Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1907 — A Merciful Deliverance [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Merciful Deliverance

By Martha McCulloch-Williams

“So you won't have me! Who are you waiting for? There’s no other girl around but would say ’Yes, and thanky,’ too,” young Magee said angrily, crushing his hat as he spoke. Peggy laughed. “Oh, for a fairy prince, of course, Johnny—one with spangles all over him and a coach and four,” she said. “I know you’ve got a horse and buggy, money In the bank and the name of a good chance. Somehow, though, I don’t want you—very stupid of me, I dare say, but I don’t I think I can tell you, though, who does want you—worst of all,” as she saw him put up a protesting hand—“ Sally Job, and she’s such a dear! Go right on and ask her. She's worth three of me. And then her Aunt Sarah will leave her money. Think how easy you’ll get rich with money coming In on both sides.” “I don’t want any Sally Job,” Magee raged. “She’s—she’s been after me since we went to school together.” “But don’t you think you’d better let me or some other body say it, Johnny?” Peggy demanded, her eyes dancing. She liked Johnny In a way despite his colossal conceit, a conceit somewhat excused by his bringing up, the pet and idol of three maiden aunts. “ ’Tlsn’t a nice thing to say that of a girl,” she went on. “The fact that you do say It and don’t see that it isn’t nice Is one of the reasons I won’t have you.” “It Is, eh?" Magee said, almost choking. “I came here courting, not to be lectured on manners. Have your way, though, Miss Peggy Lester. But, mark what I tell you, some day you’ll be sorry for what you’re doing now.” “But not so sorry as if I hadn’t done it,” Peggy flung back at him. She had been a bit sorry for him. Now she was angry through and through. “If I thought there was a woman anywhere big enough and rough enough to thrash you within an Iqch of your life I’d

pray that you might get her. Unless there is such a one I hope you’ll die a bachelor.” “Peggy, what are you saying?” Mrs. Lester demanded, stopping stock still In the sitting room door, with her tray of cider and crullers. “You mustn’t mind her, Johnny K " she went on. "You know she's a little spitfire that doesn't mean what she says.” “She does mean it—this time,” Magee answered sulkily. “But, Mrs. Lester, I hope you won’t let that keep you from being my friend.” “Surely not,” Mrs. Lester said, setting down the tray. Johnny must be wrought up when he refused her crullers, to say nothing of the cider. She looked severely at her daughter, P®k-

gy tossed her head. “I’m a friend of Johnny,” she said, with a shadow of a smile. “He can’t deny it. I’ve been advising him for his own good.” “Goodby! When I take your advice I’ll let you know,” said Johnny huffily, his hand on the door. Mrs. Lester sank down, trembling all over. “You’ve done Jt now, Peggy,” she said. “Old Miss Em Magee will never, never lend us the money to pay that security debt of your father’s. Our home will have to go.” “No, It won’t,” Peggy said stoutly, running to her mother as she spoke. “We won’t ask Miss Em. Instead, I’ll go up to the city and see Uncle John.” “It will be no use. He said he’d never help us again when he made up the shortage In the treasurer’s office,” Mrs. Lester said dejectedly. “But your poor pa will keep going security and having It to pay every time.” “Now, now, mother! Don’t fret or go over it all!” Peggy entreated. “I’m bound to go to Uncle John. I don’t believe he’ll turn me away.” Somebody else thought it would be hard work to turn Peggy away upon a leaden morning two weeks later as she sat in wait outside her rich uncle’s private office. He was not a real uncle—only a sort of stepbrother, who had kept terms with his sister, although he had no patience with her easy going husband. It was five years since he had been to the Lester farm. Thus Peggy, grown up into blooming young womanhood, was wholly strange to him. She had not sent in her name. All her bravery had deserted her as soon as she stepped Inside the glass doors. Her cheeks burned under the glance of the men at work there and still more at the looks she got from the other men, older ones, hurrying In and out. She meant to wait until Uncle Joe' appeared, then lay hold on him and prefer her humble petition. Now she wished desperately that she had not come. It Is a question, Indeed, whether she would not have welcomed Johnny Magee and his lovemaking as deliverance could he have happened upon her then and there. The minutes went leadenly, each one seeming an hour. Presently . she beard twelve strokes of the clock and saw men begin to straggle out, putting on greatcoats as they went A grinning office boy said to her: “If you ain’t got a date with the boss,” nodding toward the Inner office, “better make one and come again. See!” Then she heard a clerk say to an Inquirer over the telephone, “Mr. Heddlng Is out; won’t be back till 3 o’clock.” “Are you sure?" Peggy ventured, touching the man’s arm lightly. He smiled and nodded half Insolently. Peggy turned from him, biting her Up. As she went blindly toward the door a young man, somewhat hook nosed and very red lipped, came from the inner office, started at sight of her, then hurried up to her, asking suavely how he might serve her. Inside of a minute he knew everything and stood looking down and pulling bls mustache thoughtfully, but almost Instantly brightened, saying she must follow Mr. Heddlng; nothing easier. The boy should fetch a cab, and he himself would give directions. Might he venture to meet Miss Lester? Delighted to serve a relative of his old friend Heddlng. Between sentences he had been hurrying Peggy out and away, and at the last of them he was huddling her Into a waiting cab. Something happened then, just how Peggy never understood. A plain faced young man, who bad glanced at her pityingly as she passed Into the private office, somehow rose up from the pavement and sent the red lipped gentleman away in something of a panic. “He’s not fit to speak to any decent girl,’.’ the deliverer explained as he took Peggy back to her place of waiting. The deliverer said no more to her. Instead there was a lively buzzing of telephones and some guarded talk over wires. As a result of it Peggy was sent in charge of the office boy up to her Uncle John’s house. She stayed there a week and went home with all the money she would take—a deal more than she had thought of asking for. Even that was not all. She knew the fairy prince was coming to see her In her own rural surroundings before very long. She knew further that he was as rich as he was modest and clean minded, the sort of real fairy prince that every girl longs for. Of

course he came, ari3 equally of course next yj*r they were married. Johnny Magee was mightily upset that all things turned out so well until he married the faithful Sally Job. Then he thought of his escape from Peggy as a merciful deliverance.

“HE’S NOT FIT TO SPEAK TO ANY DECENT GIRL.”