Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-11-18
THE WIRES
CROSS ~ ~
BY 10 ANNA SIN GLE


nEGGY had a conscience; this trou-
bled her a little. Worst still, she
had heart-no, four hearts-her own,
which she had taken back from Jack
Trent because she accused him of flirt-
ing with Nell Forest; Jacks, which he
declared would be hers forever,
though she would not allow him to
explain how he came to have Nell
canoeing; and the two hearts of Bob
by James and Ned Browne, respective
ly. Peggy was sure she had forgotten
Jack-almost, anyway, and that she
had been right to dismiss him as she
had. True, she also had tlirted little,
but-one somehow expects man to be
stronger. So Peggy, her heart in her
hand, vacillated between Ned and Bob
by in what she thought was a sincere
doubt as to which of them she should
give the coveted treasure. They both
wanted it; neither had exactly pro-
posed, but Peggy was familiar with
the symptoms.
Right here is where Peggys con-
science came in. Was it right to dan
gle them to encourage them both, as
she had done for six months, and still
be no whit nearer final choice be-
tween them? That the men knew
each other-had, in fact, been chums at
college-and that they were bitterly
Jealous of each other, made things
worse. Peggy was MORALLY afraid
that the wires would cross some time,
and that they would both be angry
She wanted people to be nice and pa
tient, She was not patient herself.
If they had not dwelt in seperate
towns, one GO miles east, and one 80
miles west of her home, Peggy would
have had even more difficulty in keep
ing things straight.
Here it was September, and neither
man knew that since May he had
made alternating weekend visits to
the ladys home. Each simply thought
it was awfully good of her to- let him
come once in two weeks. Between
whites she had kept up lively CORE
spondence with them. They liked
Peggy's gay, flirtatious letters She
enjoyed their letters immensely. They
came thrice week on the same mail
Peggy compared the letters, the pho
lOo VI inc men, anu the lltA luem-
selyes. Since she had forgotten Jack,
she must choose between them.
Peggy's mother calmly ignored her
daughters doings, in the hope that the
girl would return to Jack, who, as the
world knows, was made for Peggy.
Maternal wisdom restrained Mrs. Ben
ton from openly champiOning Jack;
instead she accepted Ned and Bobby
with kind hospitality, and lightly
yelled amusement. She refused to take
them seriously.
One day while Peggy was writing,
her mother asked
ITO those boys, | suppose? Which
are you going to keep for a perma-
nent plaything?' The girl was de-
mure. She looked at the two letters
she had just written, each equally pro-
vocative and alluringly coquettish.
81 don't know" she said, 81 don't
really! Bobbys so blonde and lovable
and chummy, and l like lawyers. Blu;
Ned's so big and dark and splendid
he could make me mind, think. And
Nell Forest semes to want him"
THAT" said her mother, should
make no difference to you"
Peggy's face grew red with anger
"The cat! | guess you'd want tc
get even! What did she mean by be-
ing with Jack when he said business
hindered him from seeing me that
night?"
"You would know, if you had lei
him explain"
"He didn't deserve the chance.
have forgotten him, mother"
Evidently" said that lady dryly
and with inward rejoicing. Wher,
there is anger there is hope. She lief
the room saying:
Nov just put those letters in thu
wrong envelopes, Peggy, and you'll
have things mixed badly enough tt
suit even you"