Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-08-31
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Peter |
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BY PHILIP MEAN


/
Hes woman hater." said Phyllis
"whyT' Peggy was curled upon the
foot OF the bed. She had on pinh
crepe kimono and pointed Turkish
slippers embroidered in silver. why
should any man be a woman haterr
she demanded again.
"a girl Tilted him." said Phyllis
when he was only twenty-one. We
are all crazy about him. but 1t doesn't
do any good"
"Why crazy7"
YOU'D be. too. Peggy, II you could
see him, He's tall and athletic and
he wears the most correct clothes
mostly white flannels or rough Nor
folk things that make him look
picturesque. But you might as we'll
try to get near hermit He never
looks at a woman"
ooh. doesn't her"
Peggy uncurled herself and
CROSSED the room She stood in front
of her dresser and gaSed long and
earnestly into the mirror.
Doesn't he7" she said again.
Nov. Peggy" Phyllis said. regard
ing her thoughtfully. you needn't
think"
Peggy turned and looked at her. II
don't think" she said, II know
but other girls have failed to sub
1ugate him." said Phyllis; why
should you expect to succeed"
I'm not going to try said Peggy.
deliberately, TO make hina fall IN
love with me-rm not quite such a.
shallow thing as that. Phyllis. But
I'm going to make him notice me, and
I'm going to do It in perfectly lady
like fashion"
Phyllis surveyed her wrathfully. 1T
would do you good to be brought
down from your stills. Peggy" che
stated.
Peggy crossed the room swiftly and
threw her arms around her friends
neck. Don't you love me, Phyllis,
darling?" she demanded.
Phyllis kissed her. Eyes, love
you. and that's why-I hope-he1l
bring you down from your stilts-Peg-
| gy."
And the next morning Peggy watch
cd Peter Powell, millionaire and bach
slor, saunter forth for a walk, leav-
Ing behind him on the hotel porch a
line OF exQuisitely gowned and grace
full girls, among whom were Phyllis
and herself.
Peggy turned to Phyllis. What are
the habits of-the cfeature?" she de-
manded.
Phyllis considered. HE walks a
great deal Before breakfast he
kramps toward the top OF the noun
tain with his dogn Then. about this
sirnO, he Goes fshtn9; IN the afeSs~
aoon he Ndes. ana at alshts no tzAuAs
AR again with hls doGss'
"Sociabfe being" somayked PeSxy.
Two days later. Peter. climbing tho
mountain to see the sun rise came
10 an empty log hut. Lived In, long
ago, by a mountain family, It had
been deserted for years. But now
there was smoke coming from the
open, and among the shadows he
could see an old colored woman NOV
Ing heavily back and forth.
Wondering little, he went on and
| up. AS he reached the summit rosy
glow overspread the world. and In
that Thanksgiving light his eyes made
out the form Of woman. She was
picking wild blackbcrries and she had
on pink sunbonnet- She seemed
young and slender, but her faded ging-
ham gown hid the lines Of her figure.
Peter, wondering q little to ind her
there 80 early, whistled to his dogs
and went on When he had passed
the girl raised her head and looked
at him, then she laughed gieefully and
fed back down the mountain.
When Peter came once more to
the log hut, the front door was open.
A table was set within the little porch.
II was quaint old table Of polished
mahogany. In the center was silver
bowl full OF wild roses. Another sill
yer bowl held blackberries.
The old colored woman came out
with cream and butter and nodded to
Peter
"You mus como up and git 20
hreakfas' here" she said, ives goin'
10 serve folks what wants son,ethin'
different from the hotel"
Peter stopped. do you mean" he
asked. eagerly. chat can have break
fast now?"
The old woman nodded. "Deed you
can. she said, IAN I'll have waffles
II 20 want nm"
She vanished and Peter took his
place at the table, noting the fine
ness Of the linen and the exquisite
ness OF the silver. The dogs lay at
his feet, but raised their heads as o
girl came out with light step. It
was the girl he had seen on the
mountain top. Her sunbonnet was
,fY and hor hrowu hair WINS hrat dad
in one long braid that fell below
her waist Her faded gingham gown
was turned In neatly at the neck, and
showed her white throat.
She spoke to Peter. "Aunt Dilsey
wants to know II you viii have chick
en- or trout3 I am afraid we shall
have to ask you to walt little"
Peter was on his feet at once. TEL
her I'll have the trout by all means
and don't mind the waiting II there