The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-08
PEGGY O'NEAL.
(Continued from Last Sundays News.)
CHAPTER III.
PEGS MEETING WITH THE MA
JOR

CHAPTER Ill.
PEGS MEETING WITH THE MA
JOR.
Before, in this relation, 1 go to that
meeting with Peg whereof made &C
count in the commencement of my
story, it would be proper, think. to
notice singular personality; one who,
in intermittent fashion, will run in
and out of my history like a needle
will be of the friendliest, for he was
as loyal to the General as any soul
who breatned.
Mordecai Noah was the mans name.
The General possessed a good previous
acquaintance with him, although, as in
the gentle instance of Peg, l was
now to meet him for the earliest time,
Noah was a writer of plays, and an
editor moreover, he was a gentleman
az substance and celebration in New
York city, where his paper did stout
service for the General the hot autumn
before. Noah also had been America
envoy to the Barbary States during the
est strain, Noah was of the Tribe of
Judah and the House of David, and
the wiseacres of his race told his line
age, and that he was descended of
David in a right line and would be a
present King of the Jews were it not
that the latter owned neither country
nor throne. However this may have
been-and indeed a true accuracy for
1H LII Lii.
credible, when any little slip would spoil
the whole-Noah was of culture and
quiet penetration; withal cunning and
fertile to degree. Also, | found his
courage to be the steadiest; he would
night with slight reason, and had in
duel some twenty years before, with
the first fire, killed one Cantor, a fam
boyant person-the world might well
spare him-on the Charleston race
track, respectfully at ten PAGES. l in
cline TO grant space favorable to Noah;
for he played his part with an integrity
as fine as his intelligence, while his
own modesty, coupled with that vul-
gar dislike of Jews by ones who other
wise might have named him in the an
nails of that day, has operated to OBJ
scnre his name.
The General told me of Noah some
what at length on this morning. and
just following the marching away of
Pigeon breast. He said he had sent
for him, and that any moment might
bring his football to the door
AS he dwelt on Noah and his char
acteristics, I was struck by a word. 1t
is worth record as a sidelight on his
own nature.
The General showed gusto and a lip
smacking interest in Noahs duel with
the man Cantor, and ran out every
detail as one runs out trail. / could
not forbear comment.
How is it," said l, you so dote on
strife?"
Il don't dote on strife. But when
natural as peace"
If it were So" I returned, still
your admiration is entirely for war.
You do not love peace"
Il don't love war so much as war
riors," he commended. Il understand
your war man; and l do not fear him.
Besides, your honest soul of battles
may be made a best friend. l feel the
rankle of a Benton bullet in my shout
der as we talk together; and yet to-
day a Benton faces my detractors on
the floor of the Senate. l say again, |
love the natural warrior; l compre-
bend him and he gives me no feeling
of fear"
DO you tell me you can be a prey
ment of dispute. His reply was the
word that surprised me.
''Fear?" and the General repeated the
word with "A sight of earnestness. "Sir,
fear folk who won't fight; l fear
preachers, Quakers. They are a most
dangerous gentry to run crosswise
with"
When Noah arrived. was still sit
ting with the General. Noah was a
sharp, nimble man of middle size and
years. and physically as deft and sure
of movement as a mountain goat. He
took hold of my hand on being pre-
scented by the General. and ! observed
how he had an iron steadiness of grip.
] liked that; l am, myself, of prodigious
thews and as strong of arm as any
canebrake bear, and when folk shake
hands with me, a blush of emphasis is
to my humor. like to know that I've
hold on somebody and that somebody
has hold on me. AS l looked in Noah S
face, I was struck with the contradic-