The Irish standard., 1904-02-27
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! SPANISH PEGGY
A STORY OF YOUNG ILLINOIS 4
By Mary Hartwe11 catherwood
Copyright. 1899. by Herbert S. Stone & Co
CHAPTER vi,

You ask them Rutledges, then, that
was hired to take such fine care Of
her! Why don't you go and ask
II not believe you!' trembled Anty-
wine. He sat down on the doorstep
holding his blinded head between his
hands.
You and Peggy thought you would
go to yourselves, didn't you? But she
lays in Concord bu1yin'-ground now,
right alongside of Shickshack; and
you know where he lays. The new
graves there"
II not believe you! not believe
you! l not believe you'll"
Antywine leaped from the doorsiil
and ran like deer to the tavern, pass
ing the young men and the oxen with
out noticing or hearing them. Ann
Rutledge was sewing by an open
window with her back toward him.
The two young girls We're in the garden
with their mother. He did not see
Peggy anywhere. A hush was upon
the house, and as Ann turned and saw
him with frightened look on her
but took the path down to Rock creek,
and ran to the stone where Peggy used
to hide her book for him. The sun
was down and a ribbon Of mist wavered
in front of the closed schoolhouse.
Nobody would ever wait for him at
that rock again. He ran along the
ravine below the gardens and returned
+ ;c
drawing the latch-string in. Lying on
the floor i'll the darkest corner, he hid
his weeping, and made no answer to
the young men, who called his name
through the window.
Sally was asleep in her own cabin
long before Antywine crept out of his
and took the road to Concord burying-
ground. 1t was long walk under
blurred stars, for the wind changed
after midnight, belying the promise of
fair sunset.
Drenched grass and tangle of little
trees he scarcely felt or saw when
sodden and miserable daylight came
BY the end of the afternoon some light
crept out from sunset, and there was
clearing up in the west. Lincoln
climbed the burying-ground fence, and
found Antywine lying asleep across the
new-made grave. He was so CHASTITY
that Lincoln at once shook him, feel
ing relieved.when he opened his eyes.
The boy looked up at the mole like
warm pulsing heart on his friends
scheel. But his friends eyes twinllled.
What are you doing here on old
Daddy Cameron's grave, Antywine?"
Antywine sprang as from a rattle
snake. FIe was exhausted, so that Lin
coin gave him both hands to help him
rise.
Daddy Cameron died last week and
they buried him in the same row with
Shickshack. He was fine old man,
but if were you I wouldn't lie out
all night and all day on his gravel"
"Sally have tell me this is where she
is bury'!"
"Who? Peggy"
eyes, Sieur Abe. Where is she?"
cat the tavern"
"She is not dead?"
''Not a bit!"
buC Daily nave lell ue-
Haven't you summered and wintered
Sally long enough to know when she
Is paying you a grudge?"
But l run to the tavern myself"
. .s'And scare Ann, and run away again
without asking any questions. I've
lad a long jaunt through the mud and
searched the better part of day for
you"
Antywine threw his arms around
Lincoln and sobbed and laughed like
a woman. He swayed, and could
scarcely stand.
you've made yourself sick being SO
downhearted when you ought to have
kept your wits. That Lorimer fellow
is back at the Grove again, and he's
making a bold stand now. If he had
known carry that snallesllin
reckon he would have followed our
chain. But Dick Yates is here. We
tried to find you last night, and
couldn't
81 tell Sally not believe her!"
shiyered Antywlne.
And then you leg it out here and
pass sentimental night and watery
day on Daddy Cameron's grave! I'm
surprised at you"
The American way of joking over
what had been tragedy seemed
NNelicious to the Canadian boy as he
trapped back the long seven miles.
When ne reached his house at the end
of the village Lincoln did not think it
advisable to take him any farther
Antywine was so i'll that he lay down
upon the floor, resisting any suggestion
OF food.
Through delirious eyes he saw the
blaze, which Lincoln contrived to start
in the chimney, interlace sticks piled
there months before in readiness for
q first house-warming.
Lincoln was on his knees blowing
it when he heard Sticky Green pant
through the door:
~Are you here, Abe? You're wanted
ut the tavern"
Whats the matter at the tavern?"
1.-The Grove boys. are coming to
throw everything out of doors if you
don't give that Lorimer man the Span
fard and her money"
How do you know?"
t'Martha Bell Clary slipped off on
her fathers horse and brought word"
where's Dick?"
He's looking somewhere else for
YOU"