Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-04-07
. HER IDLE HOURS
BY MARY W. FORD.

n (Sh 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
Mother, do quit arguing. I'll admit
she would rather have one Of those
fluffy dresses on, as you call them
and eat chocolates, than to do stroke
Of homework or cooking" and John
Andrews reached for his hat, and COM
ing over to his mother, placed an arm
around her lovingly.
"But Johnny boy, it's your future
I'm looking for-I want you to be
happy. and with your salary you can
not afford to hire a cook. What's
more, daddy, I'm afraid, as 1t Is, she
would just be an ornament to grace
your home with, instead Of home-lov-
ing wife. II only she would give up
her idle hours, and during those hours
learn to cook"
There, there, mother. dear, let's not
talk on this subject again"
q When John called on Margaret, OF
peggy" as he lovingly nicknamed
her, vision in lovely pink met him
at the door. "Oh, Johnny, have
something wonderful to tell you" and
laughing happily she ushered him into
q luxurious parlor, far different from
Johns modest parlor. After what
seemed little eternity to John, won
dering what Peggy was SO excited
about, that young lady appeared at
the door with a huge hat box almost
as large as herself. as Peggy was rath-
er short. snow close your eyes, John, =
she said, and after moment requested
him to open them again. And behold
There. before Johns eyes was beau
tiful creation Of hat. First 1t looked
like silver. then hold 1t at smother
angle and 1t looked like gold-at least
that was how John later described It
to his mother.
sWhy, John Andrews, You don't like
my new haiti" and tears filled Peggy's
pretty brown eyes. John continued
staring at the hat. and when Peggy
thought he did not approve Of the
pretty hat she nearly guessed right,
for John was asking himself how he
could afford to buy such q dream Of
Z hat for Peggy when they were mar
He'd.
Peggy dear, your hat is q perfect
dream. and know it must be very be.
coming but
"Peggy. I'm awfully sorry am such
poor company this evening. but moth
e. has been at that cooking stun
again; and oh, Peggyl I've Just been
hoping right along that you would
one day surprise mother and"
Going over to John. she locked him
sQuarely In the eyes and said. seri-
ously: .John. I win surprise her, and
I'll make her love me some day.
hope love me for my very self. and
not my cooking; and. OIL don't want
this hat. ! hate It, hate I'll" and the
tears fell fast.
The following week John was sent
to New York. to be gone i've months
on business for the firm. Peggy prom
ised TO write faithfully cvery weeaE, 10
he went away not entirely unhappy.
but looking forward to the time when
he would return.
I'm awfully lonesome since John
went away, and I haven't much ambi-
tion to cook or do anything else, !"
thought Mrs. Andrews a week after
John had left. Then her eyes fixed
themselves on the following ad In the
paper: "Young lady about to be mar.
fled would like FIVE months instruc-
tion In homework and cooking" Then
the box number followed at the post.
ONCE. "Well, Of all things-what a
queer ad, but that girl sure has grit,
and / admire it-now that John has
gone. why can't / take her in, poor
soul. and help her out7" And the
more she thought Of 1t the more she
wanted to do 1t, SO accordingly the
next day a young girl presented her
self in answer to Mrs. Andrews letter.
"Why, Margaret WILLIS but Mrs.
Andrews not suspecting that Peggy
had come in answer to her letter, and
thinking she came about John, frOze
up completely and stared at Margaret,
but not unkindly.
"Please don't look at me like that,
Mrs. Andrews am the young lady
who-who wants to know how to keep
house, how to cook. Oh, won't you help
me while John is gomez" And as Mrs.
Andrews gazed at this girl whom she
always regarded as doll. her heart
went out to her when she saw how
sincere Peggy was. and how she must
love her Johnny to come and humble
herself 1ike this to his mother. Mrs.
Andrews beamed on Peggy and said:
"Yes, my dear little girl, I'm going to
helm Won and We'll give John the