Newspaper Page Text
14
When Peggy
Traveled Incog.
By AXSIE niMILTOR DONVELL.
(Copyright, 1900, by Annie Hamilton Don
* nett.)
In the intervals of trad*— and the in
tervals came often and lineered. when the
thermometer registered 92 degrees—the
clerks at Bruces drifted together in
•pars© groups, to talk. It was all there
was to do. The notion counter elbowed
the stocking counter and Old Adam—
everybody at Bruce's called him Old
Adam—conversed sociably with Gregory
Knox. They were the oldest clerks in
the store and were getting gray in the
service.
"My! hot, ain’t it? Stockin'* ain’t run
nin’ real spry to-day?” Old Adam said,
with a cheerful laugh. He leaned over
the counter and fanned his round, red
face with a "Notion" palm leaf.
••Well, I guess not! All the swells are
out of town and poor folks can go bare
foot this weather. What’s the matter
with you, old man? You don'4 look
peart.”
“I guess I look as I feel,”
Gregory Knox answered.
”You’re played out, sonny. What you
need's a we*k or two off. You tackle
the boss to-night and see what you can
do.”
A smile curved the other man’s lips.
It would have been a bitter smile if
there had been time enough before the
patient lines settled back Into place.
The whole pallid, weary face was pa
tient.
“I’ve born gettin' my courage screwed.
O I’ll tackle him. but what’s the use?”
He shrugged his spare shoulder* under
the rusty seersucker coat.
”You goin’ to try if. Adam?”
“Me? O I’m all right. I get aboard
"Eh?- A Week Off? Man, Alive. Are
You Dafty?” He Cried, Sharply.
my wheel at close-up, and sklte out Into
the country a ways. Nothin' like it—not
In this world! That's all the country I
need. Get a wheel, man, get a wheel.”
Again the bitter smile that lost Itself
In patience. Gregory Knox was think
ing of the wheel he was trying to get
for Peggy. Both the other girls had
them. He had one of his whimsical
fancies that perhaps his chance might
eome when he got to the streets of gold
The slow afternoon crawled toward
close-up. Instantly, at the stroke of 6,
the clerks hurried toward the great
doors that swung between them and
freedom But Gregory Knox took an
other way.
"Wish you luck, old man.” called Old
Adam after him. But good luck looked
doubtful. The boss—in Bruce's dialect—
was out of temper. The heat and con
finement rasped him.
“Eh? A week off? Man alive, are you
daft?” he cried sharply. ''Don't you know
we're short-handed now? The young (Albs
have to go—can’t hold 'em in. But you
oid chape are our standbys. You've had
your fling.”
"Yes—yes.” murmured Gregory Knox
absently. When had he had his fling?
He was watching the boss fold up a trout
pole. Joint on Joint Then his pal” blue
eyes roamed to the lifter of flies and lines
and einkera on the desk He hod been
thinking of a trout pole all day long—
queer! But his had been a slender sap
ling, fre.'h cut. Would this complicated
bamboo affair catch a fuller string of fish
than he had used to catch with his sap
ling? What beauties they had been! How
the sun had silvered their wei harks!
Qeer, how all day long he had been think
ing of trout and a little thread of shad
owy water, rippling under willow trees.
He gaged away out of the window, and
Instead of listless moving crowds a bare
foot boy with a string of trout crossed
his retinas
"There, sir, that's the swellest troutlng
"But It's Thin, Paddy; I Believe to My
Soul You're Growing Old."
outfit there'll be in the Adlrondacks this
summer! You can't beat that," the boss
said. In better spirits.
“No, sir—O, no.” Gregory Knox said.
"But then, it’s pretty surprisin' what a
string of fish you can haul In with a sap
lln' fresh cut. You get one Jest sappy
enough and Jest the right bigness—l tell
you!”
When he turned away a moment later
the boss tlalled him back.
"O, I say, Knox!” he called. “I take It
we can let you off for a day—say, to-mor
row. We'll manage earn' how Not at all
—not at all—no thanks, man! Wish you
good luck.”
But Gregory Knox had not thanked him.
There seemed -no occasion. The thread of
dark water ran under willows a hundred
and fifty miles away.
The boss had relented suddenly. The
blood of Izaak Walton, running In both
their veins, had forged a link of good fel
lowship beiween him and the little old
clerk. Such a slender link! What would
a day off—one day—avail over a hundred
and fifty miles? But. In the morning
Gregory Knox followed a sudden impulse
and sllptfcd down to the sea to catch a
glimpse of rna and the girla. He had not
meant to go until the last minute, and he
went in his shabby store suit and forgot
to change his shirt. On the train remorse
assal.ed him sharply. What would ma
say? No, certainly not, mo must not see
him In that dubious guise—ma, who was
making her one-monlh-longer struggle for
gentility In a great hotel by the sen. It
was her one chance for the year—hers
and the girls. They dreamed of It, and pa
worked for It the year round.
