The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-07
CONTINUED from Last Sundays News.)
CHAPTER XVI.

CONTINUED from Last Sundays News
CHAPTER XVI
LOVES FUNERAL IN THE SNOW.
As though in a dream I took Peg in
under my great cloak, and having my
arm about her would now hold her
close and warm to my side. Her ear
was over my heart as her face lay
pressed against me, and / only hope
she could understand the story of that
throbbing.
For myself I was in a mid-swirl of
mere confusion,' with my wits all up
side down, and no clear notion of what
l did or why. The Generals word of
that Florida business. the cabinet to
break and Peg to go away from me,
made it for the moment as though the
floor of the world had given way he
Meath my feet. 1t walld provoke chaos
and seem the end of things.
1t was never said of me, even by
the least informed, that l would be
swayed in any kind or made to pause
in what / were about by the counsel
of conventionality. l had lived a life
half bitted, and for the main with
bride on my neck; the last 1 cared
for were the froWns or the smiles of
folk. If 1t We're a woman to talk
against the teeth of my fancy 1 would
turn my back on her; if a man, had
a way to gag his tongue if it should
be no better than the butt of my pistol.
And yet, however loose my habit or
dull my knowledge of those matters,
did not go without a fashion of cold
shock on Pegs behalf when / was so
far my own man again as to dwell on
our position-we, Flooding through the
snow and the darkness. locked in that
carriage.
This mood of apprehension was so
much in the upper hand with me that
it came to be the impulse, and would
suggest the topic 1 laid tongue to when
first / found my words. 1t was not
without mighty effort of the will that
! was obliged myself to some steadi-
ness of utterance. Then, and not very
craftily, l might observe, 1, in the
manner of one who thinks aloud, and
surely as much to myself as to Peg.
gave vent to an exclamation under my
breath Indeed, / would not have
looked for Peg to hear me, since her
head-pretty ears and all-was buried
beneath the thick folds of my CLOAK.
What If folk were to know" I
said
Then came Pegs voice like a half
stifed murmur of despair.
What should I care who knows ,"
cried she. 1T is my hearts funerall
Ny heart is dead and we go upon its
funeral in this snow!"
At that, without we'll needing what
was about, and doubtless drawn to
1t by the note of woe in Pegs tones,
held her to my side even more close
ly than before. Thus we remained
for long space in utter silence, Meth
er speaking a word, while The quiet
storm stole down upon us and The slow
wheels forced their passage through
the white cold levels of the snow.
After a bit, Pegs head, curls in a
tangle and hood removed, was thrust
outside my cloak, which garment, how
ever she would continue TO wrap about
her and hold with her hand.
Il would still be near to you" she
said, as though in explanation of the
cloak, though l am no longer cold"
The mere truth was, the night, while
choke and smother of snow, was moth
ing chill being bare freezing for a
temperature and never a breath of air
to stir, and the inside of the big car
rage as warm as many library. And
yet, when I would first get in, l found
Peg shivering as with an ague. That
was gone now and she more in con-
troll.
Peg would now be more mistress of
herself and speak with a measure of
firmness.
You have heard?" she asked.
1.-THE General" / returned, has told
me you are TO go to Florida. But how
should you have been told? Or was
1t known to you for long?"
This latter I put a little viciously,
for 1t struck me on the moment how
Peg might have been aware of this
new destiny for days, and hidden it
from me. But,no: she had come to her
information but an hour before. Even
while the General with his hand on my
rebellious shoulder gave me the story
of ii, the letter which told the news
TO Peg was put within her hands.
ut was to have been a secret" said
she, land my husband would have kept
1t until his return. But he will be de-
tanned beyond his plans; he wrote me
because of preparations / must make"
While Peg said this, her face was
held up towards mine, and even in the
vague lights, which were rather the
ghosts of lights than any radiance
however dim, could catch some
whiteness of it.
Suddenly her head was in it's old
resting place over my heart, with the
cloak to again become Its cover
Watchdog" whispered Peg, and l
might tell how deeply she was stricken
by the quaver of her voice, as much
as by trembling that swept her as a
gust rumples the surface of tarn;
Watchdog, / felt that l would not
live unless I saw you. Do you con-
tenn me2 DO you own shame for your
little friend? 1 could not help it;
sent for Rivera, and made him fetch
this carriage. We are alOne-hidden
from the worlds eyes. / have torn a
night from the hands of Time to be
no ones night save ours. / waited by
the lamp; my soul called to you and
] knew you would come. / would not
send; / was sure you would do with me
without that. / should have died If
had not found you. Say that / did
right, Watchdog. Say that 1t was
right! / only cry for your one word;
what others will think or say l care
not, but ] could not bear up against
your angerl Say that / did right; say
itl-say that you are glad.
II will say IL all and intend II all,
my little one!" Here / stroked Pegs
tangle Of curls as one would pet a
child.
My whole being was wrapped in a
storm and my bosom Gagged a whirl-
wind. / could be calm enough. appar-
emily, and yet I was growing aware
of that tempest of spirit which shook
me like an aspen. / had been dull