Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-04-01

easy it's to get into breeches, n coat,
waistcoat and wig; but. mercy, VIII i
ever be able to get out of 'em:"
1t is to be put down to the credit OF
my Lady Peggy's up bringing in the
country, with most times only lad for
her playmate, that now she bore her
self with not only fine ease and grace,
but also with as splendid swaggef
and daring as any young macaroni that
carried sword.
IAN I'm to be a man. I'll be one!
cried she. And if Lady DIANA ogles
III give as good as she sends. Little
him as love III know It's of his some
time Peggy he'll be jealous"
So it was with a prodigious fine flut-
ter of her napkin and nightly impu
dent twirl Of her eycglass purchased
not two hours since) that her ladyshir
made her bows and kissed the finger
tips of Lady Brookwood's handsome
daughter.
Il am your most grateful, Sir Rob-
in" cried this one, land more pleased
than can express to welcome you. ]
only regret that Lord BroOkwood is at
Brookwood Hall and not here to thank
you for rescuing his daughter" And so
forth and on, with presentations to
n dozen of fine ladies, dOwagers and
damsels, and n precious lot of fine gen
tlemen, and it seemed to Peggy. in her
simplicity, as If the whole of Mayfair
were allowing and scraping and max
lng her out a hero, which indeed was
not far off the fact.
Two watched her as she came in on
Beau Brummels arm. These were Sir
Percy and Kennaston-one green with
anxiety for Grigson's return from his
Grand, jumping at every sound, hav-
ing left word both ut Lark lane, his
coffee house, as well as at home, where
he had gone, that Grigson should re-
pert to him at once he arrived; the 9th
err green with envy Of Peggy and any
other who neared his divinity, yet
afraid and too diffident to approach
her closer than with the devouring
gaze of his eyes.
THAT puppy again. cries Percy I'M
der his breath as he surveys Peg in her
satins. "By CAD, sir. every lady in the
rooms turning spite eyes on t'other
your Incompatible Diana included, for
fear lie won't stop and pay her COM
pliment."
"Ah," signs the young poet. percy,
an you loved like me 'twould be bliss
to even gaze upon your fair. Think
you dare make bold now to cross and
make my bowY
"Why not" returns the other gloom
lily. Forgive my humor, Kennaston.
Truth is, sir, I'm mad, mad for Peg.
and my ears are cracking and my
brain splitting until that rascal Orig
Son gets back with answer to my let
ter. He's been gone long enough to
have made the journey four times
over"
ooh, Percy" returns Pegs twin. 81
love you as brother, an could l but
physic your lady into complaisance I'd
give my life for II. What owe not to
yOu" adds the young man wsth deep
feeling. you've fed me, and. cooks.
sir, tonight you've clothed me. for since
the scurvy knaves that frightened
Lady Di stole my suit Of grays and my
sword and hat what had l left?
Where would be now were t not for
your"
flush, Ken, lad; love you for your
self and ten thousand times more for
her sake. Ken, love her so that, as
told her, IL Sir Robin were a better
man Id cry OF an she said she loved
him."
"What said she"
"Not that she loved him, but that she
might" he continues with sadness as
his eyes follow Peg on her almost roy
al progress about the drawing rooms.
"'Tis a proper fellow enough, and I'd
always heard he was q fright and a
coward"
Kennaston presently took heart Of
grace and crossed to pay his duty to
Lady Diana, who, twas plain to be
seen by every other than this bashful
swain. was by no means the indiffer-
ent to him she would feign play off,
Her color came and went as Ken
naston, blushing to match his lady.
ventured to spout his ode to her. and,
leaving the pair to gallop on this pleas
ant path, Sir Percy at distance un-
consciously followed Lady Peggy. at
least with his gaze.
Peggy meantime, denying right and
left the story of her prowess. with
Quips and jests and ogles of the fair,
still kept her eye on Percy. Not yet
had she seen him approach Lady d.
ana. Yet hold! Even now, catching her
own gaze fixed upon him. he turned
and was presently bending over the
little beauty's fingers.
A pang shot through Pegs heart,
and the tears were like to force their
way. She made an excuse and left the
long drawing room, taking refuge in a
small apartment where the tables were
ready for cards. She sank into a chair
and buried her face In her hands. The
candles were not yet lighted, and she
was totally unobserved. Dashing the salt
drops from her lashes with her hand
she cried in her bitterness: "What am
I that I cannot abide to even see
him attending over her hand? Amt
you no spirit, Peg? No pride? He's
not thinking Of you, my dear. Didn't
he say plain If Sir Robin was the bet
ter man he'd give up to him? What
kind Of a sutton Is that, Peg? Lud!
I'd not give him up to any one, whether
they were my betters or nor
Could my lady but have postponed
her exit for few brief moments she
would have beheld Sir Percy, at a word
In his ear from the footman, quit Lady
Diana's side with but the smallest cere-
mony, dash out into the vestibule, seize
with viselike grip the man who stood
there pale and trembling and gasp out:
AT last! The letter, the letterY
Grigs0n shook his head and got even
whittier.
mo letter" Percy says in a dazed
way.
"Only your own, Sir Percy" handing
mil txyn L.