“I'd ought to have fixed up for ma's
sake, and the girls’," thought Gregory
Knox, guiltily, and In • minute the boll
day's zest had vanished. Ho settled bark
duiiy on the hoc velvet cushions and made
his plans wearily. He would keep out of
•ighr—that would be easy enough in such
crowds—and roa and the girls ncod never
know he had been there at all. It would
be nice jest to see ’em enjoyin’ them*elves,
he sad.
“I'll keep no the outskirts, out o’ their
sight—my okl clothes won’t do ’em any
harm that way.”
Poor littie Ftockinv-counter clerk! IT©
had always been on the outskirts, and he
was 50 years old!
But whon he had settled himself on the
great, hot teach, hidden in the De of a
mighty bowlder, whom should h© pee
dancing down rhe beach toward his hkling
place, but Peggy, in her dainty bathing
suit. She was all alor*©. and she made
a pretty picture to pi's admiring eve*.
Peggy was the baby and his favorite. In
his quiet, secret way, he worshiped at lit
tle Madcap Peggy's res .less feet. The
other girls called l.m pa, but she called
him dady. How pretty she looked in ‘hat
little blue and white Her! The littl* oil-silk
cap perched on her brown head had a
saucy, witching air.
But Gregory Knox shrank back in the
lee of hi* rock. A minute too late, dad
dy! For Peggy had seen him.
“Daddy!—of all things, great and small
things! Daddy Knox’"
“Yes. it’s me, Peggy,” he answered
meekly.
It i3, as sure as I live’ Put wh*re’d
you drop out o?—a balloon? Dll you com* 1
on the wing of the—but there isn’t any,
not a breath! Well, tell rne about it, dad
dy.”
She thr*w herself In the sand be?He
him and dug the toes of her bathing shoes
deep in. Her long black k.ngs stretch
ed out before her. and daddy's experienced
eyes fell on them at once. He was so Well
acquainted with stockings! He notice in
stantly that they were rusty and looso
flbred. Then he saw' the little "gobbled”
darns in them. Peggy was not renowned
for needle word.
“Poor dye, ivlazy weave.” he thought.
"Couldn’t have come from Bruce’s. Mine
are fast black and you can’t see daylight
through ’em, either.”
"Fir© away, daddy. Don’t you see the
lady’s waiting?”
Peggy's clear, laughing voice interrupt
ed his thoughts and brought him back
from the stocking counter at Bruce’s to
the great, hot beach with the sea at his
feet.
"Er— why, you, Peggy, yes. What was I
soyin’ ?”
"That’s the trouble—you weren’t saying
a solitary word. Daddy Knox! Just
mooning— or selling Blockings.”
“Sellln’ stockings— you’ve hit the nail,
Peggy! That’s what I was doin’, sure
Tt kinder comes second nature to me.
That’ what I expected to be doin’ this
minute, but the boss gave me a day off.
So I am down here—l hankered to see
a little harum-scarum girl o’ mine. But,
you see (he lowered his voice confiden
tially) I never thought to fix up, so I’m
keepin’ dark. I wouldn’t have your ma
see me this way for the be.-t pair of silk
stockin'* at Bruce’s!”
Peggy eyed the crumpled shirt bosom
with palpable disfavor. Her even traveled
over the shabby little figure, taking in
the shiny seams and the frayed edges dis
approvingly. How little and seedy daddy
was!
“Y”es, ma’d have a fit—two fits,” ahe
He Felt an Irresistible Impulse to Vault Over the Counter and Take
Peggy Into His Arms.
said, promptly. "You 11 have to remain
incog, daddy. Now, I don't mind—l'm not
In full dress myself! So I’m willing to
fellowship with you. I'll run up aero a
lots to our room, and tell them I'm not
going down to dinner, and then I'll
trouble you for a silver half dollar, kind
sir, and buy our lunch at a restaurant.
And we’ll eat It right here, out of a paper
bag! Larks!”
Her eyes were still on Daddy. She was
seeing many new things—the ho lows in
his timptes, the patient droop of his lips,
the whitening hotr around his bald spot.
She was seeing how "stoop-shouldered”
daddy was getting to be, and how ilred —
tired—tired—he looked. It seemed to
l eggy, lying there in the warm sand be
side daddy, as if she was just being in
troduced to him. She reached out a lit
tle sea-brown hand and slowly threaded
the scant gray hair between her fingers.
