Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-07-27
Peggy-Anne, the
Decorator
By DOROTHY DOUGLAS

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(copyrlghtD
John COURTNEY always enjoyed
- the tag end OF the summer season
a lot more than he did the entire
three months Of hot crowded days
when the entire world of holiday
seekers seemed to swarm over the
beach and clubhouse.
He liked to sit in the old clubhouse
lounge with a cracking fire Of logs
and have the exact chair he liked AT
the exact angle and in the exact To-
cation he liked.
On this particular morning he
stretched his long legs luxuriOusly
toward the cracking logs and was
selfish enough TO hope that no one
would enter to interrupt the charm
of the hour.
staggering under weight Of ere
tonne so that only pair Of feet and
the top Of a sunny head were visible.
Courtney was so comfortably skunk
into the depths Of his chair that the
girl was unaware OF a presence In
the lounge.
She dropped her huge fun of Gre
tonne In the middle of the room and
then Courtney watched her strug-
Cling masterfully with a large flow
cred slip cover which she put on one
Of the worn sofas.
Next she tackled great armchair.
Courtney wondered how anyone could
fOresee what tremendous difference
bit of color could make In a gloomy
room.
He stirred and the girl uttered
cry of alarm.
"Oh, I'm so sorry" she said swift
~. Il had no idea l was disturbing
anyone ! thought all the guests had
gone for the season."
You're not bOtherlng me in the
least" said Courtney. "In fact, It is
undoubtedly / who have disturbed
you. If you won't continue what you
are doing / will leave"
mo, mop exclaimed Peggy-Anne.
please don't-I will work as quietly
as mouse. My uncle, who is mana
ger OF the club, has given me this
room TO decorate, but he said I must
not disturb any Of the guests. ] am
hoping it Will be attractive to-"
by JOve! l didn't think those
whatchamajigs you're putting on
could make such a complete change.
It's great. l wish my old rooms in
town would respond TO treatment like
this"
"They would" declared Peggy
Anne, and then blushed at her own
temerity. She had not been sufficient
ly long IN the decorating business to
have acquired that outward express
sion of confidence In herself. In
wardly she knew It, She knew that
all ugly rooms could be made beauti-
ful. IT'S just a matter of taste" she
added. And moment later she was
climbing a ladder beside the big win
dOws and dragging up with her great
lengths of the Powered cretonne.
Courtney sat gazing spellbOund.
Never had he supposed such a trans
formation possible. The old room
suddenly seemed like a garden of
choicest flowers.
They'll never get me out of this
room again" he declared. "Tm al.
ways the last of the seasons linger,
ers and now ] suppose ! will he hop.
ping out of here about the first of
February This room makes home
seem awful" And Courtney visual.
lied his green-clad chairs and the
bun walls and the dark carpet and
the heavy brown hangings at the
windows and shuddered.
lie came over to where Peggy Anne
WAS perched ON top of the ladder. ar
ranging soft folds of cretonne over
the poles and looked up at her.
81 say-yOu know II you were to b.
nice to me | could get you hundreds
of Jobs like this. Every fellow | know
who is living In lodgings would mmI
at chance to have the place cheered
up. could really be a great help &c
Nou-if you wanted me to- And
Courtney looked most wistfully VI
and into Programmes bright eyes
But what exactly do you mean by
being nice'?' she questioned.
well don't just exactly know
for the moment-but first of all
wouldn't want you falling for any Of
the men will introduce You TO
They're pretty fine lot, too"
''lf they're all such fine lot
cant see why you should worry BE
sides, when am busy at my decorat
ing n man might just as well be {
sofa cushion for all the notice ! TAX,
Of him." And Peggy-Anne went OF
with the valance.
At the foot of the ladder COurtne,
pOndered.
IF get you twelve contracts with
In week will you promise not to fal
In love with any of your clients?"
''Oh, most certainly, | WILL" laughed
Peggy-Anne and In her eyes was ,
sparkle that was not entirely due {,
the wonderful success she was step
ping into
At the foot of the ladder COurtne,
watched his chance, then gently SHOOT
the ladder and waited
Sure enough she tumbled an,
straight into his arms.
lie had been certain of his success
otherwise he would never have riske,
this precious girls safety.
You realize, of course" he said n
she looked laughingIy back at him
that ! Will not be among the frs
! twelve"
Then thirteen is your lucky mum
her, Is III" questioned Peggy-Anne.
ITS going 10 he In this case" sal,
! Courtney, and knew that their hom
some day would be even as lovely A.
10. oil ri l. l..