsteps on the stone stairs outside Mrs.
Peggy's door. The door was flung open
and i'll rushed Matthew painting and
blowing. With him came a stranger in
a cloak, whom he half led, half sup
ported.
"Mrs. Peggy, Mrs. Peggy" he STAN
mered in his haste; "see whom have
here, and the soldiers are after him. Hide
him for heavens sake, Mrs. Peggy"
Mrs. Peggy flung down her book.
my lord, my lord!" she cried, receiv-
ing the stranger almost on her pink
satin bosom; "you are wounded. And
there is the knocking at the gate. Keep
them in parley as long as you can,
with you, my lord, and take care you do
not sneeze for your life. shall be ready
to receive them"
She lifted the hangings of the wall,
opened door which no one would have
suspected in the paneling, and pushed
the wounded man inside with gentle
box. Her maid came in and began to
light the candles
"All, all, Elizabeth" she said. "I want
you to make me an illumination.
The maid went on quietly lighting the
candles in all the sconces and candelabra
before the girandoles on the wall till the
room sparkled and shone lighter than
day. The parley at the gate had ended.
Matthew's feint of deafness which had
served him often with Mrs. Peggy'S
adorers was done WE'LL The gates were
flung wide and there was the steady
tramp of armed men, the clanking Of
swords in the courtyard below.
'Do l look my best, childH" Mrs.
Peggy asked in reply to her maids
startled chances.
ooh, madam" said the girl, "you are
more beautiful than ever"
"Then go and pray, child. Pray hard
that I may be successful in ny part, for
if I fail l shall kill myself
She was alone when the officer came
into the room; alone, and studying her
part.
Matthew looked over his shoulder with
all the rosy hues of her face gone purple.
at is another lover, madam" he said,
cor so I conjecture, for / can hear moth
ing but their bawling. l told him you
were busy, but he would force his way
into your presence"
She stood about the center of the room
smiling. The white and gold train of
her rose-pink satin stretched out stiffly,
behind her. Her stomacher was of dia-
monds, and above it her breast, like
white velvet, was half hidden, half re-
vealed, by the embroidered scarf which
fioated airily with her every movement.
Her eyes were bright as her diamonds,
her lips softly scarlet. The rouge famed
in her cheeks.
eve are in pursuit of a rebel, madam"
the officer said, blinking as though he
had come into strong sunlight
"A REBEL" shrieked Mrs. Peggy, and
her shrek was like little arrow of sill
yer in the air. "But we are loyal people
I am devoted to the King. Is it possible
my servants"--
eve have no warrant for any of your
household, madam, but we have orders
to arrest q notorious reber who was
about to make his escape from the har-
bor In person. reading from the war
rant, agreeable, height feet 10 inches,
brown eyes, brown hair, which he wears
unpowdered. His name, -
Mrs. Peggy uttered second shrek
"Was not that the sound of oars?" she
said. "He has escaped. This dangerous
criminal of yours has escaped. Hank,
there it is againl" Fer charming head
went sideways. ooh, sir, while you are
on a false scent in my house your p-is-