The softness nnd sllklness of It surprised
her. She had never known i efore that
daddy’s hair was so soft and silky.
' But it's thin, daddy. I believe to my
soul you're growing old. Aren't you
ashamed of yourself, sir? Tile idea!"
"No o.der than some other folks this
side o’ the sea, puss,” retorted daddy,
with a boyish laugh. He did not feel old
just then. He felt joing. It was so
pleasant to have le. gy all to hlmsrlf,
and to lie, resting, with the gentle boom
of the breakers in Ids tar.
"You’re glowin' old. too. ma'am. Bless
my soul, wasn’t It day lx foie vesterday
you had the colic, and i toie.l you up and
down the nursery flo c! lip and down
up and down—dal you ever say enough?
Not you!”
He prodded her whimsically with his
Unger, but ehe was not l.stening to his
banter.
"You're tired, Daddy, that's what,” she.
cried abruptly. "You need a lark—a long
one, pot Just a mean little 24-hour one like
this. See, there are crows feet round your
eyes, and you're not old enough for crow's
feet. One, two, three, four. Who ever
heard of a crow with four feet?. Daddy,
do you hear? Y r ou must have a good, long
holiday. You shall stay right down here
with us. I guess we can find clean shirts
enough. You shall not go home a step till
we go."
Gregory Knox shook his head slowly.
’’And lose my Job, little one? Then
who'd get the bread and butter? No, no;
I'm leaving my lark to-day with you. I'm
satisfied. We old feilows at the store
have to stand by the ship while the young
bloods are having their outings. It's the
law. Resides, a place like this, my dear,
wouldn't do for me. Think of your ma.
No, no, I'd rather go to the trout brook
at home and lie on the banks and llsh.”
"Yes, Daddy, yes-go on," Her eyes
were on his kindled old face, and bin were
on a fleck of while sail in the offing. He
began to speak dreamily, as It to him
self.
“I’d like to see Simeon again, too. We
always went troutin' together—he and me>
—but I could haul in the most llsh. Every
time—Sim warn't much of an angler. He’d
lay with his eyes shut nnd say poems to
me. Poor Sim—that’s about all the poetry
ha ever had or mo, either. - It would be
like reviewin' a poem, though, Jest to go
back and lay under the willows at home.
Shady? Well, 1 guess. And cool? There
ain't a cooler place anywhere In the heat
o' summer, than on tire bank o' that old
troutin stream was -no, sir. And you
could hear the Middy song o' the water
—lt never slopped—and smell the pine nee.
dies he't up wit.i ... ~un In the middle
o’ the day. Brnell good, did it? I get to
THEMOBNING NEWS. SUNDAY, JULY 15. 1900.
MUNYON’S GUARANTEE.
Itroßf Assertion* a* to J WkM
the Remedies Will 1 •
t Many© a fnanetee*
tbit bis Rhcwsunita
Cvre will r* mrl;
• U raae* etf rbewx.a*
tiam 'a * few hours;
tbit hli DycpepeU Cere
will euro iAdigeetien and
all otomieb trouble*;
that bio K daoy Cure
will euro *0 per evn*.
of all caaoo of kidney
tioublo; that hlo Ca
tarrh Cure will err*
catarrh bo mattar how
1 iff ataadlnf; that hi*
B*>darho CUro win can
•LX aiad of haodacho ia
a frw irJneto*; that
Ma Cold Cure will
quickly break op aoy
(torn of cold anl oo on tbro*:ffh th# on tiro lint of
reaodiao. At all dn:(fflata. 2d eenta o rial.
If you neod medical a<i*o writ# Prof, hfonyoc.
l*t* Arcb •* T "*' it lo aheoTutolj froe.
hankerin’ aft*r that smell, hot days be
i hind my counter, among the stockin’*.
Yes, sir, when the good Lord give© rn©
it whole week off I’m goin’ homo to go
treutin* wiih my brother Sim.”
He wok* out of his day dream a min
ute later, in time to see Peggy skimming
over th* beach toward one of the looming
hotels in the background of the sea. She
had forgotten ali about her dip in the
surf. She came back again, by and by,
with the paper bag of lunch, and they
ote it together in the lee of the big boul
der. Daddy was very gay and scarcely
noticed Peggy's preoccupation. She said
goodby to him in mWafternoon and h
waited alone for train time.
"Ma.” Peggy eld, coming upon her
suddenly, with her novel, on the broad
hotel veranda. "Ma, it’s played out. Ijn
going up home. I’m going home to-night
-.-this very to-night that ever is. I guess
daddy’ll be glad to see me, and I’ve got
enough of this place. I’m too young to
fiin around with the girls, and I’m too
old to dig in the sand with the babies.
