Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-07-23
SPANISH PEGGY.


Quot pitching. wrestling matches.
races and trading filed up the idle time.
Insensibly the season changed. Sur
mac leaves began TO burn around scar
let fruit yelled in white. the oaks were
family tinted, and the first September
days had come.
AntyEines reading lessons at the
stone ended. for Lincoln was taking
up surveying and going out to distant
parts of the country. and Antywine was
to go with him as his chain-bearer.
Il put the book in my bundle" said
the Canadian while he and Peggy were
bidding each other farewell at the
stone. "Sieur Abe will help me"
Peggy's hand and feet became cold.
She felt as if autumn we're driving the
the blood back Upon her heart
..viane Rutledge told at school the
other day that you are the best-looking
young man in New Salem
Antywine expanded with satisfac-
ton. lie always carried his chin up,
SO that pser.s called him high
headed
Il am tail"
Don't you th.p.. Viane F~sl re is
a pretty giri Ansswine?''
Yes.
She's the prettiest sri that goes to
school, isn't she2'
Eyes. "
Tears sprang inro Peggy's eyes; she
winlSed them back. ashamed OF being
grieved.
but viane Rutledge is not a good
reader she honestly declared.
ME, am not a good reader, either"
observed Antywine.
.sYon don't want to put yourself
alongside of viane Rutledge as poor
reader" spoke Peggy, sharply do
your
Il don't know" returned Antywine,
with teasing winsomeness specially
his own. He smiled on the landscape
and lifted his chin higher, look OF
concern replacing the smile.
why you cry, sweetheart"
my foots tired" said Peggy, drying
her tears.
You been trying to walk without
the crutch?''
= "A little"
Then l carry you up to the house.
Il don't want you to. If Mahala
Camerons brother was here he could
help you make a saddle and carry me.
He takes hold of hands with one OF
the Clary boys, and they lift me up
ON the saddle and run with me when
we play Indian"
He have no business" exclaimed
N..rr - . H.. Tloxr
will fall and hurt you."
20, no, they won't. He is nice boy.
aud has such red cheeks.
Me, If have those red cheeks
strip the skin OF my facet" said Anty-
wine, disguised. You like those red
cheeks, eh?"
well. 7 think they are about as
pretty as viane Rutledge."
s'Viane Rutledge." spoke Antywine.
sincerely, 'she not have that charm
like you. and those manners"
DO you think am learning man.
ners?"
.sYou have improve every day"
..Antywine, I've got the best apple
in my pocket. Don't you want a bite
OF it,
did those Cameron boy give you
that appie2''
No
"You have it, then. from that Grove
teller, who is behaved SO bad the
master whip him."
mo. Mahala gave it to me-
Then will take some bite"
Peggy drew forth the apple and they
ate it together, feeling that their differ
ences were reconciled. 1t was their
parting meal, for food eaten at Sally's
board had no such taste as this.
Shickshack said nothing about Anty-
wines first serious undertaking Of
civilized work. The boy until that
time had been nothing but hunter:
Perhaps the Indian pondered on the
white mans influence. He set himself
to bring in plenty Of venison to dry
for winter, and an abundance Of buck
skin to tan. His cabin was as good as
any In New Salem.
Shickshack held land in his reserya-
ton, as all his tribe held it, without
tultivating or improving an acre except
patches of maize and pumpkins. Hs
greed for real estate when the prairies
were so free to all. The product of his
labor consisted of peltries These he
exchanged for the necessaries of simple
living.
Shickshack was not unmindful of
the change In his adopted child. He
used to watch her silently. When she
brought him the first pair of stockings
made by her hand he sat and smoothed
them across his buckskin knee. They
were useless to him as a covering, for
he could not enjoy the freedom of his
ankles in anything but hunters neips.
Before the weather grew cold he gave
Peggy a roll of heavy dark red linsey
cloth instead Of the usual tanned deer
skins. Ann Rutledge helped her cut
and make the dress. He had the salts
faction of seeing her warmly clad. in
short-waisted gown with bag sleeves