The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-10-25
A GIRL quo
A RING.
By cLARIssA MAckIE.
Copyrighted, 1905. BY Associated
Literary prosa.

II viii ride BLACK pan, SenAAnS'
said poggy calmly
aYes, mlss.p replied Jenkins, disap'
pearlng In the direction Of the stables
Holcomb frowned and prepared %
follow iii the wake Of tho groom.
"of course you know you can't ride
Black Dan. Peggy" he said Impatient
.ly. aIIe has thrown you twice. aud ]
have said no woman shall mount him
again. Any other horse IN the sta
bles"--
"Thank YOU said Peggy coldly. 4
don't care to ride any other horse. You
are such an ole granny, BobF
"shall | order Pretty GiriT' asked
Holcomb patiently.
.'No. have ordered Black Dan"
she replied deaantly.
II must countermand tho order. Peg
gy. No woman shall ride him with my
permission" said Bob stifiiy.
Peggy's eyes flashed omincusly, and
her pretty lips atlfrened into straight
line. III you countermand my order,
Bob Holcomb," abe flashed angrily,
@you may She choked back little
sob.
"whatT'
"You may keep tho ring you were
going to give me-" finished Peggy ~
morselegsly,
"Do you mean itTs no asked, coming
closer to her and looking down into her
wide gray eyes.
''Yes,n said Peggy hardly.
Holeomb turned away with a little
droop OF HIS broad shoulders. Never.
theless. Peggy, | must countermand
the order" he said grayely. Then he
went down the steps and disappeared
through the stable gateway.
Peggy Llnwood stared after him
with hot cheeks and flashing eyes
Her little brown hands tightened their
grasp on the arms Of the low chair.
arm very glad l broke II on" she
thought mechanically. 'Fancy being
married to man with such nasty
temper as Bob Holcombl What fool
/ was to fall In love with htmw
| She sped upstairs to the chintz SIT.
| ting room, where her mother sat be.
| fore a coy flre. "Mother dear, lot us
60 home at once" she began abruptly.
II can't stay IN Bob Holcomb's house
another minuter' She sank breath
leasly on the couch,
Mrs. Linwood adjusted her glasses
and looked quizzlcally at her daugh'
ter. "we mustn't spoil Bob's house
party, dear" she said mildly. II told
him we would stay until Monday, and
we must do 30. Have you QuaTreled
with him. Pesgyf"
eyes," said Peggy shortly.
"What aboutf Was It worth whiler
"rd rather not tell, mother" admit
ted Peggy gulltlly.
"Oh, welll'' Mrs. Linwood smiled
furtively into her book, III were go
ing to quarrel, Peggy, dear, ! wouldn'f
wear that brown dress, You know I
| Is 30 unbecoming, and when woman
dlsagrees with q man she should weal
her prettlest frock. Now, the blut
linen
But Peggy had flown out Of thG
room and was anylously surveying
herself In the cheyal glass In her Owl
pretty apartment. Mothers right,
she sighed miserably. Il look frigh
in this froci. It's too late TO pretty
up very much. but-where is the blu'
llnenr
800 ~
Late that afternoon Peggy encoun
tered Bess Dane saunterIng across ths
lawn under the shade Of century Oh
elms.
Congratulate me, Peggy, dear" an
] nounced Bess, airily extending O sliu
hand.
Peggy gagped.
"Not Frederick Bess, dear
mot Frederic interrupted Mis-
Dane coolly. Guess again, Peg, ant
in the meantime admire my ring. Ism
It the sweetest eyerf"
Such an odd ring 1t was too. In
Vulnerable small diamonds formed thl
petals Of daisy, with blazing TOPAZ
for the yellow center. Peggy looket
at 1t with wildly beating heart.
"Its more suitable for you, Peg, be
cause it's q marguerite. Nevertheless
1t suits your humble servant righ
down to the ground, as the poet hal
It," Miss Dane sighed complacentl!
as she seated herself on the grass
"Come, sit down, Peg, and discus
the details she fcoaxed. "You vii
be maid Of honor, OF course"
"Of course, Bess," murmured Pegg
miserably, "when-when"-
Don't say when again." admonish
ed Bess mildly. 'I'll tell you when
know. Bob hasn't even asked me t
name the day. There were other an
more important matters to 60 over,
she biushed warmly "But you an,
/ can talk about the frocks and tn
wedding and-about Bob himself"
II didn't, even suspect" said Pegg
humbly as she nibbled a blade 0
grass. g4
mo one suspects. 1t win not be at
nounced until 90 home. Don't 70
think him the best fellow IN the worlt