That’s what I’d like—to have a little red
pail and shovel and dig. That’s living.
Hut as long as I can’t, I guess I’ll go
home. I’m going upstairs now and pack
up.”
Ma folded down the comer of a leaf to
keep her plac-e. She was used to Peggy's
whims, and was unastonished.
"But, Peggy, it’s only half through the
monah—there’s two whole weeks left,” she
said, slowly. In her heart, ina was re
lieved. Peggy’s ways were apt to be dis
concerting. and she would be safe and w ell
. with pa. She’d be company for him, too—
poor pa!
Without any objection Peggy was allow
ed to put her things together and go.
When the train was well under way she
went ahead to daddy’s car to surprise
Ipm. He was sitting by himself in the
front of the car. The paper bag of lunch
remnants was In his hand, and he was
absently twisting and untwisting it. Peggy
saw the tragedy coming. She got there
just in time to see daddy regarding the
torn bag in dismay, while fragments of
ham sandwiches oozed out and dropped to
the floor.
"PH pick ’em up—don’t stoop, daddy,”
she said, quietly.
"Peggy Knox!” cried daddy.
"Don't mention It—Sh! I’m traveling In
cog,” whispered Peggy. Then they both
laughed and settled comfortably for the
trip home. Peggy explained rather am
biguously that she thought she'd run up
home for a day.
“Take my day off, you know, daddy,”
she said, gayly. "You won't mind having
me keep house for you a day, will you?
I can boll tea lo perfection, and I’ll make
.you fritter for breakfast. Then 1 can do
some shopping between times. If you're
a very good old daddy Indeed, I'll buy
my stockings of you!”
On ihe next mo.nii g but one Daddy wem
down to Bruce's with long face. It
was the morning Peggy was going back
to ma and the girls. He had taken it for
granted, and it filled him with homesick
misery. It had been so pleasant to have
the child at heme. She had taken his
lonely heart by storm.
lie hung up his hat and began mechan
ically to straighten some of the boxes In
one of the tiers, behind the counter. He
had not thought to say good morning to
ohl Adam, as usual. It was Peggy—gay,
111 tie, harum-scarum Peggy—Daddy was
thinking of.
"O, 1 say, Mr. Knox, good day to you,
sir!” someone out In the aisle was say
ing. It was the boss. He leaned over the
counter and pulled his sleeve. "I jay,
Knox, you don't look pulled together yet.
You need anoder day off. Why not take
say, a fortnight, and go somewhere trout
ft-l ing—Adiv tda k way, you know? Can
ns well as not—don't say a word! Fact is.
I've made arrangements with somebody
to take your place and you’ve got to go
Can’t help yourself. Stay' two weeks,
and—er—you needn’t trouble about your
pay That’ll go right on, you know.
Might as well go to-day—why not?”
He was gone before the astonished lit
he man behind the stocking counter had
recovered h.m elf. Old Adam was re
garding him wish a grin.
"Got your walkin’-tlcket. eh?” he drawl
ed. "Well, you deserve It! You won't
he half a man till you gee out into the
woods somewheres and holler. Put In for
all you're wonh—you need It! Let your
self go, old man, for once. I'd go with
you If I hadn't got an engaement with
my wheel. I say, man, I'm powerful
glad the boss has come round. He ain't
half bad. Now put on your hat and start
—shoo!”
It was half-past eight—there •was time
to get the 10 o'clock train that went
straight toward the little dark brook un
der the willows! There waa time!—time!
—time!
If Peggy had only stayed long enough
to know! It would please Peggy.
On the 10 o’clock train, George Knox
sat back In his seat and wished again
that Peggy could know. He had half a
mind lo telegraph her. but on second
thought, decided to wait and write from
Sim's. He could tell Peggy so many
things that would bp interesting, then
how her Uncle Simeon looked, and how
ihe old place had stood the wear and tear
of thiriy years—and whether the tall tree
apples tasted as good as they used to
—nnd If the trout were blt4!ng well. He
would write Peggy a long letter—the first
letter he had ever written to one of the
girls. He was glad th# first one would
be to Peggy.
Two week* later. Gregory Knox, brown
and nappy, got off the train In the crowd
ed dty station. He walked away with
a springy stride that tilted his little
stooped figure oddly. People turned to
look again at his happy face.
The whim seized him to walk by
Bruce’s and see how It looked from nn
outsider's standpoint—to stand and look
Idly in the big windows, as outsiders did
Then another whim, to go in at the great
swinging doors and loiter through the
aisles—ail hut the. stocking counter aisle.
So: that—that would break the spell.
