The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-10-13
By MARY BARRETT HOWARD

Peggy stood at bay with shamed,
defiant eyes, while Jack Travers.
pausing at intervals to read aloud
brief extracts from tiny red-covered
book, circled' about her with derisive
whoops of laughter.
Gee Peggy Porter" he jeered. Il
should think that even girl in the d
class might kLow enough to spell sup
per with two u-p-e-r-Oh, Gee
Peggy made futile snatch at the
book, and there was apprehension as
we'll 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
I'm returning 1t 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 scofingly:
"'F'reddy Simpson took me out to
super at Evenly Starts party yester-
day. Freddy walked home from
school with me tonight Freddy gave
me simply grand American Beauty
rose at recess!'"
by ginger, Peggy, before Id be soft
on sissy boy like Freddy Simpson,"
A blaze Of wrath swept the shame
from Peggy's brown eyes.
Freddy isn't sissy boy, Jack Trav-
ers! We girls all think he's perfectly
fine and his neckties are dreams. He
doesn't 60 round without hat till
he's black as an Italian, wearing
clothes that aren't fit for tramp!"
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
Q warm summers day. The blue eyes
which contrasted so oddly. with his
bronzed face. flashed and Peggy noted
Swith malicious satisfaction the deep
flush that suffused his very ears as he
Tetorted:
"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 it is.
Peggy Porter, you'll find out. some
day, that FYeddy Simpsons no good.
A fellow who's afraid to play football
and afraid to go in swimming unless
the waters boiling! And he's 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-Im not" Peggy
stammered. "Oh, Jack Travers. hate
-hate-hate you!"
Her voice rose in a screech of de-
spairing rage, and as automatically as
the figures in Dutch clock, two WON.
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. DEAR" Mrs. Porter sighed as
Peggy, her eyes briming with angry
tears. came slowly up the steps.
Nov. suppose, Mrs. Travers will
feel obliged to come over here with
another present for you, Peggy, and
another apology for Jacks rudeness!
It is perfectly lovely in her to insist
that your constant quarrels are all
Jacks fault, but it mortifes me half
to death. for know better. There
has been a natural antipathy between
you two children ever since the time
when his mother brought Jack to see
you before either Of you were a year
aId. and you fell upon each other.