The evening world., 1889-10-10

ing into her tear-diinmcd eyes, and she told
me that you were ont every night now, working.
IL that true?"
jack Peggy gulpcd down y big sob
"how Ito you think We should live II | didn't
work? Do you suppose we have an income or
or-,hat tit rains money!"
"No dear" he said, tendcrly stroking the
smooth little head, and the light of deepest COM
passion in his cycs-which SIZE couldn't see.
II know you 60 to work, but l do not believe
that you still do the ewing as your mother
thinks. Am I right?"
Peggy moved away from him. indignant.
81 refuse To answer she declared. "Iou
have no right to question me. am old enough
TO do as | think best. When I am your wife you
can III me, but until thcu-no."
won't you trust me, Peggy very Diff
IDENTITY.
IL Canrot just vet"
Peggy cried bitterly when Jack had gone. OF
course, lac had the right to question her, but she
resented his iutcrf, renee. Thcn she was afraid
Of his anger when he learned wha; She wGS
doing. But men were so iuconsidetatc. he
thought. They would sooner hear of II woman
starving than working for her livelihood. n
Peggy had applied to Jack he might have helped
her. but the INDEPENDENT littio lady would have
cut out her tongue rather than apply 20 the
young man.
The idea of work next nipht sickcncd her. She
went to the theatre depressed and i'll. Queen of
the Gnomes, low utterly silly the term queen
sounded applied TO herr elf. She felt she was
the most inferior gnomc in the gathering.
Then the Thought of meeting the King face
to face again! How horrible it was! Was lite
always to he as dark and unpleasant AZ il seemed
Just now? Peggy donned her black goblin at
tire with the strongest inclination she had ever
iclt to tear it to pieces. She was thankful that
she had not been called upon to be one of the
smiling, radiant fairies. She could not have
smiled upon this occasion.
The curtain rose upon the dark, subterrancan
cavern where the gnomcs promoted and
whirlcd. Peggy went through her cvolutions
in a dream. She was thinking OF Jack all the
time. If only she had told him what she was
doingl She would have felt more at her cnse, at
any rate. This weight on tho conscience was
killing her. She would tell him Tomorrow.
Further conccalmont was utterly impossible.
She telt better after she had come to this de-
termination and nerved herself for her work in
the second act. when she had 10 meet the King
of the Gnomes. She had not teen him behind
the scenes at all tonight. Usually he was q
most determined %lounger, although he was not
obliged to appear until the second act.
Ali! There he was. Az she saw him approach
ing she turned away in an irrepressible ecstasy
of repulsion. He did not attempt to come near
her. strange to ray. He stood at one wing while
she waited at the other. A feeling OF gratitude
took possossion OF her. Perhaps he intended to
cease his persecution after all.
Five minutes later and she was upon the stage.
and the time for the unwilling of the King had
arrived. Peggy trembled at the idea OF again
suffering this wretch's brutal smile, of feeling
his hated arms around her waist. We'll. she re-
Elected, it could not be helped. She must be
patient. After this week she would submit to
such indignity no longer.
Wit! an effort she tore from his head the veil,
and then recoilcd without looking into his face.
The dreaded moment was at hand. His arm
was around her waist, He was unnecessarily
close. 1t was horrible. 1t was -
In Il frenzy of wrath she looked up. words of
burning indignation on her lips. They were
never uttered. The color fed from her cheeks;
her eyes were rounded with a vast surprise; her
! breath came and went most alarmingly; she