The Savannah morning news., 1903-11-29
PEGGY O'NEAL 60: - =: 5 :! :: =:
(Continued from Last Sundays News.)
CHAPTER VI.
THE STORM GATHERS AGAINST
PEG

THE STORM GATHERS AGAINST
PEG.
Those next few weeks went by in
a tumbling procession that was more
like mob violence than aught orderly
er seouential. The town was overrun
of folk. 1t was a climbing case of
everybody under foot-everybody step
ped on one, and. in compensation, one
stepped on everybody.
Jim was driven to remark concern
ing the collecting tangle of humanity,
and the crush and crowd and joste OF
it. The sage Jim was speaking of his
own defense, being indicted for some
neglect of me.
Pears like. Marse Major" said
Jim, soothingly, 'you-all must Jes'
wrastle along somehow until dish we're
pop'la begins to abrogate. I'm do
in d bes' l knows how, but she
shorely is a time for every 'possum to
learn to hang by his own tail
What do you mean by 'abrogate?' "
1 was willing TO be amused at the eX-
pense of the erroneous Jim.
You don't tell me, Marse Major,
that you-alI don't know what abro-
gate means?" Jim initiated astonish-
ment. why, a thing abrogates when
it beds itsef down-kind o DULLES it.
sef up like a moccasin snake.
1t was impressive, the throng in the
Streets multitude hungry for Office
"a multitude it would ask a miracle
to feed and fill. The whole country
was come to town, the place blazed
with jackson badges, every face shone
with victory. 1t was pretorian band,
and had borne its beloved captain into
power on its shields. 1t was presented
now for jubilation and for spoil.
For myself l surveyed the surg1ng,
shouting, unkempt thousands with dis
favor; the General liked and applaud
ed them.
They are rightfully here" said he,
las the smuggest, slyest rascal OF
riches of them all. We are done with
Adams and his federal dogma, The
best dressed citizen is the best citl-
zen The day is the day of democ-
And very WE'LL" said 1; "democ-
racy is my creed, too. But may 1t
not scrape it's face with razor? Would
soap destroy it? I grow sick of de-
mocracy which finds no outlet for eX-
preston save cowhide boots all mud,
and standing on a damask chair in
them" The General snorted; next to
his dead Saint Rachel, he loved the
herd
Noah, who was much in my company
these days, gave one of his synic
shrugs.
Major, doubtless you are demo-
GRAFT" observed Noah with a comic
face. But you have been too much
solitary. and you've forgotten the tenets
of our faith You should recall your
self to that inscription on the corner
stone of our temple: The Mob giveth,
the Mob taketh away; blessed be the
name OF the Mob "
The weather was fine, and clear as
haT1 IN, ell hut tho frost
ing up from the ground made under
foot another sonnet altogether. With
bright air, and sun shining, still the
roads Weltered mere swamps, and all
so set and puddled of soft ooze they
would have begged a saddle blanket.
Carriages were out of the possible but,
save for crowds on the sidewalks, folk
a-foot did well enough.
The pretty Peg was each day to the
Indian Queen to chat with us. l saw
so much of her, she grew on me like
q habit.
Eaton for the war desk was known
now to all. and, verbally at least, ac-
quiesced in. Noahs slicing work with
his Spanish sword had been whispered
industriously; scores went up to gaze
on the broad blotches of duh red where
the rogue Catron's blood had spread
like paint; the arm wide open from
wrist to shoulder joint-a very gutter
of a WOund!-WaS dilated upon: and
the result appeared in a wholesome
caution on the conversational parts of
our enemies Noah was still in town:
and no male at least came reckless
enough to court the fate of Catron
Besides, the buzz and talk of a new
administration scraping its feet at the
door. and lifting the latch Of events
would occupy the public mouth, and
mention of Peg, whether for good or
bad, was crowded out of it, The fu-
ture would have been the better for
peace had these conditions secured a
longer maintenance.
Among others. that Rev. DR.. Ely,
for whom the equally Rev. Campbell
and the magpie one aforetime came
upon the carpet, broke rapturously into
town. l say broke" since as a term
it may best depict the effusiveness of
that descent upon the General Twen-
ty years before. this Ely had met the
General; their acquaintance had been