The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1922-02-09
DESIGNING PEGGY
sy MILDRED WHITE.

~oP'fa"~ iE-As "eHtrFn Ne"HpaNrf tnion
Tommy sat disconsolate. The coax
ings Of his setter dog. and the lnvit-
ing appearance Of new waiting road.
ster brought no interest 20 his re-
Gently desolated llfe--Nitn Warren
had thrown him over. 1t was I'M
believable. but true Nita, who had
walked up the hill with him 70 school
when her dark hair. now SO myster-
iously coiffured. hung In simple curls
to her shoulders. Why. Il bad always
been understood thai Tommy Was to
be Nita's escort even the school teach
er paired them of at picnics. And
now came along this new bounder,
and carried her away. Not literally.
Of course. Nita still graced her fathers
home and dooryard but the bounder
was usually to be found in the door
yard too. Only last night she had
tossed her head at T0mmy's humble
invitation TO the movies, and had an
swered, mo thank you. Rupert Hodge
and l are going into the city to attend
summer opera" Rupert Hodge, with.
his thirty years had college days be-
hind him. Tommy had not been able
to make the college which occupied
so many Of his youthful dreams.
Mother had been left alone, just after
poor Dad had managed TO put by
enough for that coveted college course.
The money had to be used then for
their daily living instead-the father
less Tommy and his mother-and
Tom had gone to work. That is the
name his employers In the small town
bank affectionately called him. They
thought lot of Tom Now when he,
had been able at least to purchase the
shining roadster, and mother. as well
as he, had looked forward to pleasant
hdes with Nita's CHEEKY companion
ship to make them more pleasant, Hita
turned him down for an engaging in
terloper. Tommy was tired of "try-
ing TO butt in there" he told his
mother. when she warned him that
faint heart ne'er won fair lady,"
Then, all at once, the new girl came
along. Even TOmmy's weary eyes
How do you dor greeted this
girl. as Mrs Thornton at homer
Mrs. Thornton was Tommy's mother.
= Il am. boarding for the summer
with Mrs. West, the Professors
wife," explained the fair call
er, "and she sent me down to see if
we could have some of your flowers
for a tea party Mrs. West thought
that Tommy-do you happen to be
Tommy would pick them for her."
Tom was aroused TO action. Certain
ly you may have Them he replied
Mrs West is mothers friend. III get
an armful for you right now. Mother is
out"
The girl sat down on the step
to await. IAN right" she agreed.
Here are your flowers" he said
brusquely
Thanks" the visitor casually ac-
cepted "Couldn't you take them over
in your car?"
Disturbingly, she flashed smile at
him. It was regular movie actress
smile. "And take me too" she asked
Il am Peggy O'Moore," announced
the young woman, as If this were suf
fcient reason for her assurance. Tom
flushed in sudden realization of his
rudeness. "Why-yes," he stammered
"Get in the car please, l will be glad
70 drive you back But so delightful
was Miss Peggy O'MoOre's companion
ship. that Tom drove around the park
on the way, and there they met Nita
She stared, coldly surprised at the
presence of a,charming young woman
al his side, and her quick brown-eyed
glance took in the armful of garden
flowers, and Toms own happy ire
sistible smile. Apparently Nita re
sented this lightness; the man walking
at her side had TO speak twice in
order to gain her attention.
Attractive girl that Peggy O'Moore
remarked with laughing question in
her Irish blue eyes.
'She is" With astonishment Tom
found himself making confession. "She
was my girl, before that boun-
der came and took her away"
Thereafter, Tom Thornton was to be
constantly seen In Miss Peggy O'MOore's
company. Nita after meeting the two
at various places of entertainment.
decided virtuOusly that 1t was her
duty to warn her old friend against
the enchantress. His manner where
she, Nita, was concerned, had strange
ly altered. "And it's not that / care
she told him tremulOusly, when she had
managed to waylay him before the
very hedge surrounding Mrs. Vests
property, but every one Is laughing
at you for being so easily taken IN by
that designing woman. This Miss
OMoore-" Nita's tone was bitter.
'care's nothing for you really, Tommy"
But / do care very much indeed"
Peggy O'MoOre's earnest voice cen
tradicted; her sweetly appealing face
showed Unexpectedly across the hedge
Tom stood perplexed then he turned
an Indifferent shoulder TO the new
siren, "Nita" he SAID eagerly "Now