Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-02-26

the bcdpost creaks-"all of which,
continues her mistress, is but prelude
to saying, I'm going up to London by
tomorrow's coach, and Pm taking you
with me-"
Madam Down goes the bowl,
lceks. carrots. chopper and all, a-spill-
ing over the floor.
"Ayc," says Peggy calmly. Gather
up thy mess, Chock, and to work with
the duds. Lay out my Levantine
gown, my blue kerchief. my black silk
hose, my brown cloak, and from my
mothers press take the thick fall of
brussels lace and the brown bonnet
it's tied to and bring 'em hither. Put
them under the Ted beside thy trundle,
SOS my father II not see 'em when he
stops to bid me good night. Borrow
cooks hat she bought at the fair when
she was young, and her delaine veil for
thyself, for, SO appareled as not to be
recognized, will you, dear Chock, and
my Lady Peggy take the coach on
April the 18th. But, Chock, remem-
Der, NUNS the word, an you let your
tongue wag to my undOing but the
thousandth part Of a syllable, your
mistress and you part company for
ever! Co."
Chockey picked up Lady Peggy's
waving hand between a pinch Of her
apron, lest her onion smelling fingers
should foul 80 dainty a morsel, kissed
1t and off and obeyed, speeches. from
surprise and generation both.
At nights fall the earl, somnolent
again from fires warmth and the port
he would take despite the surgeons
orders to the contrary, Lady Peggy,
Chockey in her wake, purse In hand,
went scouting through the kitchen gar
den, the paddocks, the cow yard to the
stable where Bickers' pipe shone in
the cleaning like a fire gem as he
lodged and lurched after a refractory
colt.
Bickers, albeit sometimes the slave
Of beer, was all times Lady Peggy's
abject, and it took no effort nor per
suasion to gain him to her will. He
took his orders amiably. They were to
secure two places in the London mail
for tomorrow morning and strictly to
hold his peace both now and forever
about the whole concern.
Peggy gave him the price Of the
seats, and with wise castle-mistress
foresight she showed Bickers a sover-
eign besides.
"And, Bickers," said Lady Peggy,
considering that the devil walks
abroad often in the Mermaid's tap
room. am told. I'll keep the sover-
eign for you till you come back, lest
he rob you Of It, ehY
well, my lady" said Bickers. "A
whole sovereign. my lady. amt often
seen out of the quality's pockets, and
the devil might think I'd stole 1t, my
lady, and try to get 1t from me. Keep
It. my lady, keep It,"
With which the old man, having con-
Quered the colt. set of for the village
by side path all too well known to his
tread. Presently by the spark in his
pipe bowl the two women saw that he
had turned back; that, as he came clos
to them, he clapped his thumb over The
glow, and
my Lady Peggy" mumbled h
sheepishly.
whatever list, BickersY' cries hi
mistress in alarm.
"Naught to fright you. my lady, only
it's been on my mind these many day.
to tell you as the letter you sent me
with to Sir Percy de Bohun"-
well. wellr' Lady Peggy's word
came with gasp az the old man dead
stops.
go on, Bickers, I sayr' The mistress
foot stamps with a thud on the damn
earth.
"Askin' your ladyship's parding. tn
devil caught me that time at the Ken
naston Arms, my lady, and he clawet
that tight my lady, that I couldn't stir
and-and"-
Peggy now stopped, seized a billet o,
wood as big as her arm and gave Bick
ers sound drub across his hands. tn.
pipe fell in bits, the ash glowed. Bick
ers Jumped; 90 did Chockey.
'And-and what7" drubbed Pegg,
with will. mot so much as happen
ny Of the sovereign unless you. out Will
the whole truthr'
II will! I willl' cried the old man
"Sir Percy never got the letter, m,
lady, until the very day I seen him OF
the long roam a-ridin' for 3 life ava,