Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-01-20

IesSy meitHtllue, denying rlgnL anu
left the story of her prowess, with
quips and jests and ogles of the fair,
still kept her eye On Per,lace, sEet
had she ssSgs him an questioning, hewb,
VI eoutse sou upon him, he turned4l
a: 81, as map. gently bending over thel
little beauty's fingers.
A pang shot through Pegs heart,
and the tears were like to force their
way. She made an excuse and left the
long drawing room, taking refuge in
small apartment where the tables were
ready for cards. She sank into chair
and buried her face in her hands. The
candles were not yet lighted, and she
was totally unoDservcd. Dashing the salt
drops from her lashes with her hand
she cried in her bitterness: "What am
that cannot abide to even see
him attending over her hand? Amt
you no spirit, Peg? No pride? He's
not thinking Of you, my dear. Didn't
he say plain if Sir Robin was the bet
ter man he'd give up to him? What
kind of sutton is that, Peg? Lud!
I'd not give him up to any one, whether
they were my bettcrs or MOI!
Could my lady but have postponed
her exit for few brief moments she
would have beheld Sir Percy, at a word
in his car from the footman, quit Lady
Diana's side with but the smallest cere-
mony, dash out into the vestibule, seize
with viselikc grip the man who stood
there pale and trembling and gasp out:
"At last! The letter, the letter."
Grigson shook his head and got even
winter.
mo letter?" Percy says in a dazed
way.
"Only your own, Sir Percy" handing
back the missive. Tier ladyship was
from home, SIR
"Well, what Of that? You internal
rascal, did not command you seek
her, If 'twere at the other end of the
world?"
AYE. sir. and the quickest way of
settin' about findin' her ladyship was
for me to get back TO town, sir, as fast
as the cursed beast l was cheated into
Sill, WOulu
"Speak out! Is her ladyship up in
London?" asked Sir Percy, actually
shaking with Impotence and astonish-
ment
Grigson mods and without more ado
proceeds to give an exact If somewhat
rambling account of his entire expert
ences from the moment he had quilted
his master until the present.
Twere idle to attempt to describe
Sir Percy's state of mind. Up to now
there had ever fingered in his heart the
hope-nay, one of those unconscious be-
licfs men have-that in the end Peggy
would be his. This news that Grigson
brought crushed every such thought
from his brain, but put in its place
such hatred of the young man now
tasting the sweets of hero worship Gin
little) in the adjoining room as caused
his fingers to itch for his steel and
t'other's flesh to meet once more, and
| to the death.
He drew Grigson in from the vesti-
bule and, unobserved in the crush,
down the corridor to the darkness Of
the card room, where Peggy still sat
disconsolate in her faroff corner.
She for the moment is even uncon-
scious that any one has entered until
the voices arrest ller attention.
"By CAD" Sir Percy cries in low
tone, falling into seat and clapping
his brow. up in London! The wom-
an, vowing Sir Robin had crossed your
entrance, inquiring for her ladyship!
Your meeting not Sir Robin, but an i'll
conditioned little popinjay with squint
eyes and of the height of the dwarf
that waits upon my Lady BrookwoodY'
aye, Sir Percy" returns Grigson.
| mo more like Sir Robin, which, sir,
begging your llonors parding, is very
pretty young nobleman. with good
eye and a proper height"
Sir Percy mods.
"Then," speaking rs If to himself and
motioning the man away. "since she's
up in town without her parents knowl-
edge and with a cock and bull story