Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1916-11-23
TEMpERiMENTAL PEGGY
BY LOUISE OLIVER.


the curtained French door shut be-
hind her. She had seized the first
opportunity to get away from the hot,
crowded drawing room into the invit-
ing cool, green recesses.
But she was disappointed in her
search for solitude, for man IL
stantly rose from the depths of
wicker chair and bowed courteously.
IL beg your pardon" painted
Peggy"
Don't apologize, pleasel It's pleas
ant to be disturbed, sometimes. And
IL Is up to me to eliminate myself
from the scenery II you wish to be
alone"
mo, don't CO." she begged, and
smiled so prettily that Jack Park need
ed no second invitation to remain. The
applause started again and grew so in
sistent that Peggy held up hand.
"Listeni They want another encore.
Aren't they greedyl"
II wish Gardner would give 1t to
them and keep them quiet" he said.
81 don't believe she WILL" she an
swered getting in low chair beside
a fountain full of goldfish and dabbing
her hands in the water. "Sit down
and let's talk. This is more fun than
their stupid old musicale. l don't care
If you are host. You probably are,
you appear to be so very much at
home"
Il nt hrrN ..NN hg. h
answered finally. 81 hate musicales,
too, I'm Jack Park and have the
honor of being Jessie's brother. Jes
sic is Mrs. Crixton-Payne"
"Can you sing?"
"Oh, not to speak Of / can a lit
tie"
"WilI you sing Alabama Coon for
me some day?"
Gladly Then, suddenly looking
out over the grounds she exclaimed,
"Tho is that funny fat old man?"
He followed her eyes. "That is, l
think, Gardner's business manager"
Really! What a bore to have to
travel around with an uninteresting
person like that. suppose he dom
ineers over her and won't let her
eat this, that or the other thing while
he stuffs himself, and makes her walk
five miles every day while he rolls
around in automobiles.
"Awful!' declared Jack. Lets go
out and give him punch anj dump
hum into the lake."
Peggy giggled. Maybe he'll be gone
when we get therev'
Jack held the door and they soon
found themselves on the terrace.
They came to the end of pergola
and below them spread the lake.
On a bench a hundred yards or so
away sat the little fat man putting a
cigar. The lake was directly be-
meath him.
"Shall II" asked. Jack eagerly.
She hesitated, then nodded impul-
sively.
So, tiptoeing through the shrubs,
Jack grabbed the bench in both hands,
suddenly tllred 1t toward the water and
splash! Tie little man was in.
Jack came back grinning. "He can't
drown. It's only four feet there.
Come on, let's go over to the sum-
merhouse and hunt up the kids.
So, leaving their victim to dry out
as best he could, they climbed the hill
to the little rustic summerhOuse
where three children ia charge of a
, nurse were having a glorious time
The baby hcli its little arms up tC
Peggy. "YOu darling" she cried lift,
ing it. Baby gurgled with delight
4 Feggy buried her face In the soft lit
tie neck. Lets take her back with
4 us" she begged.
"Tll take good care of her!" smiled
Peggy to the nurse as she started
down the hill with her burden. "Tl
have To hurry" quickenlng her pace
"rm-Im expected at the house. viii
you please tell me the timer
"Four-thirty," he answered, looking
nj his watch. "Can't you stay just q
n little longer?" he begged.
a II did intend to, but I've changed
my mind Let's go in and hear the
4 rest of the music. Maybe Gardner
will sing something you can under
4 stnad."
4 ''But what shall we do with the
baby?"
take her along"
Il "Just as you say" he agreed doubt
4 fully. 'You go In and I'll join you II
Il a minute"
Five minutes later Jack Park re
n turning through the big hall heard {
q familiar song, "Mammy's Little Ala
bama Coon" coming from the crowd
ed drawing room.
He looked through the door anC
there beside the piano, her arm throw
4 around the baby stood Peggy singing
4 Her hair curled in pretty confusion
Z her dress was rumpled and "A smudg'
of chocolate showed near the dimpl'
y In her cheek.