•'l'll buy a little mite of a present for
Peggy—that's what.” Peggy always said
"that's what,” and he smiled at the
thought. His heart was hungry to see
I Peggy, and he had reokoned that she and
ma and the girl* would be home, now. In
a day or two. Their mon h was over.
"Now. what'H I get?” he mused, idling
along lazily and refusing to look at the
familiar faces of the clerks. "What do
Peggies, like? Fancy notions of some sort
—I may have to go to old Adam's coun
ter now! Not if I can help it. It’s too
near my old stand, and I’m not a stock
in' tender yet—not till to-morrow."
He cou!d not decide on what to get.
He distrusted his own wisdom. In any
thing hut stockings. Ah, yea, stockings
—why not? Peggies all wore stockings,
and suddenly he remembered the rusty
black. gobble-darned stocking* his Peg
gy had worn that day at the beach. He
would have to go down the stocking
! counter aisle after all.
"Stockin's it is. then,” he said, tramp
ing away in that direction.
But Just at the turn, he looked down
; the aisl£ and uttered a iow murmur of
astonishment. H* could scarcely credit
his eyes. He was getting old. and they
might be failing him. But nearer yet
the vision was the same. He knew it
was Peggy behind the stocking counter.
Teggy! lie stood and watched her. She
was waiting on a customer, and did not
see him. Her face was a little pale and
weary, but she smiled Ingratiatingly,
and twirled the stockings about with
an air of long acquaintance with their
kind.
Peggy! In an instant it was all clear
to him. He knew it was to Peggy he
owed his beautiful two weeks of rest. It
was Peggy’s doings!
He felt an irresistible Impulse to
vault over the counter like a boy and
take Peggy Into his arms. The sly, lit
tle, harum-scarum girl!—to cheat her
old Daddy; He wanted to squeeze her
pale little face between his palms and
kiss it a hundred times. He wanted to
scold her. and thank her, and get her
away from that place. The stocking
counter at Bruce’s was no place for
blithe littie Peggy.
The customer was turning away, and
Peggy was putting back the boxes.
Even from that distance Daddy could
see that she put one in the wrong place!
In the moment of starting down the
aisle, he changed his mind. An instinc
tive delicacy restrained him, and he
hurried round the comer out of sight.
No, he would not spoil Peggy's little
scheme. She would like it betetr to have
it go on, uninterrupted. Peggy was "trav
eling incog” now—he w ould wait. But he
told himself that hy and by he would
have it out with Peggy. There was a
reckoning day ahead, somewhere.
He went home and waited. Close up at
Bruco’s was at 6 sharp, but it was late
twilight when Peggy came home. She
knew Daddy would he there, and she had
lingered on the way. He heard her com
ing in, and called out brusquely;
“Who's there? Hold up your hands!”
"Can't do it. daddy, they’re plum full.
Why don’t you have a light?”
She spoke with nervous hilarity, mum
bling something Indistinct about trains
rfiat lost time and herdic men that went
round Robin Hood’s barn to unload their
passengers.
"I’m the advance guard, you know,
daddy,” she cried. "Ma and the girls are
coming to-morrow. I had a let—mm,
that is, the month's up. No more putting
on airs for the Knoxes’ Where ere you.
daddy—on the couch? It's dark as a
pocket.’
”A man gets all-powerful fagged out.
tendin' stockins. The couch oughter he ttv
place for him,” he groaned dismally. She
feit her way to him, across the room. At
the couch she knelt beside him and felt
for his face.
"If I find the crow’s feet. I’ll know lt'a
you and not a counterfeit daddy. Here we
are! Daddy Knox, where are the othei
two?”
“tinder the willows, beside a trout
stream, Peggy. How many feet would
you have a crow have?—aren't two
enough ?’’
Taken off her guard. Peggy put her
tps to his ear and whispered:
“Did—did the fish hite, daddy?”
The day of reckoning was at hand.
The Casting Vote.
*
It Was Decided by Superior Brands
of Chocolate Creams, Pungent
I’eppeermlnt nnd Deliei
onsly Flavored Wafers.
The table was set for supper In Miss
‘ucker's kitchen. A shadekss kerosene
1 mp threw ache r.'ul ight over a meal
orved as daintily as though distlngu sh
ei guests were exp c ed. for Roxana
Tucker believ and herself Wurihy the sam.
consld -ati n she would sl ow her n.igh
hors and friends. But the hot ' iscui.s an l
steaming t ap t were filling the room with
i eli fr .grance in an; uin e pretier.e
and fru.t c k were not aura Hons strong
enough to get the attention they deserv
ed.
