The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-22
SAVANNAH GROCERY CO., DISTRIBUTORS.

SAVANNAH GkUCEhI
free of the Reverend Campbell and
that magpie wife, the latter gentle
woman being rutsy of plume, strident,
and of but sorry favor of face; to
say nothing about her gigglings and
chucklings; for that vacant dame was
like parrot, with a running rattle
of vocalisms, going from gurgle to
chtrp, as an accompaniment to what
ever was said by her lord and master.
Then let US repair to him." said
the Reverend Campbell, raising his
hands as If asking a benediction on
me and my belongings; "let us HE to
him and unbosom ourselves, and may
we find him in grace of spirit and we'll
of this mortal body"
We discovered the General in his
rooms. We found him in a rather mer
ry spirit for him. He was sitting by
his fire, with Peg on a footstool at
a corner of the fireplace.
Hearing of the Generals diet of rice,
Pegs mother-she lived over to the
south, across that wooded strip, the
Mall-holding herself to excel in GER
tain elixirs and cordials and draughs
marvellous for maladies stomachic, had
sent to the Generals relief bottle of
medicine warranted of transcendent
merit, and in which dandelion flour
ished a dominant element. The good
lady would trust her drugs to none
save Peg; there she was, then, the
fairest foot and hand ever to be sent
on porter's work or to run an errand
with a message.
The unexpected sight of Peg sent
over me wave of pleasure. 1 love the
beautiful, have an Unborn joy of it,
and who or what could be more love-
ly than our Peg-Peg with her Wild
rose face?
The General glanced up through the
tobacco smoke wherewith the rooms
were cloudy Peg had said she loved
smoke, and could stand to it like a
side of bacon. His look was of half
recognition as it settled upon my COM
pany.
THE Reverend Campbell, is it not?"
said he.
1.-The same, Mr.. President" return
ed the other, commencing again those
bowling motions which had so tortured
my soul, his fiabby cheeks the while
exuding beady dew; 1.-The same. And
here is Deborah, my well-beloved wife,
Mr. President. -
The maybe one of rumpled feather
gained indication by the Reverend
Campbell pointing to her with a bull
bous foreinger that was somewhat suf-
| fering about the nail for lack of care
| The magpie one gave the usual proof
of her satisfaction with chirp and
giggle.
THE last time I beheld you, Mr..
President" said the Reverend Camp
bell, you and your dear wife sat be-
meath my words" The General finch
ed as though a rude hand touched a
wound. He gathered himself, however
That dear one, Mr.. President, has
gone from our midst. 1t is a chasten-
! ing. Mr.. President. Whom the Lord
! 1nUpth He nb9 Gfpnoth TT ic a In
President, but we must summon meek
ness of spirit. Blessed are the meek
in spirit, saith the singer, and they
shall inherit the earth. Mr.. President,
| let us pray"
The Reverend Campbell rolled forth
! the foregoing, and never halt or pause
with the last word he was down upon
his knees, expanding into a gale of
| prayer.
1t is not for me to pass upon such
| sacred petitions, but the Reverend
Campbelrs effort grated on my con-
science as crude, and, if the term be
not improper, vulgar. The General,
who was still in his chair, bowed head
in hand and sat silent throughout.
! He made neither sign nor sound; and
yet it must have CALLED him like mus
kerry, that prayer.
| 1t was when the Reverend Campbell
stood again on his feet, and the mag
| PIE one Hdu I6T IeaInerS,
! that their glances took in Peg where
she now stood near the fire. She was
silent, collected, and her calm look
| rested upon the Reverend Campbell
/ and the magpie one. 1t was a steady
| glance of unseeing Indifference and I'M
acquaintance, and as though the pair
were strangers to her.
Their actions, however, would smack
of something nearer. No sooner did
| they behold Peg, than with one i'm
| pulse they started towards her, faces
a garden of smiles.
Why. my dear Mrs. Eaton!" cried
| the magpie one.
MY dear, recovered lamb" exclaim-
| ed the Reverend Campbell.
| The two made for Peg with exuber-
ant hands extended. Peg waved them
| off.
"You make a mistake" said Peg.
Her words took flight evenly and with
nothing of disturbance. II do not
know you" Then, as the Reverend
| Campbell and his magpie love seemed
but half checked: And I will not
know you"
| These closing words were vibrant of
a nippng vigor, and Pegs leopard
teeth came together with a click, and,
as it were, for emphasis. Peg turn
! ed to me:
"Wil you take me to my carriage? ?"
cavaliered Peg to the door.
"Give my thanks to your good moth
er, child" said the General, his fond
eye pleasant with the reflection of
/ Pegs pretty face; tell her I shall
profit by her kindness. 1 feel half re-
stored with merely having the Dande-
lion Water on my shelf"
Closing the door after us, the Gen.
eral returned to the Reverend Camp
bell and his magpie love.
There is no story with it," Peg re-
piled, when 1 put those queries the
situation suggested. ''They are folk
of treachery; that is it. They have
been my prosecutors as much as any
And with more shame for them, since
they have pretended friendship for my
family and had support from my
father for year piled upon year"
"And is that the whole of it," I ask
ed.
Truly, it is, my best dear friend :"
Peg held up her pansy face, and offer
ed me a cheerful look by way of proof
Nor am l even a trife provoked. For
all that, l would not permit them be-
cause they found me with the good
General, and with you"-she gave my
arm a little pressure-"and doubtless
would offer some request, to put on a
false face, and so use me for their in-
terest. I owe them no such tender
| ness. Besides, since I've found real
friends, Peg crowded to my side more
closely. and bent upon me her kind
unfathomed eyes, as though admitting
my protection, since I've found real