The Paonia newspaper., 1911-04-21

With the Assistance Of Peggy
By NETTIE STARR

Lawrence Phillips. how dare your"
Her voice rang with wrath. You ac-
cuse me of such thing? You put
that In yourself for you were too big
coward to ask me and thought you
had found an easy way. Maybe you
have and maybe you have not. You
may have the pleasure Of reporting to
the News that Is all a mistake. and
liable. too. to be so for all time. One
thing l want you to understand: 4
will have nothing to do with a man
who has not gumption enough to ask
me straight out. but uses such sub
terfuge and then accuses me of Its
origin"
With eyes fairly scintillating scorn
she swept from the room leaving him
to digest her denunciatory edict.
For a few moments he stood con-
fronting the closed curtains. and then
he stumbled into the hall and out
into the street He had made a bun
gle Of 1t. OF course Irene never would
have done 1t. Who could have In
serted that paragraph! Was 1t only
Joke? His mind searched for the cul-
prit.
He was striding along. head down.
unmindful of the curious glances OF
the few he met He did not hear the
hurried. pattering steps till slim
hand caught his arm. A sharp girlish
voice spoke:
Well. you two have done It now.
Walk back a moment with me. Please
don't look SO like a thundercloud;
everyone will start So
Their course changed. Peggy con-
t'nued:
Il knew you would never pluck up
courage to propose to sister. SO l
thought I would help you out II was
who had that announcement put In
the paper. You two certainly messed
It up. Rene was 20 angry she was
just shaking. said you accused her OF
doing II: and you-you certainly
looked squelched." A girlish gisgis
escaped her.
They walked on In silence. Peggy
retaining tight hold on his arm.
Il told Irene / did II. and she be-
gan to shed tears. Said I'd ruined
her iife." the girl smiled. I'm going
to take you back and you can try It
over again"
She led him in the gate and up to
the porch where. when he showed
signs of hesitating. she said:
Brace up. Your Rubicon lies be
fore you"
And then she coached:
Don't be too stif. Be penitent.
a -. 40 III $...Ns Tan
her of the firmaments OF devotion
that are throttled up within you be-
cause OF your stammering tongue-on
your knees would be best. more i'm
preseive I think"
She opened the front door softly.
motioning him to keep silence
though he had not spoken except In
inarticulate protestations since she
had caught up with him. They en-
tered the hall quietly and abe mutely
bade him to remain there. Steaithily
she slipped back to the library por-
there's and reconnoitered. Satisfied.
In a whisper she said:
You two are not coming out until
you settle this matter"
Drawing back tho curtain she
pushed him into the room. At the
table. head buried In her arms. sat
Irene. picture OF desolation- The
girl carefully closed the curtains be-
hind the man. and walked audibly
down the hall only to return silently
a moment later. As she applied her
eye to the opening between the cur
tains she excused her actions to her
self
'Tll see 1t through this time
Judging by the FIRST dissatisfied ex-
preston that fitted over her face It
was not proceeding happily. Then.
after a time. her big ribbon bows
slowly nodded in approval A mo-
ment later she was fleeing on tiptoe
down the hall. her finger tips on her
lips. In her room she allowed her
mirth its freedom.
He did II but he did II SO dread.
fully. To miss and kiss her on the
nose!" She relapsed into laughter.
Rene said she would never stand
for that. but she did. I'd never have
done 1t though" She addressed the
slim figure in the glass. But then
think l could get a man to propose
without so much bother-if l ever
found one worth WHILE" she added.