The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1918-10-11
The Blue
Goddess
~
Copyright. 1913. by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate)
By LOUISE OLIVER

She had planned so many things for
the next day, the day Captain Pear
son was to be in town and had asked
her If he could come TO see her.
Come to see herl Peggy's heart
had fiuttered almost to suffocation
when she read the few lines on the
heavy white paper. Come to see her!
She had closed her eyes and pressed
the words to her heart in ecstacy. The
tall, serious officer she had met at
the Marstons, about whom all the
girls had been completely mad, includ-
ing herself!
Then Peggy had done some officer
ing herself, as Peggy could. Her lit
tie hands, which took only a five-and-
a-half glove, could make Phil and lit
tie Chuckie step around more lively
In one minute than father and mother
combined could do in a week, and
word from her pretty red lips meant
more to Susan in the kitchen than a
whole regiment Of orders from higher
up. Lola, her twelve-year-old sister,
adored her openly, as did Lola's girl
friends, who met after school every
day for Peggy to instruct in knitting.
Ehe differing Peggy did, on receipt
of Captain Pearsons' letter, consisted
of disposing of the family for the day,
beginning with Philip and Charles,
and had gone on down the line until
no one was left but her mother and
60 Pearson
was to stop to dinner, and Susan was
TO achieve the most delectable meal
Peggy's busy brain could plan.
In short, the program was to be as
follows: Morning, house cleaned up,
flowers arranged in bowls everywhere,
best linen and silver hunted up,
. porches cleaned and everything In or
der.
AfternoOn-The boys to go fishing
after school and to Aunt Mary's for
supper and to stay all night; Lola and
the club to go to Mabel Browns and
Lola to stop for dinner and all night,
as Mabel had so often cOaXed.
Peggy planned to put on her new
sport suit of army blue jersey and
with her own little car sparkling clean
was to take the captain for a ride out
to Bowling Rocks to see the view, stop
at the club and introduce him to a
few friends, then bring him home to
n quiet. delicious candle-lit dinner for
four, Peggy in her new pink dress; a
whole delightful evening alone on the
moonlit veranda (there was q moon
Peggy found from the calendar a whole
week ahead), and then-Peggy never
tried to look past that.
But-"The best laid plans Of mice
and men gang aft agley."
1t rained, and 1t rained and rainet
and rained. The flowers would be
ruined. the tulips had been almost
ready to drop anyway. The road tC
Bowling Rocks was impossible now
even with a whole days sun, and the
boys couldn't go fishing. Mother
wouldn't let them when 1t was damp
After a sleepless night Peggy was
up at six. To her surprise, her mother
was stirring in the hall. Peggy opened
her door. what is it, motherT' she
asked.
Its Susan; she's sick. I've beer
I'D all night with her. / think she go
overheated yesterday and then cooled
of too quickly. I'll send for Doctor
BOyce soon, now, but l think she'll b'
all right in day or two"
"a day or twol But. mother. Cap
tain Parsons coming to dinner ant
there's so much TO be done today"
'Pm sorry, dear, but we can't hell
1t. I'm almost too tired to get break
fast"
Peggy's face changed instantly
"Don't you worry. momsy. dear. III
get breakfast. You telephone for tn
doctor. then go and lie down. I'll sc
the Riddles off 10 school"
After that there was no rest 70
Peggy. THE rain kept up and Susal
got worse. The doctor came an'
stayed, and Peggy had 10 be every
where ut once-in the kitchen on
minute. filling hot water bottles tn
next, answering the telephone, max
ing beds, washing dishes, gettin
lunch, and hundred other things.
Lunch over. the boys had TO b
warned 10 come straight home fror
school, for il was the kind of da
when mother worried about them. Ant
as the Browns lived too far away, Lol
was told TO come home also.
Lola forgot about the company an
at four o'clock the entire knitting clu
walked In. The boys had brought
few extra spirits along too. Neve
was there such houSeful.
Peggy by this time had accepted TN
inevitable, changed 10 blue line
dress with white collar and cuffs an
apron, and decided TO make the hes
of IL.
She was out sweeping some extr
large chunks of mud of the from
steps when Captain Pearson arrived
Peggy did not run. nor hide tn
broom. She stood smiling down a
him from the top OF the steps-a blu
goddess with the emblem of woman
sphere I'm her hand. The humor @
the situation lent an added spark
90 her smile.
I'm SO glad to see you. captain,