Miss Roxana had arranged the table
and then forgotten that anything further
was reauired of her. bhe sat In a low
rocker b. tw an the table ;nl the s ove,
In either hand a letter as if he were bal
ancing one against the oth r. She was
not reading them, she air ady kn w thdr
exact cont nts. At ~at twenty times she
had read both letteis through from date
to signature.Kach cm ained an offer made
In answer to a suggestion of her own, and
s e could no decide uh h t . ac •> pt
Kvery v, liter Mss 11 tuna's klteh-n
win owe w.r for ted b a screen of
s;< w, a rift so hgh aid so widely ex
tended that ii s ut off every glimpse of
'he out Ids w rid But t r hat and Ift, he
ft n and clared s e h* ukl certainly live
a one through the winter m n hs ass e
did ihrrugh the s mmer The dl.-a, f.etr
arce of the diifi was a signal for t ,1k of
ous ceanlrg, and then old Aid ail
Hcbbs her companion thiough lh‘e winter
inon hs, understood that It was lime for
h r to park t p her pro; er y ar.d go ha' k
to the town farm to h. Ip the micron of
that Institution through the summer'eam
pa gn.
Miss Pmxana found the necessity for a
hous. matr during h If the yrar a ncv. r
f filing subject for self-commiseration,
tut until this autumn her grumbl ng had
Cures Dandruff, Falling Hair.
Brittle Hair and all Scalp
Troubles, such as Itching, Eczema
Eruptions,etc. Purely Vegetable,
harmless and reliable.
CURE GUfISmfJTEED
even after all other remedies have failed,
or money refunded.
A BANKtR WRITES]
J?mk| Col urn Mi* Tx.. Feb * IK.
t t L* < UI rIM T,r P*t preparation to T
Kindly m*nd mo two
full slsd battle* by •xpruM. R. ADKINS GREEN.
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teen mere breath, now there was real
ftelirg tn her voice when she said, as she
and and cr<r ard over again every day. "It's
dreadful to he so dependent on others!
I’ve a good mind to get along without any
on™ this wlnter.lf U wasn't for that drift!”
For old Ablga. had died during the
summer and the search for her succes
sor had been without success. Many can
didates offered themselves; young, middle
aged and old women, anxious to secure
such snug winter quarters. But all appli
cants bad been rejected without hesita
tion. their unfitness was so evident. Miss
Roxana sitting between the fire and the
tea table reviewed this part of the situ
ation with frowning face.
"It's as good as settled,” she said em
phatically, ”tha I'm to spend the winter
somewhere tv-sides at home. The ques
tion Is, shall it be with Lucretia in Bos
ton or with Helen in Westhorough? I've
always wanted to see what living In a
city was like, but Helen needs the money
most and I shall Insist on paying for my
board and feeling Independent”
A slight cough Interrupted her train of
thought. She rose, laid the letters upon
the table, walked across the room and
took down from its place beside the clock
on the mantle-shelf a square bamboo box
with a close cover. The box was lined
with white tissue paper and was nearly
full of candy, flat white peppermint
wafers, hoarhound and lemon drops and
chocolate creams. Miss Roxana looked ap
provingly at the display of good things
while she picked out daintily between
thumb and forefinger a plump yellow
lemon drop.
"This last lot of cough drops is par
ticularly good.” she soliloquized, "prob
ably because It's fresh.”
She would have bitten out her tongue
sooner than have owned to so childish a
weakness as a liking for candy. "My
throat feels rough and I shall have a
spell of coughing if I don’t take some
thing for it.” was her excuse when any
one saw her open the bamboo box. This
explanation had served her so many
years that any misgivings she may have
felt in her early use of tt had vanished
and she never doubted it was the abso
lute truth.
When she had replaced the box the tea
table caught her attention and she seated
herself behind the teapot, no longer
steaming.
The letters lvtng beside her plate con
tained many bits of family news, but the
central point of interest in each was a
paragraph r ferring 10 her dilemma.
Mrs. Laicretia Bennet, the Boston niece,
wrote:
'My rroms will re-m very small to
you. they are tiny compared to those in
votir big house, and the sunshine is cut
off from us on all s’des but one. I speak
of these things so that you may not bo
disappointed when you see my home for
yourself. You will be heartily welcome if
you decide to come. There Is a warm
clamber entirely at your disposal. You
“peak of paying your board, that is a
matter w can settle after you arrive in
Boston, Whatever arrangement prorrd et
you the most satisfaction will please me
the best.”
