Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-10-17
SPANISH PEGGY
Copyright. 1872 by Herbert s. Stone & Co.
A STORY OF YOUNG ILLINOIS

Anty wine and Peggy by the ear. Anty-
wine visibly restrained himself and
walked unresisting with Peggy TO the
foot OF the coffin. Sally showed the
| chairs after them, and returned to her
own place as chief mourner.
This isn't your funeral!" the be-
reaved woman explained sourly to
them. HE wasn't no kin to either
OF vel"
Solemn-featured 'neighbors relaxed
in countenance and looked sidelong at
one another. They watched Sally lay
Off the blanket and take from her
| basket rusty mourning shawl, a black
| bonnet and Grape veil. In this resalia,
kept for her husbands funerals, she
/ dressed herself publicly, and. having
completed her preparations, sat down,
] heaving q deep sigh. The sight of her
beard under widows weeds so affect
ed one OF the Grove boys that he dis
graced himself by an audible snort.
He did not mind disturbing meeting,
but a funeral was different; and he
whispered apologetically to the man
beside him: az bet God laughed when
He made that womani"
Candles were lighted in the tavern
before the masculine population OF
New Salem--for only those went who
could shovel snow and help dig a grave
returned from burying Shickshack.
A river OF Icy air flowing out of the
! northwest had by that time cleared
the storm away. Peggy and Anty-
wine were to spend the second night
OF their peculiar orphanage at the Rut-
lodges, in order to settle the business
of Peggy'S own Inheritance, which
Shickshack had silently passed on to
! his successors.
/ They sat down with Lincoln and Ann
/ Rutledge in the best room, and he put
/ the rattleSnake skin before them on
q table. Peggy looked at 1t curiously,
having never before seen her fortune,
I or the case which held it The spots
/ described by scales made her shudder.
Ann also saw it with aversion, and
wondered why Shickshack preferred
/ that to strong piece of buckskin.
"A rattlesnake," said Lincoln, when
you get over the first shock of intro
! duction to him, is a mighty pretty fell
low. See his combine of colorsI He
has lost his first freshness and his
rattles, trying to bruise the tough hide
of mankind. But 1 doubt IL he ever
stung anybody; he wouldn't unless he
was crowded"
: Through an open door the tavern
kitchen displayed a roaring hearth,
where the Dutch oven, with Goals on
Its head and beneath it's feet, held a
joint OF venison. A coffee pot, standing
I on trivet over embers, sent perfume
abroad. Johnnycakes of parched corn
ground In the hand-mill were browning
Cd boards slanted toward the fire
the best bread that ever was eti"
testifies a surviving New Salemite.
Hominy kissing in pork fat sent it's
song through the room, while the
younger Rutledge girls helped their
mother bring TO the table cold turkey.
cream and butter, fruits preserved in
maple syrup, and honey found in the
wild-bce tree.
Plenty OF food. an abundance OF
candle-light. and the heartening
warmth of the Franklin stove near
her, may have suggested visions to
Peggy as she inquired of her friends.
What must l do with this money!"
'Sieur Abe has kept it safe" sug-
gested Antywine.
There is no one trustierl" spoke
Ann.
viii you keep it for me, Mr.. Lin
coln?"
Il am not a good money-getter. he
laughed, and doubt if 1 am a GOOD
money-keeper. The only thing I
could do would bs to carry 1t around
FOR you and guarantee it shouldn't fall
Into worse hands"
The sweetheart knows vow ara ,hs
strongest man in New Salem &" soia
Antywine, resting his cheek upon his
hand ana lifting eyes 81 confidence to
his elder. ~
Grove yet" '-' 04"A
Anywlne and both know" said
FesSy, how everybody looks mn 70
you We could not keep il oprsaI,,a.
as Wei as you could do it for MS Mr.
Lincoln" A0i US MT.
Ann stretched out one slim, L.
So Gu hdhd TO careSs Peggy's cheat.
Wen, children. I'm of age. and Am
- 10 reckon Wen have to f,tba-
ana mother you. Do you know bow
enuch money you have in this bank ..
shlchshack's, Peggy?"
Il don't"
10 you know, Antywine?''
me! NO. have never INQUIRE.
anu ohlckshack have not sho' ms /"
II the trust is to be out into nv
hSnos must know the amount"
Lincoln united the leather cord urb,o,
pound the snakes neck, and SHOOT :.
D ny .ne tan, Out gushed all the yellow
pieces with the ring of gold upon fba
.doie; spanish doubloons and Frenoh
Iouls, which cost him some tronh,a -
calculate He set them in cyIindricsI
t plies a row after row. Wood snapped In
lhe open Franklin stove, and no otba-
SOUND could be heard in the room but
tne liquid clink Of gold. Ann. Paeg.
ana Antywine watched the countine
Vlane Rutledge, locking through tba
aoor at the silent company. beckonaS
llItie Jane to stare at such amazins
wealth. amazing
whose is it7" whispered jana