The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-10
PEGGY O'NEAL.


YOU lOSL the Will 10 speak
Now, 1 had kept myself mighty quiet
since Peg was come back to her throne.
For one thing, the simple sight of her,
and she friendly, was enough to over
flow my cup of happiness; moreover
l owned to some lurking fear of Peg,
and imagined how ! had but to open
my mouth 20 set her anger again on
/ edge. AT any rate, no stone could nave
said less than did l while Peg and the
General held this long parley Of the
drawing rooms. When now. however
the General aimed at me direct, was
bound to make return.
Have you no advice for us. then?'
repeated the General 1t is not usual
for you to so neglect my welfare. Here
you permit me to talk ten minutes
without once telling me fully and
wholly just what / should do All
this in tones of jesting: Now, you
would seem willing thar I, and our lit
tie girl, too, should go unguided 70
destruction rather than unstrap your
wisdom in our cause. Sir, do you call
that the truth of a friend?"
Perhaps l have no good eyes for
these trails" said I. your reception
perils and how to foil them are things
I have not studied. l would but lose
you your course were l to lead you.
Mighty diffident," quoth the General
"and most suddenly abject. And no
good eyes, say you? Why, then, you
could see church by daylight, 1 take
it, At the least, you might cheer folk
! on who propose such deeds or carpet
daring as do our little Peg and l.
With that further raillery the Cen
eral might have entertained himself
came not to know for word was
brought to him, at this nick, of ones
Who awaited his coming in the cabinet
ROOM AS he went away he called back
to Peg, where she still abode in her
| leatheTn chair:
"Then it is settled and made.
/ shall be at your reception, TO the
grinding shock of gossips and the dis
order of my presidential robes; also,
you are to dine and dance in the White
House whenever you sweetly will
"Where should have lodged more
kindness for me than / now find here?"
I cried Peg, when the General was quite
gone forth of the room. Then raising
! her warm eyes to mine where l sat
wondering, now cold. now hot, would
she go, or would she stay to talk with
me- she gazed upon me with steady,
! friendly look, which, for all 1t lacked
of distance or any spirit OF resentment,
| yet bred within me a feeling of con-
! fusion. ! knew not how to meet it,
and 1 could find no word to say. And
/ now" said Peg, after a pause, but very
/ kindly. '1et us have a fair moment Of
! friendship. No. she went on, stop
ping me with her hand as l was be-
ginning to stumble forward upon an
| apology for my i'll words against
! Eaton, mo; let me talk. You have no
genius of explanation; you would speak
| only to worsen things Besides, you
! dwell in the same darkness now you
! ever did"
And it was to say that" I inter-
/ jected, for / was bound to some remark,
II started to speak. 1t was to tell you
now 1 had no close knowledge of your
husband and owned no right of infor-
nation to criticise him."
watch dog" cried Peg, motioning
with little hands for silence, Watch
dog. will you have done?"
l There was something of pain and re-
proach in this to stop me as though |
I had been planet-struck. Nor could l
| determine Pegs feeling, nor catch the
| color of it in a least of shade. For the
most, 1 felt amazement. and was set
back by the plain agitation of her, an
| agitation greater than was to have
been looked for in one who came sole
| ly to pardon me those trespasses
| against good decent taste.
| Peg called herself together with a
| shake of the head that had for one
piquant effect the whipping of her
| shock of curls about her face, and
leaving them a tangle to fall forward
on her shoulders
! Hear me-" went on Peg, brighten
] ing, and peering out on me in an arch
way through her curls; you are gull
| ty of no wrong save the wrong of in
credible dullness. Therefore you are to
offer no defense. Even your dullness
should have been a virtue in my eyes,
since it spoke only of your honor, and
told of the lofty place hold in your
regard" Now l could see how Peg
was at least accepting all I had said,
and not one part only, and would give
me credit for a compliment to herself,
while she refused my structures upon
| Eaton. observe, then; l have resolved
we two shall be good friends. Better
| friends than before, because better to
! understand one another And our trou-
Bile was my fault too, not yours. Nor
had one foot to go upon"
Now, that is the maddest charity of
error" cried l.
ut is not, / say" returned Peg, her
eyes beginning to shine with the first
flavor of my opposition. II say 1t is
not You had done nothing, said moth
ing; while why, then hated you for
| having eyes of lead. But we will
amend that" Here Peg turned pleas
antly brisk. I'VE have been too much
abroad with mistakes. We have made
you too old and me too young in our
dealings There shall be a change,
and you and I hereafter are to con-
slider ourselves as folk of even years
each with the other. 1t is but right,
Watch dog, for though you have nc
learning on that point. 1t is none the
less true that woman Of % is very
old and very wise, while man of A.
is for his youth and guilelessness, or
should have said dizziness. a creature
insupportable. Yes, Watchdog, fol-
your ignorance your are insuportable;
but forgive you, since 1t is your duty
defect" And here Peg recovered heI
old gay smile, and with that nv heart
came home again to peace.
well" I said, when Peg would LEI
me be heard. 'T make no secret that ]
am over happy with this new prospect
of your friendship. It was night while
thought you would not forgive me my
offense."
"Say no more of it," cried Peg sharp.
". putting her fingers in her ears. Al
the same time caught the milky shine
Of her LEOPARD teeth. SAY no more
or shall go back to NV anger as {
refuge. Speak of something elsel Why
did YOU turn my chair out OF door p
nv poor chair that had done no harn!'
Peg caressed the arms of II with hel
palms as though It were alive and