Mrs. Helen Driscoll, who lived in West
brrough, end'd her le'tt rin this way:
' I can hardly hope that with the city
and all i's attractions promising you un
limited enjoyment you will be satisfied to
spend any length of time with me We
are verv dull here, but we are comforta
ble, and there is a sunny bedroom on the
ground floor that you can have If you
come. I am not going ro pretend that the
money >on propose to j-ay for board
would not be mo t welc me. for you know
h- w difficu't it is for us to keep Eva at
school aid y t make the ends meet, hut
vou not let that consideration in
fluence your choice. Why not t>ay Lucre
tia and myself tn h a f r n'ght's visit
o 1 egin with; I am sure you owe us
ho h 'hit much sati-factl n. Then when
ou have s en Boston and Westborough
f>r yourself you can make your selec
tion.”
Miss Roxana ate her cold supoer and
sat down to answer the two letters. The
writing mat rials were spread broadcast
ver the trble and the bamboo box stood
be“ide the inkbo'tlle.
"It's too serous a ma'ter to be decided
In the da k.” sh said to he self "He’en s
plan Is a good ore and I'm gfing to fol
-1 w it. Two w eks from to day I shall g
to Bcsion, and four weeks from to-day I
hall bo in W stborough. Goodness knows
what will happen after that!"
Until the last day of her visit In West
borough Miss Roxanaffl suffered many
pangs of indecision. She Injoyed the
noise and stir of the city. The electric
ars whizzing past a corner visible from
Mrs. Bennet's parlor windows were a
source of Intercet that never failed. Th
hand organs, the elaqging bells of the scis
sors grinders, the peddlers who shouted
their wares through the streets, and the
rag and bottle collectors were all delight
ful novelties. There were, however, a few
hindrances to perfect enjoyment. Her
room was so small (hat when she waked
n the early morning according to her evs
'Ofn and lay waiting for the first sounds
lhat should show the family were stirring
she often had a sense of suffocation, the
walls were so close to her on every side.
Sometimes, too, she felt as if she were a
prisoner in her niece's house, for she did
not dare venture out without a guide; the
streets were a labyrinth she would not try
to thread alone. Mrs. Bennet walked out
with her every day, and in two weeks had
‘liottn her enough of the city to serve for
conversational purposes the rest of her
life. It was all delightful, but It annoyed
her that her movements schould be de
pendent on the convenience of another
persons.
She found Westborough, a little village
a few miles out from Boston, very quiet
and uninteresting. But she could put on
her wraps and walk to the postofflee or
go on errands for Mrs. Driscoll as freely
as if she were in her own home.
On the morning of the last day of her
two weeks In Westborough she was out
of bed as soon as there was light enough
for her to drese. Grim determination was
written on her face.
"I've been dilly-dallying long enough,”
she scolded to herself, “and the thing is
going to be settled before breakfast.”
Her ilot was made hurriedly and then
che sat down before the bureau to argue
the matter out with herself. A wrinkled
old face glared fiercely at her from the
mirror above the bureau, and she shook
her head disapprovingly In recognition
of the culprit.
“You, Roxana Tucker, are old enough
to have some idea of what you want and
yet you haven't got as much mind as a
chicken!"
Then she set herself seriously to con
sider the case.
“So far as the money goes,” she mused,
"I guess Lucretlo needs It as much as
Helen does, though she wouldn’t own it.
My! My! How dreadful expensive It Is
to live In the city. Eggs fifty cents a
dozen and twenty-five cents a pound for
beefsteak! It's downright wicked to ask
such prices. I shouldn't suppose it would
take a grocer more than a year to make
his fortune. My room hi re is bigger and
pleasanter than the one I had at Lucre
tia's but that doesn't really count for I
don't want to make a sitting room of It.
There's much to see and learn In a city,
nnd I’ve been so shut up all my life that
I've had two newspapers to read every
week since I can remember, but I haven't
even Ihe dimmest idea of what a city
Is. Perhaps, though, ihe 'Sharon Tribune’
nnd ‘The Farmer'* Guide’ ar'n't the sort
of papers to learn much about cities In.
Anyhow, now I've got the chance to see
a little of ihe world I believe It is my duty
to myself to take It. I’ll write to Luere
tla right now and have It off my mind.
I'll tell her 40 expect me back Monday
nnd that will give me three more days
here In Westborough.” ’
Miss Roxana hitched her chair closer
to the bureau and without rising reached
for her writing desk that stood on the flat
top of the old-fashioned chest of drawers.
”My dear Lui retla," she wrote, then
stopped and looked meditatively at the
word*.
”1 shall he rather sorry to leave Hel
en.” she thought, "for lo tell the truth,
she's considerable more agreeable com
pany than Lucretla, and a better cook
But iherel It almost looks as though I
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was beginning all over to decide It, and
my mind Is quite made up.”
