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

to an end Ensign Trevor had drunk
many cups of tea and was madly in love
with Nj s. Peggy
lie knew now what sine was and was
ready to swear to her honor and virtue
as he would have done to his sisters.
"A play actress" he thought confused
". L wonder what my old mother
would say. This one must be different
if the Others are not modest. She is az
good as she is beautiful"
Mrs. Peggy had been, indeed won
derful kaleidoscope during the time,
three-quarters of an hour or so, which
the corporal and his men took to search
the house There were moments-qmte
long intervals of time-when she sat
quietly, and the pale, Quakerish radiance
came in her soft face, despite the rouge
Again--she had fancied she heard
sneeze in the powdering closet-she was
on her feet acting bit from the new
play, singing a little song of shepherds
and shepherdesses with a shower of notes
in the air that reminded Edward Trevor
of the falling of rose leaves. One mo-
ment she was flirting her fan at him, the
next she was demme and pensive; now
she lifted her train, and, revealing scar
let slippers, she danced through 81 bar or
tow of singing with the most exquisite
grace of movement
1t pleased Mrs. Peggy to have fas-
cinated the young man. 1t was certain
that she put forth all her arts, and they
were many.
"You should not be in the playhouse"
he said at. last in his bewilderment
when l look at you 1 think of apple
blossoms and the spring. You should not
be in that wicked place where every fool
that pays his money can stare at you
and talk light of you"
The natural color came under the
rouge.
"They may stare at me-" she answered
''but they do not talk light of me. am
a modest woman, though play actress,
AS for the apple blossoms, would l
might be among them and never leave
them"
Some ore knocked at the door with the
butt end of musllet, and being hidden
enter Corporal Bum came in and stood
to attention.
1--WE have searched the house, sir" he
said, "and found nothing"
would you like to search here" Mrs.
Peggy said, springing up. "Come, you
must not let it be said that you left any
rooms unsearched. Creep under the
settee, corporal, if you please. There is
plenty of light. He can hardly be hiding
behind the tapestry"
She flew hither and tbither, hinging
the tapestry aside. Once she stood be-
tween the corporal and the door of the
povdering closet, Fortunately, the good
fellow was not very sharp. AS for Ed
ward Trevor, he watched her like man
in a dream.
Afterward they left the house with
many apologies. When the corporal had
clumsily backed out through the door
Mrs. Peggy gave her hand frankly to
Edward Trevor. He took it and kissed
it feverently.
Come again. sir" she said. 81 want
to hear more of the apple blossoms
People do not talk to Ire of such things"
He came again He came often. Mat
thew had orders to admit him, only him
of all the mob Of young fine gentlemen
that prayed for admittance.
They talked, he ard Mrs, Peggy--how
they talked He knew in time all there
was to know of her simple history-how
she and her mother being very poor, had
been befriended by the famous Mrs
George Anne Bellamy, who would have
little Peggy for the stage to lift them
out of their poverty. But now, what
was the good of it ell, for the mother
had not stayed to be made rich, and Mrs
Peggy's soul was sick of the footlights
and the smell of oranges and sawdust?
81 have mind to be num-" she said,
Nay he replied hastily. "But why
not an honest mans wife? Let me take
you home, Peggy, to the cottage in the
apple orchard where | was born. l cap'
not give up my sword now, and you
must lead wandering life with me for
many ears to come; but there will be
the cottage in the apple orchard for lis
and Scr our children"
"Why," she said, yielding herself to his
embrace, "when ] am with you | nm
amongst honest country things, though
it were the playhouse itself"
After time he sat toying with her
hair.
al thought you were a goddess that
day ] first beheld you," he said. 'To
think / should have won a goddess to
stoop to ne! Why were you so bewil-
deringr
"You will not frown on me?" she said
timidy.
$50 long as you love me BEST" he re-
pied.
Forgive me, Edward" she said, "but
that day cheated you of your prisoner.
l hid him in the powdering closet over
yonder.. Afterward / nursed him for
some weeks till his wound was well, and
carried him to safety by the packet boat
as my woman Elizabeth. 1t was easy to
dress him for the part. Can you forgive
met"
For an instant he looked gloomy; then
his face cleared.
81 am glad his capture is not on my
hands" he. said. "And, after all, you
owed me nothing then. He is brave
gentleman"
"Not woman here" she said, "but
would have died for him. from his lady
to the meanest serving lass"
Give for me-" her lover said, leaning
to kiss the fmpassioned cheek.--Katha-
rine lyman in The Taller.
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Ants Can Stand Extreme Cold.