The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-10-06
a BUTTERFLY ON THE WHEEL

knowing inStfnctiycly tnat she was
not going to be cross with him, Peggy
battled all /. the harder-in words-for
the Rroprieties;
with little pout. I'VE are in strange
hoteEby accident-Colling, it was by
accident, wasn't it?' And she bent a
grave look on him. He met the look
without Hutter of an eyelid. -.
"Of course" he exclaimed, and drew
himself up with just a touch of offense
in his manner. Surely you don't
think
Il don't know what thought" inter-
rupted the girl. with a half-nervous
funny, so nervous
| Peggy nervous" and he moved to-
ward her with tender smile.
well, it is rather alarming
But rather nice-isn't it rather nice?
Oh, Peggy! Isn't it rather nice?' the
tone was bantering, but the eyes and
smile were tender. She laughed in
spite of himself. But the next instant
she made another effort to be serious.
"Colling, its mad. Supposing any
one knew"
We walked over to the mantel to
light a cigarette.
How IS any one to know" he in
quired calmly.
mo, no, Colling. Don't light that
cigarette, pleaseP' She begged Its too
late. It's nearly I O'Clock. Besides,
must 60 to bed" She started toward
the door of her bedroom, but stopped
with suspicious promptness when he
spoke.
Not yet" he pleaded, earnestly.
Don't be uniind. Peggy! just one
just one before the fire. And then, by
Dyes"
She looked at him doubtfully. and he
gazed back with pleading smile She
sighed and then smiled.
well, one. then-but only one" she
added warningly.
Collingwood lit the cigarette and
sank down among the cushions of the
sofa with luxurious sigh. Good lit
tie Peggy"
She continued to watch him for a
few moments in silence; then her face
lit up with mischievous light. She crept
over to him and suddenly whisked the
cigarette case out of the pocket of his
dinner jacket and was half way across
the room before he could raise his
head
Isn't Peggy going to have one, too :"
she demanded as she took out a cigar
cite and returned to him with the case
She knelt by the sofa with the little
white roll in her tantalizingly puckered
lips, while he held light for her, ex-
claiming. Peggy! Peggy" softly under
his breath. He was rewarded with a
cloud of smoke full in the face. and she
was up and away again, bubbling with
!. Peggy. you little devilr he ex-
claimed, his eyes following her.
She paused to look at him from I'M
der her eyebrows, her head cooked to
one side.
Why is Peggy little devil?"
He looked up into her dancing eyes
and quoted:
Either mistake your shape and
making quite.
I Or else you are that shrewd and
knavish sprite
Called Robin Goodfellow.
ITS rather nice, my friend Puck
isn't it," And Peggy's laugh bubbled
over again. She came back to him and
ooiled herself up in an adorable fluffy
ball on the arm of the sofa at his feet
Puck was an imp of mischief" she
observed, Watching the smoke of her
cigarette Collingwood smiled.
"Well?'
Peggy made moue and was silent
for few moments. Then. with a mix
ture of mischief and seriousness, she
said:
Tell me. Colling, why wasn't my
luggage registered"
He sat up and stared at her a mo-
ment and then broke into an unaffected
laugh.
Well, of all the suspicious little de-
mons | ever came across" he eXclaim-
ed Registered"
Registered" nodded Peggy, grave
lly He shrugged his shoulders.
Il suppose that fool OF a porter al
Charing Cross forgot to do it."
1T was a bit of luck, wasn't it,"
Yes, rather~ he laughed
81 wonder"-she paused so long that
Collingwood looked up inquiringly. Il
wonder what the Attwils will think ~
Think Collingwood shifted. "She
can think what she jolly we'll likes"
But Peggy did not seem to take this
!: cheerful view of it There was a little
frown between her eyes.
Il don't much mind what she thinks. y
she said slowly with the emphasis on
the She" but I'll bet she has put some
rotten idea into Ellerdine's head. Col
ling. don't like her"
"What-Lady Attwill?"
Yes. Where does she get her money
FROM" she demanded suddenly, look
ing down squarely into his face Col
!. ling took the sudden shot without a
falter
THE deuce," he chuckled. q don't
know"
The little imps of mischief began
their war-dance in Peggys eyes.
rs that true, Colling" she asked.
He affected not to understand the COW
ert meaning in the question.
by the way. has she any?' he
fenced
We'll, how does she do it," insisted
Peggy.
Her wits, my dear. her wits" Peggy
abandoned that line of attack
"Ellerdine doesn't go in for wits,
she remarked Collingwood smiled in
amusement.
mo, poor old Dickyl He's the dip
lomatic failure of the century,"
THE empires loss is the Atwills'
gain" commented Peggy She slid off
the arm of the sofa with laugh and
curled up on stool by the fire.
She's the only post he's been able
l..