The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
THEWIRES
CROSS y -
ny JOANNA SINGLE
toOp,right, iss4, by Daily Story Pub. Co.,

Copyright IVA py DAiIy story tuos COL
nEGGY had a conscience; this trou-
bled her a little. Worst still, she
Sad a heart--no, four hearts-her own,
which she had taken back from Jack
Trent because she accused him of fiirt-
,ne 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
nv James and Ned Browne, respective
Nv. 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 flirted a little,
but-one somehow expects a 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 1t; neither had exactly pro-
posed, but Peggy was familiar with
the symptoms.
Right here is where Peggy's con-
science came in. Was 1t right to dan
gle them, to encourage them both, as
she had done for six months, and still
be no whit nearer a 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 mortally 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,
II they had not dwelt in seperate
towns, one 60 miles east, and one so
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 lady's home. Each simply thought
10 was awfully good of her to let him
come once in two weeks. Between
whites she had kept up a lively CORE
~spondence with them. They liked
Peggy's gay, fiirtatious letters. She
enjoyed their letters immensely. They
came thrice a week on the same mail.
Peggy compared the letters, the pho
tos OF the men, and the men them
selves. 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 Reggy was writing
her mother asked:
"To 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.
Il don't know" she said, 81 don't
really! Bobby's SO blonde and lovablt
and chummy, and like lawyers. Blu.
Ned's so big and dark and splendid
he could make me mind, l think. Acc
Nell Forest seems to want him"
That" said her mother, SHOULD
make no difference to you"
Peggy's face grew red with anger
1.-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 thai
night?"
You would know, if you had ler
him explain"
He didn't deserve the chance,
have forgotten him, mother"
Evidently" said that lady dryly
and with inward rejoicing. Where
there is anger there is hope. She lef
the saying:
Now just put those letters in thu
wrong envelopes, Peggy. and you'll
have things mixed badly enough Il
suit even you"
Peggy addressed the envelopes ant
gazed at them thoughtfully. She wa!
small and brown-eyed, with COLDER
hair, and a radiant complexion; ne,
smile was enhancing. She picked III
the letters and re-read them. TheI
she calmly tore them to bits.
I've a notion to do it. she said L
herself. Things are getting mixed
They are ready to fly off the handle
each so jealous of the other! I've go
to calm them down, till | can decld'
which like"
Then she wrote to each man an hon
est, casual, friendly letter, with n
trace of Irritation, or any sentlmeh
beyond friendship. They were mucI
alike. She told the news, hoped sh
might see each man sometime beloE
long addressed each as Dear Mi.