Lansing Central High School - Oracle Yearbook (Lansing, MI)

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l'Seems funny not to have Peggy Little racinv around doesn't it? Billy said. Did you know she had grown into a lovely girl? Mrs. Grey was sit- ting on the steps beside him, with her hand through his arm. Why, yes. She always was. Billy looked at the little white house across the way. L'She was a good, true youngster. Yes, but do you think she was ever very pretty? 'L N-no. But I never stopped to think of that theng she was such a game little rooster, and Billy smiled, as he remembered his little ten-year-old brother Billy-Silly. But now, she's one of the sweetest girls I ever knew and almost fascinat- ing. She was here a short time ago, and I have seldom seen such sweet dignity combined with so much sense. Dear old Pegrick! I'd like to see her. Four years they've been gone, havent they? Yes Four years which have wrought wonders. For a long time, Billy sat silent, looking out into the night, and building -who knows how many castles? But at last, his thoughts wandered home. ' By the way, mother, I have an invitation to spend a couple of weeks down in Kentucky, hunting. One of the fellows at college lives down there on a great big old homestead and he asked me down. 'L Not right away, will you, son? Jupiter-would be so lonesome. Billy laughed. Poor old mother! No, I won't go until next month. That all right? Yes Such a selfish mother! She half laughed at him. L' But come, Billy-boy, its' time to go in and lock up, I guess. CJD. D I Peggy Little on horseback was Peggy Little at her best, to the world and to herself. As she came to the stretch of old Kentucky road that she had always loved, she dropped her reins and lifted her head to take a deep, deep breath. It was a narrow, promising little road that curved out of sight just in time to hide the hot, treeless way beyond. Bushes grew close up to the sides while the trees met overhead in an arch, that protected everything with such cool greenness. Peggy always walked Dan through hereg then, as they reached the end, they would swing around and gallop back, with the wind whistling past them. ' As Dan had not been out of the stable for a few days, he was full of spirits today. As they started on their run, he stretched out his body until his belly was scarcely three feet from the ground, and raced down the road, so that Peggy said she hardly knew she was moving, his motion was so easy and waving. Peggy, with her hair blowing and her eyes sparkling, was holding tight on the reins, when a man ran from the side of the road and caught hold of the bridle. Dan reared and pulled him off his feet, but the man hung on the bit with all his strength, until the horses head came down and Peggy suc- ceeded in soothing him. She then turned to the man, for she had been frightened only for a moment, until she had noticed he was a respectable looking individual. VVell, she was inspecting him from head to foot, 'lwhat do yougwill you please tell me what made you do that? VVhyYwasn't-why, I thought your horse was running away. He fell back to the side of the road, his jaw dropped and his face filled with incredulity,

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As usual, his mother's words came true, and the next day Peggy played with Billy. All the morning they ran and climbed: but in the afternoon, her highness appeared in a clean frock, with her hair combed, and informed Billy that she couldn't play any more that day. So Billy went home to play with the dog, with Peggy across the way watching him. She sat still as long as she could, then dashed across the street, in the gate, and, with her hair flying, was soon chasing the dog. Consequently, when she ap- peared home for supper, she looked as if the day had been turned around to eleven o'clock in the morning. Every day strengthened the friendship and as the years passed, even Billy way was not ashamed to call a girl his best chum. He even played dolls with her, doctored her in a long coat and spectacles, allowed her to scold him into playing singing-school, and every year marched across the road with a wondrous Christmas present. He bore the stitches better, when he cut a great gash in his cheek, because he knew Peggy sat out on the steps. He told her all his troubles at school, and came after every fight, for he always settled disputes with his fist, to explain all the facts. In fact, Little Peggy was a Ubrick. But at last, Billy of course went away to college. He went without a thought of the separation from his mother and the old house, forgetting Peggy, and full of eagerness at the new lifeg while Peggy was left, with a new old-life, to find a friend in a girl, for she was now too old to play with the boys, as her mother said. Jupiter, Grey's old dog, lay in the shade outside the gate in front of the old home. It was a hot day in June, the flies bothered him, and altogether, life seemed rather hard. There was one disagreeable fly, who seemed to consider system the controlling principle of the world, for he stationed him- self on the tip of -lup's nose, then on his ear, on his nose, and finally be- tween his eyes, repeating the whole performance as often as jup got up and shook himself. But he had scarcely laid down the last time, before he was up, with his ears pricked, and was looking down the road at a man who, he thought, had whistled Billy's old call. Then he was off with a bound, racing down the road to the man, whom he nearly knocked over, but who seemed as glad to see jupitor as the dog was to see him. Well, jup, old man, how are you? Shake hands! Getting pretty kittenish in your old age, aren't you? Down, Jup, that's enough! Down, I say! How are the folks? Alive and kicking? Jupiter walked along by Billy's side, glancing up at him and wrinkling his mouth in a dog-smile, which caused Billy to playfully hit him and call him an old fool dog. Although half ashamed to show it, he was glad to get home, and as he reached the gate. he ran up the walk, calling to Jupiter to follow him. Mrs. Grey, waiting at the top of the steps, harmonized with the peace and quiet, as she waited for Billy to run into her arms. It was good to get the big boy home again after such a long, lonely time! You're most as glad to see me as jup was, aren't you, mother? Billy said. Glad! My, Billy! she smiled at him and then took hold of his arm, Come, boy, dinner's all ready and I made some strawberry shortcake on purpose. Do you remember how you used to like it? Rememberl Should think I did. Haven't had a good one in a year. Come on, Jup, you get the crumbs, That evening, after every bit of shortcake had disappeared, Billy and his mother sat on the porch.

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Running away! Peggy smiled. No, we were running away from nothing except the end of Dans tail. lVhy-I say-I beg your pardonYI'rn awfully sorry, I saw you tear- ing down the road and you seemed to be having a hard time holding those reins. So I thought I'd play gallant knight and as usual gained a few extra bells for my cap. Fool! His voice had sunk lower and lower until the last was under his breath. He frowned at the ground. I-I beg your pardon-but is your name not Grey? Peggy was leaning over in the saddle, looking steadily at Billy. Why, yes! L' Billy-Silly ? What! Billy jumped and stared at her. Are you-Peggy Little? Yes. Little Peggy! Do you remember? she laughed. Do I? But you-Peggy Little! Mother told me about you, but-I didn't- Yes. But isn't it funny we should meet way down here in Kentucky. After four long years. She burst out laughing. Why, Billy, whats the matter? Isn't my hat on straight or is there a streak of dirt on my nose again? ' Billy flushed and dropped his eyes. May I walk along by your horse? It'll prevent further impudencef' May he, Dan? She leaned over and whispered. in his ear. Dan says you may, if you'll keep your eyes to the front and obey orders. Tell us about the past four years! She smiled as Billy obeyed the first injunction, but hesitated on the last. Finally, he frowned and plunged into his story. which lasted the whole space of thirty seconds. But thirty seconds were long enough for Peggy to measure him from sole to soul, and at last rest ,her eyes, warm with satis- tion, upon his face. So they made their way along the road, and up the hill, were silhouetted against the glowing western sky, then dropped over the crest into the whirl of fairy-land and romance.