Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-12-26


for us to show that the act was logical
and natural. OF course you have-I speak
Miss Moffat-eertain ideas
OF your own why the late Mr.. Byways was
so singularly generous to YOU"
No, l haven't" said Peg decidedly.
Think again. Had he not expressed to
you-you understand that this is confiden-
tial between us, although protest, my
dear young lady, that see no reason why
it should not be made public-had he not
given utterance to sentiments of q nature
consistent with some future matrimonial
relations" But here Miss Pegs large
mouth, which had been slowly relaxing
over her irregular teeth, stopped him.
If you mean he wanted to marry me
Nog'
II see. But were there any conditions
of course you know the law takes no
cognizanee of any not expressed in the
will; but still, for the sake Of mere cor
roboratiOn OF the bequest-do' you know
of any conditions on which he gave you
the property"
You mean did he want anything in re-
turn?n
Exactly, my dear young lady"
Pegs face on oneside turned deep ma
genta color, on the ether lighter cherry,
while her nose WAS purple and her fore
head an Indian red. To add to the effect
Of this awkward and diScOmpOsing dra'
matte exhibition of embarrassment, she
began to wipe her hands on her dress, and
sat silent.
Il understand" said the lawyer has
tily. mo matter-the conditions were
fulfilled"
''NorI said Peg amazedly. How
could they be until he was dead?"
1t WAS the lawyers turn to color and
grow embarrassed.
''He did say something, and make some
conditions" continued Peg, with a GER
tain firmness through her awkwardness
but that's nObOdy's business but mine
and his'n. And it's no call o yours OF
theirs"
But, my dear Miss Mofat, ii these
very conditions were proofs Of his right
mind, you surely would not object to
make them known, if only to enable you
to put yourself in condition TO carry
them out"
But" said Peg cunningly, "s'pose you
and the court didn't think 'em salts
factory? S'pOse you thought 'em queer
En-"
With this helpless limitation on the
part of the defense, the case came to trial.
Everybody remembers it-hOw for SIX
weeks it was the daily food of Calaveras
County; how for six weeks the intellectual
and moral and spiritual competency oil
Mr.. James Byways to dispose of his prop
erty was discussed with learned and for
NAL obscurity in the court, and with I'M
lettered and independent prejudice by
camp fires and in barrOOms. At the end
of that time, when it was logically estab-
lished that at least nine-tenths OF the
population of Calaveras were harmless
iunatics, and everybody else's reason
seemed to tOtter on its throne, an eX-
hausted Jury succumbed one day to the
presence of Peg in the court room. 1t was
not progressing presence ut any time,
but the excitement and an inludlclous at
tempt TO ornament herself brought her de-
fects into glaring relief that was almost
unreal. Every freckle on her face stood
out and asserted itself singly; her pale blue
ewes, that gave no indication OF her force
OF character, were weak and and wander
ing. or stared blankly at the judge; her
diversified head, broad at the base, terml-
Mating in the middle of her narrow shout
ders, was as hard and uninteresting as the
wooden spheres that topped the railing
against which she sat. The jury, who for
six weeks had bad her described TO them
by the plaintiffs as an arch, willy enchan-
tress. who had sapped the failing reason Of
Jim Byways, revOlted to man. There
was something so appallingly gratuitous in
her plainness, that it was felt that three
millions was scarcely compensation for
il. EFF that money was given to her she
earned il sure, boys; it wasn't no sOttneSS
of the old man." said the foreman. When
the Jury retired it was felt that she had
cleared her character; when they re-enter-
ed the room with their verdict it was
known that she had been awarded three
millions damages for its defamation.
She got the money. But those who had
confidently expected TO see her squandeI
it were disappointed; on the contrary, II
was presently whispered that she was ex'
ceedingly penuriOus. That admirable wO
man, Mrs. Silver, of Red Dog, who accom-
panied her to san francisco to assist her
in making purchases, was loud in her III
dignatiOn. 'She cares more for two bits
than | do for five dollars. She wouldn't
buy ANYTHING at the City of Paris, ~ be
cause it WAS too expensive" and ut last
rigyed herself out; q perfect guy, at some
cheap slop-shops IN Market street. And
after all the care Jane and me took of her,
giving ND our time and experience to her,
She never so much as made Jane 4 single
present" Popular opinion, which regard
ell Mrs. Stiyer's attention rs purely specu'
lative, was not shocked ut this unprotit'
able denOument; but when Peg refused to
give ANYTHING to clear the mortgage off the
new PRESBYTERIAN church, and even de-
cIined To take shares in the Union ditch,
considered by many rs an equally sacred
and safe investment, she regan to lose
favor. Nevertheless, she seemed to be As
regardless of public opinion as she had
heen before the trial; took small house,
in which she lived with an old woman who
had once been q fellow servant, on appa,
rently terms of perfect equality, and looked
after her money. / wish could say that
she did this discreetly; but the tactis, she
Numbered. The same logged persistence
she had displayed in claiming her rights
WAS visible in her unsuccessful ventures.
She sunk $500, 600 in u worn out shaft or
iginally projected by the deceased testator
she prolonged the miserable existence OF
The Rockville Vanguard long after it hsd
ceased to interest its enemies; she kept the
doors of the Rockville hotel open when Its
custom had departed; she lost the co-ope-
ration and favor of fellow capitalist
through n trihing misunderstanding, IN
which she was derelict and impenitent;
she had three lawsuits on her hands that
could have been settled for trihe. | note
these defects TO show that she was by nc
means q heroine. quote her affair with
lack Eolidsbee to show she was scarcely
the average woman.
That handsome, graeeleSS vagabond had
struck..the outskirts of Red Dog in a cy-
clone,,of dissipation, which left him strand
ed but still rather interesting wreck in a
ruinous cabin not far from Peg MOtfat's
virgin bower. Pale, crippled from exceS-
seq with a voice quite tremulOus from