Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-02

LranSHgurlng light MS eyes made out
the form of a woman She was picking
wild blackberries and she had on a
pink sunbonnet She seemed young
and slender, but her faded bingham
gown hid the lines of her figure. Pet
er, wondering little to find her there
so early, whistled to his dogs and went
on. When he had passed the girl
raised her head and looked at him,
then she laughed gleefully and fled
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
! 1t was quaint old table Of polished
mahogany. In the center was a 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 musf come up and git yo'
breakfas' here" she said, ives goin'
to serve folks what wants somethin'
different from the hotel"
Peter stopped. do you mean,'' he
asked, eagerly, that can have break
fast now"
The old woman nodded. Deed you
can," she said, "an' I'll have waffles if
yo' want 'um."
She vanished and Peter took his
place at the table, noting the fineness
| of the linen and the exquisiteness Of
the silver The dogs lay at his feet,
but raised their heads as girl came
out with light step. It was the girl
he had seen in the mountain top. Her
sunbonnet was of and her brown hair
was braided in one long braid that fell
below her waist. Her faded Bingham
gown was turned in neatly at the
neck and showed her white throat.
She spoke to Peter Aunt Diisey
wants to know If you will have chick
en- or trout? I am afraid we shall
have to ask you to wait little
Peter was on his feet at once. Tell
her I'll have the trout by all means
and I don't mind the waiting If there
are to be waffles at the end of it,"
Peggy caught her breath-for Peg
gy it was. She had not dreamed that
he would be so charming. Yet he
|hated-women.
Peter, seeing the flush on her
cheeks, talked lightly to set her at
ease.
you should have opened place
farther down." he said, mot many Of
the hotel guests get up here; it's too
much Of climb"
"Oh, know she breathed. II
don't expect many-but Aunt Dilsey
thought that few-would help"
"Is there just you-and Aunt Dill
sey?' he asked.
Yes"
The breakfast was delicious. The
Waffles were as light as a feather, the
coffee perfect. The girl who waited
on the table blushed as he asked the
price of his breakfast "Oh, don't
know" she said, you see we are just
beginning
"Half of that she quavered, when
he offered her dollar, and when he
had gone she flew out to Aunt Dilsey.
."You take it, she said. "Oh, didn't
dream it would be SO dreadful"
The next morning Peter came again
! do you have many customers %
"Not yet"
Phyllis was mystified. Where
are you, Peggy?" she demanded in let
tiers mailed to a distant postoffice.
Ever since you disappeared l have
been wild to know what you are doing.
And what about Peter? Aren't you
coming back to subjugate him?'
But Peter showed no signs of sub
jugation. He was considerate and
polite, but nothing more. Then came
one Sunday morning. with Aunt Dill
sey sick, and Peggy all in flutter.
n"Oh, will you help me-please?"
she begged, as Peter came up to the
porch; I'VE need a doctor"
The doctor found Aunt Dilsey 60 i'll
that he stayed for hours and down
stairs Peter helped white-faced girl
to hold on to her self-control.
"You see," she whispered, "she
nursed me-when / was baby--Sne's
my dear old mammy-and there's no
one else"
Presently Peter asked: DO you
mean that there is no one else who
loves you?"
yes"
There is some one else," said Peter
steadily Il love you"
Peggy sobbed wildly. "Oh, you
don't know what / am
you don't know"
II do know he said, and his grave
face was illumined. 81 know that you
are very dear and sweet
I'm not" she stood up and faced
him.
Hush" sternly, there is nothing