The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-05
THE EVENING STORY
a NIercifuI DeIiverance.
(By Martha McCulloch-WiIli

I
~, crushing his hat as he spoke.
Peggy laughed.
oh! for a fairy prince, of course.
johnny. One with spangles all over him
and coach and four" she said. Il
Know you've got horse and buggy,
money in the bank, and the name of
good chance. Somehow, though, I don't
/ want you-very stupid Of me, I dare
| say, but don't. think can tell you.
though, who does want you-worst of
all, as she saw him put up protest.
ing hand; sally Job, and she's such
dear! Go right on and ask her-she's
worth three Of me. And then her Aunt
Sarah will leave her money; think how
easy you'll get rich with the money
coming in on both sides"
I don't want any Sally job Magee
ragged. "She-she's been after me since
we went to school together"
But don't you think you'd better let
me, or some other body, say 1t, John
ny?' Peggy demanded, her eyes dan
cling. She liked Johnny in way, de-
spite his colossal conceit-a conceit
somewhat excused by his bringing up,
the pet and idol of three maiden aunts.
'Tisn't a nice thing to say that of a
girl she went on. THE fact that you
nice, is one Of the reasons won't have
! you
1T is, eh?" NIagee said almost chok-
| ing. Il came here courtin'-not to be
! 1SCLQICQ OH manners. A1dRG yOuL way
! though, Miss Peggy Lester, but mark
| what 1 tell you-some day you'll be
sorry for what you're dom now"
But not SO sorry as if hadn't done
| it, Peggy flung back at him. She had
| been a bit sorry for him. Now she was
angry through and through. III
/ thought there was a woman anywhere
/ big enough and rough enough 10 thrash
you within an inch of your life. I'd
pray that you might get her. Unless
there is such a one, hope you'll die a
/ bachelor
Peggy, what are you saying2" Mrs.
| Lester demanded, stopping. stock still
IN the sitting room door, with her tray
of cider and crullers. you mustn't
mind her, Johnny" she went on. You
know she's a little spitfire, that don
mean what she says"
''She does mean it-this time" Ma
gee answered sulkily. But, Mrs. Les
ter, hope you won't let that keep you
from bein' my friend
Surely not" Mrs Lester said, set
( ting down the tray. Johnny must be
wrought up when he refused her crul-
/ lers to say nothing of the cider. She
tossed her head. I'm a friend of
Johnny" she said, with a shadow of
smile. He can't deny tive been
advisin' him for his own good"
"Goodby! When I take your advice
I'll let you know" said Johnny huff1ly,
his hand on the door. Mrs. Lester sank
/ down, trembling all over.
you've done 1t now, Peggy" she
said. "Old Miss EN- Magee will never,
never lend US the money to pay that
home will have to go"
mo, it won't" Peggy said stoutly,
running to her mother as she spoke.
/ I'VE won't ask Miss Em-instead III
go up to the city and see Uncle John"
1T will be no use-he said hed new
er help US gain when he made up the
shortage in the treasurer office, Mrs
Lester said deJectedly. But your poor
Pa will keep goin' securtty-and havin'
| 1t to pay every time.
Now, now motheri Don't fret nor
go over it all" Peggy entreated Il m
bound to go to Uncle John. don't be-
lieve he'll turn me away"
Somebody else thought it would be
/ hard work to turn Peggy away upon a
leaden morning two weeks later as she
sat in wait outside her rich uncle's pri-
vate office. He was not real uncle
only a sort of stepbrother, who had
kept terms with his sister, although he
had no patience with her eaSy-gOing
/ husband. 1t was five years since he had
| been to the Lester farm-thus Peggy,
grown up into blooming young woman
! hood, was wholly strange to him. She
/ had not sent in her name. All her
bravery had deserted her as soon as
she stepped inside the glass doors. Her
cheeks burned under the glances of the
men at work there. And still more at
1 the looks she got from the other men,
older ones, hurrying in and out She
meant to wait until Uncle Joe appear
ed, then lay hold on him and prefer
her humble petition. Now she wished
| desperately that she had not come; it
is a question, indeed, whether she would
not have welcomed Johnny Magee and
his lOve-making as deliyerance, could
he have happened upon her then and
there.
The minutes went leadenly-each one
/ -f~,or Tlrne e7,o RI
/ u strokes of the clock. and saw men
! begin to struggle out, putting on great
coats as they went. A grinning Office
| boy said to her:
If you amt got a date with the
| boss" nodding towards the inner Office,
better make one and come again. See!"
/ Then she heard clerk say to an in
quirer over the telephone: Mr.. Hedding
IS out, won't be back till o'clock"
Are you sure?" Peggy ventured,
| touching the mans arm lightly. He
smiled and nodded, half insolently. Peggy
| turned from him, biting her LID. AS she
went blindly towards the door a young
/ man somewhat hook-nosed and very red
/ Tipped, came from the inner ofhce started
| at sight of her then hurried up to her,
asking suavely how he might serve her
/ Inside of a minute he knew everything
and stood looking down and pullinsr his
/ mouStache thoughtfuuy, but almost in
| stantly frightened, saying she must fol-
! low Mr.. Hedding, nothing easier. the boy
| should fetch q cab and he himself would
give directions Might he venture to
relative of his old friend Hedding-be-
| tween sentences he had been hurrying
| Peggy out and away-and at the last Of
them he was budding her into a waiting
cab.
Something happened then. just how
! Peggy never understood A plain-faced
7 young man, who had glanced at her pity
| ingly as she passed into the private Of
fee, somehow rose up from the pavement
and sent the red-lipped gentleman away
1 in something of panic.
Hes not fit to speak to any decent
/ girl, the deliverer explained. as he took
The deliverer said no more to her. In
stead there was a lively buzzng of teie-
! phones and some guarded talk over the
/ wires. AS a result of It, Peggy was sent
/ in charge of the office boy up to her
| Uncle Johns house She stayed there a
/ week. and went home with all the money
/ she would take-a deal more than she