Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-03-04

McTart peradventure? No, no, that
was a name she 'ad never card! Twas
no duke nor earl neither, but a-Sir,
Sir
And as the old woman and Chockey,
the calfskin box between
them. reached the last landing and set
their burden down in thankfulness,
Lady Peggy, feeling the way, said:
"Sir Percy de Bohun, perchance7
Methinks my brother has a companion
by some such title"
AYE, that's I'm! All, my lady, AZ
splendid q gentleman as ever sang
God Save the Kingr Free with IL
sovereigns, my lady, as trees is with
their nuts, and to match i'm for oaths
there's not that prince Of the blood
as can swear so beautiful when 'e's
dead drunk. These Is Is Iordship's
your brothers chambers, my lady,"
throwing open the door and ushering
Peggy and her servitor into as dingy,
dirty, empty, sad, bare and unkempt
an appearing place as ever mortal and
intrepid lady set two tired feet within.
But Lady Peggy for the nonce was
only eager on one point.
Drunk, say you, dame? And where
fore should so generous q young gen.
teman be a-gallopin' that silly road,
ehT
"Lawk, your ladyship. 'ow should I
know? But his lordship's own gentle
man, my lady, what odds I'M up and
steadies his lordship IN Is cups. do
say"-the old charwoman, whislking
the dust of ages from q wooden chair,
Gets it for Lady Peggy and bends to
tidy the hearth and gather together
the few shingles and fagots strewn
about.
Say whatT" urges Peggy, with e.
ger eyes and q sixpence shining in her
hand-another shilling's more than she
dare hazard of her slender store.
do say. my lady-God bless your
ladyship's sweet face!-as it's hall on
account Of young ladyv'
Lady Peggy's eyes sparkle. and all
ct once the smoky room seems cheer
full. and the tardy blaze in the fire.
place CLOVIS and thaws her chilled
bones and blood.
"Ah," she says, smiling.
Eyes, my lady. q splendid young lady
Of fashion. an heiress, q beauty, with
half London a-danglin' after 'er, and
'er that 'aughty as II she was Of the
royal family and i'm a-killin' 'imself
for 'er sake"
And back again slide Kennaston's
chambers into their original depravity
Of dirt and dreariness, and down goes
the charwoman to her pipe. and Lady
Peggy on the wooden chair. Chockey
on the box, spread their fingers to the
reluctant warmth and are silent, while
the clock ticks ON the mantelshelf.
while the slit Of blue that peers In at
the window grays. while the noises
that are all new to these two come
rasping, roaring. shouting up to them
through the broken pane-the dizzying,
mulhtudinous, ineoherent surge Of Lon
don town a it first smites ears not yet
wonted to Its fascination or its meaning
merely lonely, forlorn, dispirited new
corners who have not yet learned the
passion and the melody that lie hidden
In its Babel.
Thewaiting woman Is the first to move.
With the homely, excellent instincts Of
her class she rises and. after Q slow
glance around the place, falls 'a-reddin'
Of It up" az she mentally designated
her attempt. She seized the stumpy
broom from its corner and swept the
floor, brushed the maze Of cobwebs
from ceiling and walls, beat the mats,
wiped the stools and table, the broad
window stills and the shelves, shook out
the dingy. ink stained cloth, straight
ened the litter Of books and papers,
quilts and horns and finally went
a-peering into the cupboards. A grimy
coneepot and q well matching kettle
were f1shed out and rubbed. the kettle
filled with water from the tubful on
the landing and straightway hung upon
the crane, plates and cups and saucers
and spoons brought forth, a paper Of
coffee, a jug Of milk and a bottle of
sugar discovered, and presently Chockey
handed her mistress a cup of steaming
mocha and modestly poured one for
herself.
"Oh, Chockr cries Lady Peggy, set
ting down the empty cup. "What a
fool was I to comel What am l. for
sooth, in all this great desert but a
grain Of sandi And Percy, not"-Lady
Peggy stamps her muddy red heeled
shoe liercely-"a-dying for me in the
least, and my twin a-living in such
holei Wherever does he sleep, Chockr'
Surveying the barntke apartment in
disgust and dismay, her gaze finally
was arrested by a ladder slanting in the
darkest corner and reaching up to an
opening in the ceiling.
up there. I dare be sworn! Lud!
II this tbs to'be an author" fouts Peg
~, God ha' mercy on 'emi I tell you
what, Chock, I'll tarry a little, have Q
word with Kennaston; then we'll back,
girl, whence we came. quick. I'll send
word to Sir Robin Mozart, and then
let wedding bells ring as soon as ever
he sees 1T No more Of love for me,
Ch0ck. I'm done with it forever in
this world. I'll take marriage in
steadr'
Chockey shakes her head ruefully -
her mistress, more to emphasize her
latest resolve than from any other mo-
tive. filings wide open the cracked doors
Of the clothespress next the chimney
piece and gives a tempestuous shake
out to the garments Arranging on the
pegs.
"Lud! Look! Kennaston's suit of
gray velvets. not much the worse for
wear! Small need has the poor lad for
fine clothes. I warrant ye. Most like
a-keeping Of 'em for pawnshop use and
bread and butter! Chock, unlock the
box and get out the waistcoat l broid-
cred for my twin at much expense Of
temper against his birthday. So!
Smooth it out les brave, eh. Chock. Fit
for court should fancy. and. that's
right. the laced crayatl Poor duckl ]