Smyrna times., 1912-05-22
...PEGGY'S LETTER..


obtain a better view of Miss Bruce's
pleasant features.
"Only little while ago, as l was
coming along the beach, the wind
caught scrap of paper and swirled
it around so near that l grabbed it,
and had read it before l realized
what l was doing. 1t was part of
a letter in which some girl described
her ideal man for her best friends
information and-I know you will
laugh couldn't help recognizing
myself. -
"What cOnceited thing to do, "
Peggy retorted, smiling. "Girls
write lots of nonsense.
"This wasn't nonsense, if you
please; it rang true. mean to
find out who that girl is" he de-
clared.
"I believe you are half in love
with her already, "she insisted, mis-
chievously.
"Perhaps 1 am, adams admitted
calmly.
"Oh, Mr.. Adams, they heard in
affected tones, as Violet Sincell
hurried to where they were seated
on ledge of rocks near the sea.
"I hope l haven't kept you waiting
long"
"That's all right" said Adams,
rising. "We're going sailing,
Peggy. Won't you come along?"
"No, thank you. I hope you
will have a pleasant time. She
waved her hand in farewell and
returned to the Bruce cottage at
which she and her father were en-
tertaining a small party, composed
of Emory Adams, young lawyer
whom she had know from babyhood,
and his mother, besides her two
friends, Violet Sincell and Bernice
Shaw.
Sea and sky were a soft, cool
gray, the light changing from
moment to moment. BY the time
Violet and Adams returned from
their afternoons outing an impal-
pable curtain shut off the ocean
from view, rain began to fall, and
the waves dashed thunderously
against the rocks. A constraint
seemed to have arisen between
Violet and Adams, and, after dinner,
Miss Sincell, pleading fatigue, went
to her room. The remainder of the
party were engaged in game o.
bridge, with the exception of Peggy
and Adams.
Miss Bruce, who Adams though
loOke1 very we'll in soft. whit,
gown, seated herself at the piant
and began the Brahms Wiegenlied
while he leaned against the instru
ment, listening to her playing
Suddenly she raised her brown eye
from the keyboard to his face, it
strong features framed in smooth
lustrous hair.
"YOu looked worried, Emory p
she observed. "Did you and V
have quarrel this afternoon ?''
"Oh, bless you. no. he hastene
to say. "She was frightened a
the fog, and once she clutched m
around the neck and nearly upse
the boat. She is a nice girl, an
an awfully pretty girl; yet 1 thin
l should feel relieved if l kne'
that she didn't write that letter.
"Now that is too bad" Pegg
told him. "Vi has taken a gres
fancy to you. She speaks of yo
and Boston in the same tone st
uses when referring to heaven ar
the angels"
The CONSERVATION expressed {
Adams face at the iuformatiC
sent Peggy into gale of laughte
"Don't look like that, "she gaspet
81 don't believe her infatuation
serious-you needn't feel oblig,
to propose
Adams came nearer Peggy sid
"Miss Shaw is hardly the kind
a girl who would disclose her fee
ings easily, it seems to me-"
confded in a lowered tone.
like her; she has "A strong, fl
- personality. But
''Are you determined to run tn
- poor girl, who wrote a silly lette
z to earth?" Peggy interrupte
I "Take my advice and forget tn
! you ever saw what was not mea
I for your eyes.
= "Probablv that would be the me
: sensible course" he agreed. givi
I Peggy's hand an afFectionate squee
: as he recollected how often she h
! counseled and sympathized wi
I him. When he was in his o,
= room he opened his memoranda
] book and took Out, the folded scr
4 of paper too reread the simple CT
: fession. He started to tear it il
] pieces, but something deferred hi
= he replaced it, half ashamed of
= sentimentality.