Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-14
Evening Star S
Daily Story
THREE PEGGIES
BY CONSTANCE MORTON.
Copyright, 1911, by the Mcclure News
Raper Syndicate.

had been caught by the capricious
April weather.
by jove, there's Peggy" he ex-
claimed as a blue umbrella bobbed
past him. q know that umbrella
anywhere by the white spot on 1t
where l dropped the acid that day.
Well, little sister, I'll catch UP with
You and We'll have lunch together!
But little sister" managed to keep
half block ahead of her big brother.
Peggy Rayeroft, il ever l catch up
with you, I'll bring you down to a
sane walk" he painted as he fastened
in her wake. "I'll have to call taxi
il l don't gain on her.
The blue umbrella paused before
shop window and enabled Charlie to
come within ten feet of her Then
with swing, away it went on down
the avenue, bobbing out of reach.
Around the corner into the compaf-
Z ative quiet of Thirty-first street went
the blue umbrella, and the little high
heeled shoes clicked under 1t with
exasperating monotony.
"How in thunder do they walk in
those shoes?" groaned the GREATNESS
young man. THE women can do
stunts that a mere man wouldn't
even attempt!
At last, in tire shadow of a tall
building. the blue umbrella stopped
suddenly. Charlie leaped forward
and clutched one of the points
thereof.
"Peggy-Peggyl" he gasped.
"How dare your rasped a shriil
voice. and the blue umbrella was
lifted to show the grim jawed counte-
nance of most unprepossessing
female of uncertain years.
Il beg your pardon!'' cried Charlie
in confusion.
But the lady was obdurate. With
crook of her finger she had sum
moned blue-coated officer and re-
ouested that Charlie be arrested.
"He has followed me for blocks,
she asserted angrily. He is trying
to flirt with me"
The officer looked from Raycroft
fresh, good-looking countenance TO
the haggard one of the offended
lady. He cast a sympathetic look
at Charlie.
Charlie tried to explain.
Il thought it was my sisters UNI
brella," he said with what com
posure he could muster in the face
OF the embarrassing situation. And
/ followed 1.-THE LADY, can TESTIFY
that | addressed her as Peggy.
That is my sisters name.
ut happens to be my own name.
said the lady frostily. Officer, 70
your duty
"You wanter enter complaint
against him.
yes! Such as he should be driven
from the streets, respectable
woman is not safe from their odious
attentions"
At that moment another was added
to the little group. The newcomer
was an exceedingly pretty girl.
II beg your pardon, she SAID to
no one in particular, but l hap
pened to witness the incident-and
I'm quite sure that the man meant
no harm. He appeared so surprised
when he found that the lady under
the umbrella was stranger and
How impertinent!' interrupted
the scandalized Peggy.
Il don't mean to be- went on the
girl quickly; but you see, too,
thought / recognized the umbrella
as that belonging to my friend, Peggy
Raycroft. and / was about to call
out to her when-when this hap
pencil"
Peggy Raycroft?' repeated Peggy
of the umbrella. This umbrella was
given to me by Margaret Raycroft--
/ used to be her goyerneSs-and----
'tThen you have heard of mel" in
terrupted Charlie in his turn, as he
gave her his card. II remember Peg
had several governesses while ] was
abroad. perhaps you are Miss Free
man-she was devoted to her.
Il am Margaret Freeman ad-
mitted the lady with melting smile
at the brother of her old pupil. of
ficer, | believe we can get along
without vOllr services today,
The policeman departed, his fingers
closing around the crisp bill that had
found its way from Charles hand.
The other three looked at each other
with some embarrassment. The pref
ty girl was first to recover her COM
posture. ,.r
have a luncheon engagement. am
very glad that everything has been
satisfactorily explained, Miss Free
man."
You are very kind, said the gov
erness flushing. Il am sorry to nave
misunderstood Mr.. Raycrofts action.
Margaret was a favorite pupil OF
mine-and she has been very kind to
me-"
IF you will forgive me. Miss Free
man, you can best show il by having
lunch with me-" cried Charlie, gaily
Il am very grateful to my sister
friend for her timely interference.
The girl nodded and smiled brightly,
and while he stood with the rain spat-
terlng on his barred head, she raised
her own umbrella and disappeared
around the corner.
Charlie replaced his hat and, open
ing his umbrella, he accompanied
Miss Freeman, to a nearby fashion
a h1a hotpl yyharp that victim of gen.
teel poverty had long-to -be-remem-
bered hour of delight.
Charlie spared no pains to entertain
Miss Freeman, and at last he related
the story of Peggy's blue umbrella
with the white spot. Il splashed some
chemicals on 1t one day, and how
Peg did scold,'' he said with his pleas
carrying it as it was-a sort Of
perpetual reminder Of my careless
ness, she said
81 admired the handle and the dear,
impulsive girl gave 1t to me, said
Miss Freeman. "She insisted on hav-
ing the umbrella recovered first, but
j told her l would. treasure it more
lust as it came from her hands-so
The umbrella has been the cause of
this strange adventure"
''By which | am the gamer" said
Charlie.
But Miss Freeman was not listen
ing. She was looking over at a table
in a palm powered corner.
why, there is your sister Peggy
and the girl of our adventure" she
exclaimed. "Her luncheon engage
ment must have been with Peggy
Raycroft! What coincidence"
This is day of condolences; sort
of an April day-troubles and pleas
l., ord ctinSlaina + Wnndpr -