The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-03-09
The DAHL
SHORT ! STORY J
White Goods and Peggy.
Rx RAY LEWls.

~ Gov
( BY RAY LEWIS.
Copyright 1890. BY Mcclures
Is Newspaper syndicate.)
IN the intervals Of stock taking,
IPeggy, wtstful.eyed, piled up in neat
: stacks the snowy pfllowcases and
sheets and towels. Brown q Co., on
Whose weekly payrool Peggys salary
appeared as a very small item, was
haying its annual white goods sale,
and It always stirred in Peggy's domes.
nc heart lohgtngs for home OF her
owpE Her dreams Of home were lib
orally illustrated with pictures OF we'll
stocked linen closets, exquisitely APP
pointed dining tables and buffet draw
ers filled with finely 1aundered nap
ktns and scarves and doilies. All the
harder to bear were the dingy table
cloths and too seldom changed towels
Of her boarding house.
The way to make good these dreams
was to marry. And all Peggy had to
do TO be married was to say, .Yes.
Henry But she hadn't been able to
bring herself to the point Of saying
Yes, Henry" because she wanted to
say, sYes, jim Yet how could one
say yes to question one. had mover
been asked? 2
Is Henry was an assistant foorwalker
andverys popular with the girls on &C.
count eof his clothes. his repartee and
his Willingness to show them a good,
tine All OF which characteristics
Peggy admitted were excellent, but
ofter all not the only ones essential
for g good husband.
For instance, Jim at times dressed
shabbily was far from quick with his
tongue and hadn't ever shown her
What the other girls would have con-
eldereds much OF a time at all. But
Whenever Peggy thought of Jim, she
thought OF him as person who would
''WeAr WE'LL and what finer quality
Gould the man have with whom you
expected to pass from youth to old
But she had not seen Jim for sew.
eral nonths-in fact, she had heard In.
definitely that he had gone South.
As5the short January day drew to a
close and the lights twinkled through
1.-the store Tor the benefit of the hur.
rying shoppers, Peggy rested head
acby browgon her hand and tried to
bring herself to decision. She knew
that Henry would be waiting outside
and that some time during the walk
home he would probably put his fire..
quent question: We'll old girl, when
are youland me going to tie up?"
After the bell rang and Peggy had
made up her books she went to the
4Ee5sing room took down her coat and
4at and walked slowly out into the
chilly night. Henry was wasting at the
Some weather, all right said
Henry You ous::t to be wearing a
regular fur coat, grille. Well, one OF
these days - and he winked signifi.
cantiys Then, Anything on for to.
night, he asked.
Regg hesttated. .No-o-o,r she said
Wen. III be around about s, and
veal talk q few things over. Got to
leave you here to see man." He lift
ca his hat with elaborate courtesy and
tlIrned down side street.
Feeey felt q sense OF respite, but aft.
e. an, she reflected, 1t was only, for a
couple OF hours Then she was. going
Eight O'clock brought Henry, his
ton In his buttonhole.
! And he didn't waste any time In nre.
hminaftes. Ready to set the day.
Peggy2n he asked the moment he had
established himself in the least uncon,.
Portable armchair the boarding house
pariof afforded.
u don't know, hesitated Peggy.
cause ! want to get married some
day and have home"
sure you do" said Henry. "and
here's the man that will get one for
YOU couple OF furnished rooms as
startef, aud some day regular SVEN
apaftmert, 2
Peggy tnyoluntarily burst forth.
"Qh, Henry, not furnished! Couldn't
We do that ourselves?n
y SpenG a lot OF money for stuff
when YOU can hire 1t. twice as cheap.
NIX on that girl. Us for the furnish.
ed rooms and our meals out"
6aesy her reasons for marrying
Henry gradually disappearing. But
she reminded herself that It wasn't
possible she would be willing to marry
him lust for q home.
Come, now. be a good girl and say
yopat marry met" pleaded Henry.
tessy looked very desirable as she sat
opposite him, her hands folded, her
eyes the color OF yolvet pansies, her
lips tremnlous. - -
Peggy sighed. Perhaps any old
home was better than no home at ali.
brayely she prepared to say the words
which she knew would bring Henry's
arms about her. Well" she began
The doorbell rang violently. Peggy
Iumped up to open the door, not sorry
Tor the Interruption. On, the step
stcod q tai, broad.shouldered person
WHO smiled with evident pleasure as
he looked into Peggy's astonished face.
Twas Jim. u
she brought him in and introduced.
nm % Henry, whose face assumed the
sspect OF very black thunder
l3o1py and an vorad 20 i-..... - -,