To write a let er before breakfast Is a
grave und rtaking; the mind works clum
s ly and the ting rs are stiff. The b tmboo
box standing in a table in the middle of
he room caught Miss R xana's attention,
and she Immediately felt the necessity
rf fortifying herself for the task b f r?
her with a peppermint drop. She sllpp and
her fir grs under the. lid, fumb'ed about
far an instant and then threw back the
cover Impatiently and exposed to view
a bit of rumpled tissue paper, nothing
more.
"Well, I declare!” she gasped. ’Td no
no'lrn that Ihe 1 ee of lioarhound I io k
to cl ar out my threat last ri ht was the
last b t of c ugh medicine I had to my
name It's ’uoky I didn't have a scell of
CougMng In the night. I certa nly thought
ihere wns enough In the box to last tftl
I go back to Boston, supposing I decid and
to go hack, but I guess those children
that were here y< sterday found the box
and hel ed 'hemselvrs. Children never
can re Ist sweet things,” grumbled the
d'sa p tnted old lady. "The candy habit
is dreadful harmful, spoils h ir te th and
siomarhs.- If I had any chi dren they
s o ldn't know what an a'ta k of and s
pepsia or torthache meant and they
Seoul In’ know a caramel from a piece
of molasses candy!”
It was imporeihle to flnDh the letter
with her mind ao da urbed; she decided
to l’t It wait und! at er breakfast. The
afternoon mall would take It to Boston
so n enough to warn Lucretla of her re
turn.
Coffee and bacon failed to Booth Miss
Roxana's Irritation Into the calmness de
manded by the difficulties of correspond
ence. A brisk walk through the sharp
winter air over the hubby sidewalks of
the little suburban town was the tonic
she craved; and on the way, so she
planned, she would pass the neat looking
bakery where Helen sometimes bought
buns, for one-half the Jiny shop was a
confectionery store, and she had noticed
more than once the tempting array of
cough drops, commonly called candies,
kept there.
Half an hour after the necessity of a
morning walk occurred to her, Miss Rox
ana. well muffled against the fiirce chill
of the December breeze, was bending over
the little glass show case of the candy
store.
"Everything Is In fresh this morning,
ma'am,” confided the young saleswoman,
looking crisp and bright enough to be
mistaken for a bit of her wares.
Miss Roxana looked at (he smiling face
across the counter with as much approval
as at the lumps of Inviting sweetness un
der the glass.
"Wholesome!" was her mental criticism.
"We have it right from the factory
twice a week,” continued the girl, weigh
ing out the mixture of chocolates and va
rlous-fiavored wafers that her early cus
tomer had ordered. “Mr. Barton owns the
factory nnd a big store In Boston besides
half a dozen little places like this scat
tered through the different towns near the
city, but he la more particular what Is
sold here (han anywhere else. Y"ou see
everybody In. Westborough knows him
because his home is here and when his
friends buy randy he Intends they shall
have ns good as he can make. That big
brlok building over there across the field
Is the factory.”
' The walk resolved Itself into a rush to
the store and back.
"It's too cold to stay out long,” she ex
plained to her niece, "so I Just bought
some cough medicine and came straight
home. I always like to think up some
errand when I'm going out,” she added
In an apologetic tone, ”1 can’t help feel
ing I’m wasxing my time when I go out
only for an airing.”
In the privacy of her own 'room Miss
Roxana Investigated the contents of her
bundle and echoed the praise* the girl
hud lavished on her Mock of trade. She
hod never before eaten such delicious
creams or such pungent peppermints.
The cough drops sh# had bought In Bos
ton had been tasteless chips In compari
son.
U was noon before sh# appeared to tbs
family again, and she brought in her
hand a letter stamped and sealed ready
for mailing.
"I’ve been writing to Lucretla,” she an
nounced. “I hope she won’t be disap
pointed when she finds out that I have
decided to stay here. The city is very
interesting and I mean to spend anoher
fortnight there after I get started for
home in April, but things are more home
like and natural to me here. Do you
suppose your husband will remember to
mail this If I hand k to him? I am very
anxious to have It reach Lucretla to-mor
row morning. I begaYi it before break
fast. but I wasn't In the right frame of
mind for writing, and so I let It wait.
Did you ever see such a shiftless old
woman before, Helen?”
May Bolton Peck.
1.1. m j si.
l? 5 Congress Si.. W.
We handle the Yale
& Towne Manufactur
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Builders’ Hardware.
See these goods and
get prices before plac
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where.
LIPPMAN BROS.. Proprietors,
"■'uml*!*, Llppman’g Block. SAVANNAH.
COMFORT
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a lotion when applied will prevent you*
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It and be convinced.
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CHICKEN FEED. etc.
T. J. DAVIS.
Phone 223. 113 Bay street, west
OLD NEWSPAPERS. 300 for 23 centa •
Bunlnean Office Morning New*.