The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-09-28

measure; but the evident fear Of tba
poor girl was in excited her commas
sion.
"Lor' bless me! This can't be the 90,
as Mr.. James meant?''
where's the gentleman? Him as is
so kind to me?" demanded Peg
anxiously.
THE gentleman's gone away and left
you to my charge, so you had better get
down and come indoors with me-"
you won't send me to prison?" de-
manded Miss Peg OReilly.
BLESS the child! what are you talk
ing about? Here, come, get into tho
house quick, do!-before we have all
the neighbors' heads out of the windows
staring at u.s.
And having bundled Peg out of the
cab, Mrs. Garrett paid the drivers fare
with magnificent disregard of his laugh.
ter at her discontinue, and followed
her new companion into the house.
"And now | just wonder where Mr.
James picked you up, and what call he's
got to befriend you," she solilouuized
as Sno Regarded her.
"He got me out of the perlice court
the gentleman did," replied Peg. star.
ing at the unusual luxury by which she
was surrounded.
why! you've never thief, hope"
cried Mrs. Garrett.
yes, ma'am, am" said the girl
unhesitatingly. 81 took three onions
cause l was so lear, and the perlice.
man saw me and took me off to the lock-
up, and they would have sent me to
prison, too, only the kind gentleman
brought me here instead"
Just like Mr.. James," murmured the
housekeeper; but she was a good old
countrywoman, and Pegs story shocked
her, less on her own account than on
that of the girls.
Poor childp' she exclaimed, cit would
have been Just like 'em to have sent
you there, a set of Numbering old fools!
And all for the sake of three onions!
Hadn't you nothing better to eat, them"
'Please, ma am, haven't had moth.
ing to eat for three days at least"
'And what's your mother about to
serve you so?'
Il haven't got mother, nor a father,
nor any one
where do you live?"
"Anywhere's. ! walk about the
streets all day, and at night sleep on
the door-steps-o the policeman will
make me keep moving about from one
to the other all night"
"It gives me the shudders to think
on said Mrs. Garrett. "And Mr..
James has actually picked up gal out
of the very streets to be his under
house maid. Why, we may all be
robbed and murdered in our beds. Oh,
these men-these men! They are 50
scatter-brained, there's no making head
nor tail of them
Her attention was diverted by Peg
pulling at the skirt of her gown.
Il won't rob and murder, please,
ma am, I'd be glad to do something
for the gentleman that brought me here.
He looks so real kind, he does"
"And so he is, child-the best gentle
What's your manner"
'They call me Peg O'Reilly in the
market, so I suppose that's it. Some
one told me once that my mothers name
was Nan O'Reilly, and she sold matches
and she died in the work-house."
''And why didn't you stay in the work
house, then? Wouldn't they keep you?
Il stayed there till l was ten, and
then a lady, who kept a grocer's shop
wanted me to be her servant; but she
beat and starved me terrible, and so ]
run away from her and tried to get my
own living"
And a nice business you seem to
have made Of it. However, if you be-
have, you're provided for now; so you
may think yourself lucky. But come
along into the kitchen and I'll get you
something to eat. / must give you a
warm bath and get you some other
clothes before Master Hamilton comes
home, or you'll brighten him out of the
house again"
who's Master Hamilton? Another
gentleman?'
well, he'll be a gentleman some day.
suppose, if he lives long enough, and
conducts himself as such; but he's only
lad at present. He's Mr.. RuthYens
nephew; but no more like him in face
nor sperrit, than you are"
When Peg O'Reilly mad bread ana
cheese and cold meat set before her.
she fell to work with ravenous hunger
that made the tears rise to good MIS-
Garrett,s ewes and rendered the task