Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-01-09
CHAPTER Iv.-CoNr1NuEp.,

&
CHAPTER IV.-(CoNrINUKD.)
What should Mrs. Garrett do with
the extra charge of Peg O'Reilly during
the holidays, when her hands are full
enough already with keeping Hamilton
out of mischief" he had argued with
himself, and Mrs. Garrett cordially sec
onded the idea.
Master Hamilton complained loudly
of the arrangement, and declared it was
"a jolly shame;;'' but as the two or three
letters he had written to Peg, when she
first went to school, had been felonious-
ly kidnapped by the hOus9keeper and
placed on the kitchen fire. he concluded
she was an ungrateful little wretch,
who had forgotten all about him. and
therefore directed his attention to some
thing else. Carmen Flower condoled
sincerely with Margaret's disappoint-
ment; but she was too new a friend TO
propose taking her home with her to
Abbotsville, so the girls parted, full OF
prOtestations of constancy that should
last forever.
The summer and winter passed, and
with the exception of Mrs. CARROTS
visits and an occasional letter from
Ruthven, inclosing money, Peg heard
nothing of the inmates of the little
house in Kensington. She had been
there so short time that the remem-
brance of it was fast fading from her
childish memory. The first home she
had ever known was with the Misses
Prism, and she would have been quite
satisfied to be told she should never
have another. She was quick and intel
iigent enough to take real interest in
her studies, and Carmen Flower sup
piled all she needed in the way of af-
lection. When the second midsummer
vacation arrived, Margaret O'Reilly
had developed into one of the falrest
specimens of girlhood possible. she
was now in her fifteenth year, slight
and graceful as fawn, and with face
of uncommon beauty. Mrs. Garrett had
inadvertently let out so much of the
wonderful change in her appearance
that Ruthven had become curious to
see her again, and was quite disappoint-
ed when he received polite letter from
Sir Frederic Flower, to say that, as their
wards appeared to have become much
attached to one another, he trusted Mr.
Ruthven would permit Miss O'Reilly
to spend the ensuing holidays with Miss
Flower, at Abbotsville. For a moment
Ruthven, to Mrs. CARROTS horror, was
inclined to send an answer in the mega
tive; but the housekeeper Overruled
him. IF you want Miss Margaret to
behave like lady, Mr.. James. why, my
advice is, send her amongst the ladies;
but of course, you can do as you choose.
Only, what good she'll get sitting down
in the kitchen with me and Mary is
past my saying, and you would hardly
think of putting her up in the fine par
ior along of Master Hamilton, with 10
one to look after them, SUPPOSED"
That was the difficulty. Master
Hamilton, now eighteen years old, had
arrived at the age when his uncle was
already beginning to feel his presence
in the house an incubus. He interfered
with his bachelor liberty and gave him
no domestic comfort in return: and
Ruthven often found himself looking
!. forward with anxiety to the time when
the young man should be fairly
launched upon the world, and leave him
in his pristine condition. And to bring
this girl home would only increase his
discomfort and responsibility. So, on
reflection, he agreed with Garrett, tha'
until she was old enough to be placed
under the care of Mrs. Delamaine, 1T was
much better Peg should remain al
school Still, as they had taken fan
cy TO her, he supposed there could bs
no harm in her visiting the Flowers
and therefore he penned caution:
epistle to Sir Frederic, saying he was
fiattered by the notice extended to Mis-:
O'Reilly, and that as far as he was con
cerned, he should be very pleased fol
her to accept the invitation to Abbots
vile.
CHAPTER V.
N IN ARGARET o'Reill,