Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-03-18
CHAPTER V.

UTtdgt 4 bumper TO tfe tUpFOstu III NUDIH,
Lady Peggy answers knock at the door The
real Sir Robin is below i'll q street chair.
CHAPTER V.
Il ND much more Of a like nature
~ reaches Lady Peggy as she
"a plunges down the stairs and
presently finds herself by the
light of the lamp of his chair aeon
fronting Sir Robin Mozart himself.
NAY, nay, sir; am not Kennastoe
Of Kennaston," responds Peg, looking
grave and making excellent show q
her blood stained, linen bound wrist
"'Tis here he dwells, and, as know
we'll by reputation, you are a peaceful,
law abiding man, I'd counsel you not
to mount; such a company Of cut
threats, cutpurse brawlers. sir, 40
would not leave farthing In your
pocket or lace upon your shirt"
Sir Robin. as her ladyship had
shrewdly guessed, drew back ana
shivered at this lively description.
'Trust me, Sir Robin. Histw Peg's
voice sinks to a mere whisper. II am
Lady Peggy's best friend and neighbor
at home 'Twould be her will, an she
stood here. that you should not adven-
ture your precious life in the unseemly
crowd with which her brother hath
seen fit to surround himself"
"Lud. sir! Who are YOU" chatten
Sir Robin, trembling betwixt delight
and terror, that knows 80 well the
temper Of Lady Peggy Burgoyne's dis
position? What's your name, sirT"
mo matter for my name, sir. have
Lady Peggy's best interests at heart.
and yours. She babe me, did ever I
encounter you in evil neighborhood,
tell you for her sake eschew 1t. Hark
ye. Sir Robin, out Of this hole as fast
as your mems legs can carry you.
Above yonder is one who's sworn to
kill you"
"Who's hep demands Sir Robin, one
foot now in his sedan, his little eyes
twinkling both ways with fright.
''Sir Percy de Bohun," replies Peg
in a hollow whisper. Look you, SIR"
showing her bloody wrist; there's q
taste Of his quality. warn you-'tis
from Peggy's own self-get back to
Kent, whence you came, and tarry not,
for your life's ut yonder desperado'S
mercy while you linger up in town"
us my Lady Peggy returned to Kent
to her godmother" quavers Sir Robin.
now well inside his chair.
may. sir. As her brother supposes.
she's Mt home at Kennaston."
T. f. H,D,l~
rendering his hand. "And, sir, my
humble duty and gratitude to you for
your admirable condescension. would
knew your name and station"
'T'm up in town incognito. sir. for q
lady's sake" smiles the mink.
when l return, sir, I'll seek you out
at Whites or Wills. dare be sworn
20 fine a gentleman must needs be .
buck of the first order"
"Seek me. sir, and godspeed you
down to Kennaston or Kent"
At the word Sir Robin in his chair
sets forth a-swinging round the corner.
light Of heart and bright Of hope, while
the subject and object Of his thoughts
and passion stands for moment lean
ing, signing, betwixt laughter and
tears. against the door frame.
My Lady Peggy's first impulse is to
cut and run. Indeed her slim legs are
30 stretched to begin, when the remem-
brance Of poor Chock In her garnet
cage comes to her mind. and, with a
grimace, she turns in, jumps up the
stairs and is in the midst of the group.
now well on in their cups and more
hilarious than orderly in their CONVEX
sation.
Peg was not her fathers girl for
naught that night. To the tune Of
1900 14s. Cd. was she the richer. and
rewarded for the many dreary even
ings she had spent at Kennaston
a-watching her father win and lose
with the vicar and the bishop when
ever the latter came on his visits.
BY dint of splitting her wine deity
under the table she had empted as
many mugs as the best bibber among
'em. and at in the morning found
herself the only one who was sober or
even awake.
Twas not a beautiful sight thus to
behold in the pale pink Of the dawn
dozen or 80 Of merry gentlemen
a-sprawling about on floor, tables, chairs
-a-snoring and a-tossing in their sleep,
but twas the fashion Of the times
when, to be fine gentleman, one must
be drunk, at the least, once in the
twenty-four hours.
All save Sir Percy. Almost at swords
points he had quilted the company
hours before, little in his cups, but
steady withal. murmuring to himself
as he fumbled on the rickety stairs.
Peg leaning over the raiL unseen In
the darkness, womanlike to watch lest
he trip and fall, heard him:
"'Sdeath! An what that popiniay
say be true, I'll marry Lady Diana out
Of hand, and show the mink I'm not to
be cut out Of a wife by such a flea
bitten rotten rod as Sir Robin Mo
Tart!'
so easy taken then is my lossw says
Peggy, with n renewed fire Of Jealousy
burning at her heart as she returns to
the scene Of her winnings.
Sick at heart, for single instant she |
surveys the room, and then, finger on |
lip, it does not take her long to signal
up to ChOckey. motion her down with |
the calfskin box, and to begin, with |
shamed face, in the darkest corner to i
strip off her mans attire.