The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-22

after Lady Fitzgibbon's repeated as
sertion that she had found it at Pegs
rdaH, the room grew as hushed as @
gave. My lady herself looked round
the table as if she was asking, "What
is his?" and then the person by her
side bent and whispered in her ear.
The gay brunette face was suddenly
overcast, and Lady Fitzgibbon looked
shocked.
I think it was the heavy ominous
silence, lasting SO long that it began
to hiss in ones ears, which made Peg
lift her eyes at last. She looked first
at the bracelet lying before her on
the table, then all round the many
silent faces of the company, with
fearful, hesitating look. Every eye
was upon her, furtively or openly,
and in all she read the same suspi-
cion of herself. Every steady frown
of condemnation, every fitting glance
OF disgust, every sorrowful gaze of
compassion, said plainly, "You are
found out!' The pretty flush that
had been on her face went ont Like a
light that is extinguished, the color
died away from her lips, her features
became set and white; she seemed to
freeze into the rigidity of death She
sat SO till breakfast was hastily finish
ed, and the people all slipped one by
one out of the room, and left her sit
ting there alone
Lady Fitzgibbon took upon herself
the Office of consoler to Giles Hum
phrey. l thought he might have be-
slowed upon her that bracelet for her
! h,,f l., ,
any such thing. Her ladyship was
the only one of the company who at
tended church that Christmas morn
ing. The snow came on heavily after
breakfast, and furnished an excuse
for every ones remaining within
doors until after the arrival and &C.
parture of the police AS soon as I
could do so, l returned to the break
fast-room; but Peg had disappeared,
and [ turned out of the window and
walked up and down covered alley
of the garden. trying in solitude to
collect my thoughts, and resolve
upon what steps [ should take to save
Peg from the degrading consequences
of her rash crime. Tracey found me
there, and we talked the matter over
together.
| 81 see how it ia with you, old
fellow, he said, grasping my hand;
! 81 have seen it for some time. and I
am sorry for you from the bottom Of
my heart. Poor Peg, how she has
ruined herself! That biting poverty
has been too many for her. For
Heavens sake, Humphrey, don't look
SO deathly, or people will know all
about it at u glance. What are you
going to do for her?"
~ don't know" / said; 81 must
think of some means to keep her
from destruction. Of course, after
this, / can never see her again; but l
will save her, at all costs, from dis
graceful punishment.
We talked some time, and then
went into the house Just too late to
make m effort to prevent a painful
scene. Two policemen had arrived,
and Giles Humphrey had marched
them straight up to Peg O'Shaugh-
nessy's chamber-door. 1t was won
derfnl how many people happened to
be about on the stairs and in the pas
sages when this little event occurred.
The door of the room had just open
ed to the rude summons when Tracey
and l reached the spot, and Peg
stood at bay in the doorway, her
slim figure drawn up, her eyes flash
ing, and two rcd spots burning on her
cheeks
''What DO you want?" she asked of
the men who stood humbly before
her, looking ashamed of themselves
please, MISS" said one, eve have
orders to search this room, and we
must do our duty"
''Do you permit this?' said Peg,
turning haughtily to Giles Hum
phrey, who growled and swore t. at
he had been villainously robbed, and
would make every effort to regain
what he had lost. BY Heavens, the
men should search!
Then" said Peg, closing the door
behind her, and throwing herself
against it, while she still held the
handle, call 1 have to say, is, that
will not tolerate this Insult. dare
you to enter this room.'
Hereupon, one of the men, obey
ing gesture from Giles Humphrey,
was preparing to disengage her fin
gers from the handle of the door.
when stepped forward and checked
him.
This lady is my guest" l said,
.'and cannot allow her privacy to be
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