Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-08-12
esesese9esesesesgg99gg9eggss
SWEET SEVENTEEN
BY RITA SULLIVAN.
|e99e9e9see99 ee9eeesse9eeeegg9sgg99ff

Po1 10 VI u plSluAS puLLlG.
Raymond, I'm seventeen! 1 guess
you forget" was her indignant an
swer.
swell. do wish that you would act
like 1t, then. What would Dick think
Of you if he saw you now?"
Her brother spoke with all the
dignity and imam of the world" air
which he had acquired short time
previous when he had fully realized
that he had the right to vote.
Dick was former schoolmate OF
RaymOnd's, and from the first he had
been Peggy's champion when she was
just little schoolgirl with golden
curls and short dresses. Now that She
was older, their friendship was fast
becoming stronger.
"Oh. he wouldn't care, Ray Hardy !;
he's used to it, and"
"Now, listen here, Peggy! What
would you say If told you that Dick
is getting tired of your childish ways.
Why, only the other day-well,
shan't say any more. But really.
Peggy, when will you ever grow up?"
Peggy was made speechless by the
suggestion that Dick was getting tired
Of her.
For the rest Of that day Peggy was
very mysteriously busy in her room,
and even her mother was cautioned
not to enter; and that evening, with
smiling eyes, she again surveyed her.
self in the mirror.
ooh, you are perfect!" she told her
self frankly in the mirror. 'Pd never
know you if met you on the street"
With sudden impulse that the
thought suggested she started toward
her desk and caught up the telephone
ooh, mother that-O-o-o." Her voice
trailed away as a plan entered he
mischievous head, for the calendar
showed that the day was April ]
With happy little laugh, she caught
up the receiver and impatienuy wait
ed for her number
"Why didn't think of 1t before, It's
such corking idea ~
"Oh! Hello, Dick. Listen. Never
mind coming all the way up to the
house after me tonight I'll meet you
down at the station. Why? Oh, never
mind; I'll tell you tonight. Yes, yes,
I'll be on time. Bye"
During the evening meal Peggy was
so quiet her brother cast suspicious
glances in her direction.
"She's up to something-wonder
too Al,
irey slipped his mind until, just as
she rose from the table, she calmly
| told her mother that she was going to
| meet Dick down at the station, as il
| was too much for him to come all the
way up.
A few minutes later puzzled younr
| man, comparing his watch with the
station clock and finding that they
| agreed, decided that, in spite of hel
promise to be on time, Peggy was late
"Who was that little Jane over there
who looked at me so queerly? Looked
rather familiar to me-" was his
thought, as Peggy passed by on the
other side of the walk, and he turned
to watch the door where she was due
to arrive.
Congratulating herself on the sue
| cess of her little joke, Peggy had re
traced her steps and was approaching
Dick when surprising thing hap
| pened. Dick had started forward Will
| both hands outstretched to meet ;
pretty girl who had come up to hin
with little exclamation of surprise
and pleasure, and, startled, Peggy
watched the warm greeting which
passed between the two.
She watched from there while Dcl
talked to the girl, and repeatedly
guiltily Peggy thought-watched thu
door
On reaching home she entered the
4 sitting room, for she had decided that
| she would "face the music" then ant
there.
To her surprise Dick was there
and the girl Then, as no one spoke
the same attire which had so com
pletely fooled Dick.
ooh, it's only PEGGY" she ex
claimed. throwing her veil back i'm
patiently.
"Why, Peg" came her brother'
voice, "I'd never know you! You lool
stunning"
'sThat must have been you tina
passed me when I-oh, sec A
the full significance of the though
struck him Dick knew what the troubl
with Peggy was, and crossed the room
to her side.
ooh Peggy" pretending not to no
tice her icy demeanor toward hin
"You've never met my cousin, Vera
have your
Peggy's mother suddenly decide
that she wanted Dicks cousin to Sc
some pictures, and the two left tn
room unnoticed. A few minutes late
Raw awoke to the fact that his pres
ence was not needed any longer, bu
/ before he left the room he could nc
! resist one parting comment:
"Well, ] wonder which one the Apr
Fool was on anyway"
1 But Peggy only smiled, for sh
heard her mother talking to Vera j
the next room, and her mother wa
saying:
'sThis picture was taken befor
Peggy was grown up"
With little laugh she, too, wor
dered-though brielly-whom the jok
was on after all, but quickly conclude
that she didn't care anyway!