The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-24
THE EVENING STORY
A Girl and a R,ne
By Clarissa Mackie

Holcomb frowned and prepared to
follow in the wake of the groom.
p,Li. course you know you can't ride
SLACK Dan, Peggy he said impatient-
~. He has thrown you twice. and I
nave SAID no woman shall mount him
again Any other horse in the
stables"
THANK you.' said Peggy. coldIv. 81
ooh care to ride any other horse. You
are such an old granny, Bob,'
Shall order Pretty Girl?'' asked
Holcomb. patiently
No. have ordered Black Dam she
replied defiantly
I must countermand the order. Peg
gy; no woman shall ride him with my
permission said Bob stiffly.
Peggy's eyes flashed ominously and
ner pretty lips stiffened into straight
me. If you countermand my order,
you may" she checked back a lit
| tie sob.
"What?'
You may keep the ring you we're go
ing to give me-" finished Peggy re-
do you mean it?" he asked coming
| closer to her and looking down into her
wide gray eyes.
Yes said Peggy, hardly.
| Holcomb turned away with a little
droop of his broad shoulders. Never
| theless-Peggy--I must countermand
the order" he said gravely. Then he
went down the steps and disappeared
through the stable gateway.
Peggy Linwood stared after him with
| hot cheeks and flashing eyes. Her lit
| tie brown hands frightened their grasp
on the arms of the low chair I'm
very glad 1 broke it off," she thought
| mechanically; fancy being married to
a man with such a nasty temper as
Bob Holcombi What a fool 1 was to
fall in love with himr'
! foi 70 he oh rafv off
ting room, where her mother sat before
| a cozy fire. Mother, dear, let us go
| home at once" she began abruptly; Il
can't stay in Bob Holcombs house an
other minuter She sank breathlessly
| on the couch.
and looked quizzically at her daugh-
| ter. 1--WE mustn't spoil Bob's house
party, DEAR" she said mildly; 81 told
him we would stay until Monday and
we must do SO. Have you quarreled
with him, Peggy? ?"
YES said Peggy shortly.
what about? Was it worth
| while?"
"rd rather not tell. mother" adj
mitted Peggy guiltily.
"oh, weili'' Mrs. Linwood smiled
| furtively into her book. IF 1 were
going to quarrel, peggy dear,
! wouldn't wear that brown dressi You
| know it is so unbecoming and when
woman disagrees with man she
| should wear her prettiest frock. Now
| the blue linen
But Peggy had flown out of the
room and was anxiously surveying her
self in the cheval glass in her own
pretty apartment. Mothers right"
she sighed miserably; "I look a fright
in this frock; it's too late to pretty
up very much, but-where is the
blue linen?"
|
Late that afternoon Peggy en-
/ countered Bess Dane saHntering
across the lawn under the shade of
| century-old e1ms.
Congratulate me, Peggy dear" an
nounced Bess, airily extending slim
| hand.
Peggy gasped.
Not Frederic? Bess. dear"
mot Frederic" interrupted Miss
Dane, coolly: guess again, Peg, and
in the meantime admire my ring. Isn't
it the sweetest ever?"
| Such an odd ring it was too, in
Vulnerable small diamonds formed
the petals of a daisy with blazing
topaz for the yellow center. Peggy
| looked at it with wildly beating heart.
Its more suitable for you. Peg,
because it's a marguerite neverthe-
| less, it suits your humble servant
| right down to the grounds the poet
| has it." Miss Dane sighed COM
placently. as she seated herself on the
| grass.
come. sit down. Peg, and discuss
the details" she coaxed. "You will
be maid of honor. of course!'
''Of course. Bess," murmured Peggy,
miserably: "when-when-"
Don't say when again." admonish-
! ed Bess, mildly. I'll tell you when
know. Bob hasn't even asked me to
name the day. There were other and
more important matters to go over,
she blushed warmly. But you and l
can talk about the frockS and the wed
ding and-about Bob. himself
II didn't even suspect said Peggy.
humbly, as she nibbled blade of
grass.
nounced until 1 go home. Don't you
| think him the best fellow in the world
| Peg. dear?"
"of course cried Peggy. lightly.
| And now, Bess. you must let me go,
for 1 am going for a gallop!
Not on Black DAM" questioned MISS
No indeed" said Peggy, warmly.
| He has thrown me twice, you know.
1 shall ride Pretty Girl"
Wise child murmured Bess, sur
veying her ring dreamily.
AS Peggy rode slowly out of the lodge
gate and turned into the lane that was
her favorite bride path, her last pic
tire was of Bessie Dane, examining
her engagement ring with loving ad-
miration.
Peggy's warm, impulsive heart swelled
with grief and Indignation. Light in
deed was Bob Holcomb's love when ne
could shift so quickly from one sweet
heart to another, How convenient Tor
such as he to carry an engagement ring
in his pocket
Peggy had never seen the ring until
it flashed from Miss Dane nnser, pu.
PoI, had told her it was the prettiest
ring in the world and that there was
no other like it; it had come that
morning in the registered mail, and ne
had whispered that he wanted her 10
try it on after breakfast.
And then had come the Black Dan
enisode and she had not seen Bob
since He had absented himself from