Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-04-15
CHAPTER IN.

CHAPTER IX.
OHE herself falls into such an i'm
mediate flood Of tears as shakes
~ her well, and then up she rises
from her depths, and with all the
courage Of her race and blood she vows
that, come another sunset, she will
quit Peters Court as if for a walk and
never return; that in small clothes,
since it must be, she will journey back
to KennastOn castle and risk all the
discontinue and disgrace her doing so
may bring upon her.
In point Of fact, my Lady Peggy was
at that state Of mind when 1t seemed to
her no degradation or humiliation, no
sorrow that could be visited upon her,
would be too much punishment or
enough for the sins without number
she had committed since the luckless
day she took the coach for town.
When she emerged from her room for
dinner, twas to learn that Mr.. Brum-
mel had been summoned hastily to st.
James ON so important an affair as to
initiate his royal highness into the
mysteries Of the new tie Of Sir Robins
own invention, and that he trusted in
this audience to obtain permission to
fetch Sir Robin to the palace and pre-
sent him within few days to several
august personages, etc.
Her ladyship therefore dined alone,
scantily too. Food choked her, wine
burned her throat, and, to speak truth,
she was heartily glad not to have to
drink it, for her ladyship was an abb
stemious young lady and believed milk,
Bohea and Pekoe the beverages for her
sex. to the exclusion Of any stronger.
At twilight. having made her duds
and her tresses up into a reputable
enough parcel. Lady Peggy. in suit Of
claret velvet, leaving all the rest Of her
mans attire hanging In the presses,
sauntered carelessly out of the house,
declining the footman's offer of q chair
or even hackney chaise or a page to
carry her parcel, and set off at q swing
Ing pace across the square and toward
the river. 1t was her intention, by way
OF frustrating any attempts at tracing
her which might be set afoot, the dis
covery Of her flight once made, to so
double on her own tracks and to seek
out such unimagined and unlikely
streets to traverse as must puzzle both
bellman, watch and redbird alike al
well as her acquaintances.
She staggered along toward st.
Stephens, where coach containing
quality was occasionally met even now,
then down Horseferry road almost to
the rivers banks; then along Jack
anapes row, with little idea Of the cut
throat locality she was haunting; back
again toward better neighborhoods, then
a lurch to the Thames making into
Farthing alley and Little Boy yard, at
the end Of which she found herself at
the old Dove pier.
Peg stood still, her heart beating
both with her quick walk and at the
strangeness Of all that surrounded her.
She had no fear. because her arm was
stout her aim sure. pistols at her belt
and a good sword at her side, and she
was perfectly ignorant Of any harm
here to be found greater than at the
door Of Beau Brummers house.
The dark dwellings Of the yard
frowned at one another, with not an
ell Of sky to share between 'em at their
roofs; the sign Of the Three Cups
swung and creaked in the slow breeze;
the river. black and grewsome. Tapped
at the foot Of the stone pile against
which she leaned. On the river the
tired bargemen rested at their oars,
and the dip Of the water bird was the
only sound that struck upon herear.
Peggy was casting about In her mind
whether to enter the inn and inquire
her road to the Kings Arms in the
Strand and has just turned to do 20
when in the cavernous doorway Of one
Of the gaunt looking tenements she BE-
held three figures. The faces Of two
were toward her, and by the light Of
the fish oil lamp swinging at the next
door tavern she beheld them, 20 sinis-
ter and forbidding as to cause her to
halt for a space and then, overcoming
her dread, to pursue her path. but
slowly and by crossing the yard
As she did so her weapon caught in
her heel. and as she bent to disengage
It voice speaking in low, muftied
tones arrested her gait
1t was the voice of Sir Robin Nc
Tart, saying:
III make 1t 10 guineas apiece on the
spot you swear to leave him cold on
the pier yonder come Sunday night or
to tie a stone about his throat and
throw him into the river"
AYE, aye" grunts one Of the two
companions Of this most valorous gen.
tleman. LES Railways 'ulkin' ERE
abouts O Sunday nights"
Lady Peggy, with such a pull string
OF terror at her heart as she never had
before. draws closer to the wall Of tine
tenement before which she has halted
and creeps nearer to the portal wherein
these cavaliers are quartered.
LET 1t be 5 guineas apiece tonight"
sQueaks the baronet, land the remain.
der when the business is done"
THE deuce take you with your when
the business is done." mutters the
other. ives doin' Your job for you
for little enough. faint every one
as d undertake the funeral Of a
hearl's heir like Sir Percy de Bohun."
Her !adyship's like now to fall in q
swoon, but not she; only leans she q
bit against the bricks, her bosom heav.
Ing, .er eyes dilating, her lips bitten in
until they are almost bleeding.
"Hush-h-h! No names, you varlets.