PEGGY'S GOOF FORTUNE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 38, 13 August 1932, Page 20

PEGGY'S GOOF FORTUNE

(Chapter I, of a Serial found by "Pierrot" (14), of Keroum)V pEGGY'S parents were dead, and she lived with an aunt. This aunt wai very cruel to her, and she never bought her any new frocks, nor allowed her to go to parties. -. "It isn't fair," Peggy told herself one evening as she sat by the fira all alone. "Auntie has no right to treat me like this. I won't stand it any longer. I'll go away and never come back again." Suiting the action to the word, Peggy rose and left the house. Her aunt was out visiting some friends, and she wouldn't be bask till" late so that Peggy had plenty of time to carry out her plan. ' It was so cold outside after the warmth within.that she was tempted to turn back, aud it was only tho remembrance of the treatment she had received that prevented her. * ■-■■■■ • ■ . . . ■: But where was Peggy going to? Her little friend next door bad 'onea told her that there was a big town on tho other side of the hill.which rose from the village in which she lived. In this town, her friend said there-were scores of shops containing all kinds of beautiful things; Her.jnotfcer had taken her there onec .or twice, and. had bought her such lqveiy frocks and toys, aud Peggy had thought how nice it must" be'to have" sucn' a good, mother. •-> ■ c Peggy was going to that town. What sho would do when'she' arrived there, she hadn't the faintest idea. She had no friends living in the town, and she was far too young to work; \ At length she reached the town. It was.as her;friend hadtold,her, a big: town with such lovely shops. People hurried hither' and. thither, and one or two, persons glanced pityingly as they-passed, but nobody spoke I: to' her. She felt that nobody wanted .her. . ' . '-.'.■■" •'■"';■ ;'-"/ As she was looking into a shop-window which contained all kinds:of nice things for eating, a lady came out' of the shop and spoke to her. <*.:' "You look cold and hungry, dear," she said. ''Have yon no hoineT"" "My parents are dead, and I livp with an aunt/ answered Peggy. "But she was very cruel to me, and I ran away." •. ' ■ "How terrible," said the lady kindly. "But if you will come with me I will see what can' be done for you." ' After a bit they arrived at the lady's home. It was a beautiful mansion: which stood in the centre of a garden, in which air kinds of flowers were blooming.. To Peggy, who had never seen anything like it before it was like entering Fairyland. * , . ' ■ - ■.. ■-'' .';-.'* The lady showed her into a sitting-room and bade her be seated. 'INow tell me about this cruel aunt," she said, sitting down beside her. . "Her name is Mrs. Travers, and she livies in a Uttie ■ village called Belleville—" Peggy was beginning,; when the-lady interrupted her. "Why, Mrs. Travers" is a dear friend of mine," she said; • ; Then a hard look crept into her eyes, as she added: . "And I know her better than to believe that she could be cruel to anyone." Peggy knew what that meant. The lady would take her back to her aunt, and she would be thrashed for running-away. She felt very sorry for having met tho lady. - . . ... • . ...... "When you have had something to eat, I will take you back home," tha lady was saying. "And I hope your, an*-' gives you what you richly deserve for* trying to run away." As she spoke, she touched a bellj and a maid. appeared. "Take, this giil to the kitchen and see t hat she gets something to eat," she ordered. " And • do not let her out of your sight. '*.. ■ While Peggy was taking the food'she tried to think of some way of. getting away from the . lady, and at length decided that the best way was to wait until the lady-took; her outside, then make a dash for it.' She had noticed there were quite .a number of thick bushes in the'garden; these might help her escape. She was determined that she wouldn't return to her aunt. Presently the lady appeared, and led Peggy tot a car which ■ was waiting at the gates of the mansion; To get to the car they had to walk a little distance, and as Peggy walked along" by' the lady's side she watched for a suitable opportunity. They had gone about half-way when ?eggy sighted a thick bush which grew just at the side of. the pathway, ' and quick as thought she dived behind it. No sooner had she-d<ine so than she neard an angry voice bidding,her'return, arid peeping cantiously round the edge of thai bush, Peggy observed _the lady coming straight "towards her. But the ladjj passed on without seeing'her, calling out angrily as she went. - :-• ;- . Peggy waited a moment or so. Then, coming from her..hidjng-place, iM ran as fast as she could down th«~rpad. • ;■ ■- ■; -.- '-- •■ ; ■ i .'■;-■:.• ... (To be concluded.) . ,'.::; /': .'"':..