Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-08-24
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By MARY BARRETT HOWARD

defiant eyes. while Jack Travers.
pausing at intervals to read aloud
brief extracts from a tiny red-covered
book, circled about her with derisive
whoops of laughter.
Gee. Peggy Porter" he jeered Il
should think that even a g.rl in the d
class might know enough to spell sup
per with two ps-s-u-p-e-r-Oh. Gee!"
Peggy made futile snatch at the
book. and there was apprehension as
well as anger in her voice as she
cried:
Don't you dare read another word.
Jack Travers! You ought to be
ashamed to read other peoples
diaries"
Il must read it, Peg. SOS to be sure
!'E returning it to the right owner"
the boy said.
And as he spoke. his eyes fell on
several underlined entries. and he
whooped again as he read scofnngly:
Freddy Simpson took me out to
super at Evenly Starts party yester-
day Freddy walked home from
school with me tonight Freddy gave
me a simply grand American Beauty
rose at recess!'"
by ginger. Peggy, before I'd be soft
on a sissy boy like Freddy Simpson,"
A blaze of wrath swept the shame
from Peggys brown eyes.
Freddy isn't a sissy boy, Jack Trav-
ers! We girls all think he's perfectly
fine and his neckties are dreams. He
doesn't go round without hat till
he's black as an Italian. wearing
clothes that aren't fit for a trampi"
Jack Travers. like all normal boys.
hated to dress up" and he stiffened
defantly as he glanced down at the
somewhat disreputable costume which
had seemed to him just the thing for
a warm summers day The blue eyes
which contrasted so oddly with his
bronzed face. flashed and Peggy noted
with mslicious satisfaction the deep
flush that sutfused his very ears as he
retorted:
'Oh. yes. Pinky's winner! He's
pink and white, an he's got curly yell
low hair and he dresses to beat the
band. But I'll tell you what 1t is.
Peggy Porter, you'll find out. some
day, that Freddy Simpsons no good.
A fellow who's afraid to play football
and afraid to go In swimming unless
the waters boiling, And he's a reg
ular josher, too. He's got Maude Her
rick and Evelyn Starr and about 'steen
other girls goin' just the way he has
you"
HE hasn't-I-Pm not" Peggy
To- 7 hnf co
-hate-hate you."
Her voice rose in a screech of de-
fpairing rage, and as automatically as
the figures in Dutch clock. two wom-
en- appeared on the porches of two
houses on opposite sides of the street.
calling:
Peggy, come here!''
Jack Travers, come here this in
stant!"
The boy hastily thrust the bone OF
contention into Peggy's hands.
Take your old diary. cry-baby." he
muttered.
"Oh, dea,." Mrs. Porter sighed as
Peggy, her eyes briming with angry
tears, came slowly up the steps.
Now, | suppose. Mrs. Travers will
feel Obliged to come over here with
another present for you, Peggy, and
another apology for Jacks rudenessl
It is perfectly lovely in her to insist
that your constant quarrels are all
Jacks fault. but ii mortifies me half
to death. for | know better. There
has been natural antipathy between
you two children ever since the time
when his mother brought Jack to see
you before either of you were year
old, and you fell upon each other,
tooth and nail like a couple of-of
tigers. But | thought then, and
think now, Peggy. that you scratched
and bit harder than he did. No. don't
care to hear anything about it. Now
Peggy, If you don't stop crying and
scolding shan't let you go to Freddy
Simpsons party this evening"
At this awful threat Peggy's tears
dried as If by magic. What a fright
full calamity 1t would be if she were
not permitted. after all. to accept an
invitation which had been the cause
Of much discussion in the Porter fam
lily. and little Mrs. Porter had regard
ed with dismay the invasion of their
quiet town by these glaring examples
of a blatant and arrogant plutocracy.
but Peggy had pleaded hard. and easy
going Mr.. Porter had finally settled
the matter by saying:
"Oh. let the child go, Emily. We
country folk must be behind the times.
for / understand that the Simpsons
before they came here moved in the
best circles of Peoria
When a few to4Es later Peggy stood
before her mirror arrayed in her
best. she viewed the slim white figure
reflected therein with pardonable com
placency.
Her new frock was dainty enough
to satisfy her exacting taste, and al
though she sighed as usual. over her
shining locks, which were just the
color of old sorrers glossy coat. in
stead of being fluffy gold. like Maude
Herrick's or cloudy black. like Evelyn
Starts.
She was dimly aware that red hair
is not an unmitigated affection taken
in connection with pair of big brown
eyes and a skin whose rose and snow
is accumulated rather than marred by
a freckle or two on the tip of a spir-
tied nose.
I'll send Nora for you at ter. dear"
Mrs Porter said. as Peggy set out