Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-01-27
Ny Lady Peggy |
Goes to Town
FRANCES AYMAR MATHEWS
Copyright. 1901. BY Tho Bow.n.MsHlIl Company
Copyright, 1901. BY Tho Bow.n.MsnlIl Company
CHAPTER IN.

quit Peters Court as If for walk and
never return; that in small clothes,
since 1t must be, she will journey back
to Kennaston castle and risk all the
discontinue and disgrace her doing so
may bring upon her.
In point of fact, my Lady Peggy was
at that state of mind when it seemed to
her no degradation or humiliation, no
sorrow that could be visited upon her,
would be too much punishment or
enough for the sins without number
she had committed since the luckless
day she took the coach for town.
When she emerged from her room for
dinner, twas to learn that Mr.. Brum-
mel had been summoned hastily to st.
James on so important an affair as to
initiate his royal highness into the
mysteries of the new tie Of Sir Robins
own invention, and that he trusted In
this audience to obtain permission to
fetch Sir Robin to the palace and pre-
sent him within u few days to several
august personages, etc.
Her ladyship therefore dined alone,
scantily too. Food choked her, wine
burned her throat, and, to speak truth,
she was heartily glad not to have to
drink 1T, for her ladyship was an alb
stemious young lady and believed milk,
Bohea and Pekoe the beverages for her
sex, to the exclusion of any stronger
AT twilight, having made her buds
and her tresses up into q reputable
enough parcel, Lady Peggy, in n suit of
clarct velvet, leaving all the rest of her
mans attire hanging in the presses,
sauntered carelessly out of the house,
declining the footman's offer of chair
or even hackney chaise or a page to
carry her parcel, and set off at a swing
ing pace across the square and toward
the river. 1t was her intention, by way
of frustrating any attempts at tracing
her which might be set afoot, the dis
covery of her fight once made, to so
double on her own tracks and to seek
out such unimagined and unlikely
streets to traverse as must puzzle both
bellman, watch and redbird alike as
well rs her acquaintances.
She staggered along toward st.
Stephens, where coach containing
quality was occasionally met even now,
then down Horseferry road almost to
the rivers banks; then along Jack
anapes row, with little idea of the cut
throat locality she was haunting; back
again toward better neighborhoods, then
lurch to the Thames making into
Farthing alley and Little Boy yard, at
the end of which she found herself at
the old Dove pier.
Peg stood still, her heart beating
both with her quick walk and at the
strangeness of all that surrounded her.
She had no fear, because her arm was
stout, her ain a.ilisls AZ boz belt
and good sword at her side, and she
was perfectly ignorant of any harm
here to be found greater than at the
door of Beau Brummcl's house.
The dark dwellings of the yard
frowned at one another, with not an
ell of sky to share between 'em at their
roofs; the sign of the Three Cups
swung and creaked in the slow breeze;
the river, black and grewsome, Tapped
at the foot Of the stone pile against
which she leaned. On the river the
tired bargemen rested at their oars,
and the dip of the water bird was the
only sound that struck upon her ear.
Peggy was casting about in her mind
whether to enter the inn and inquire
her road to the Kings Arms in the
Strand and has just turned TO do so
when in the cavernous doorway of one
of the gaunt looking tenements she be-
held three figures. The faces Of two
were toward her, and by the light of
the fish oil lamp swinging at the next
door tavern she behcld them, SO sinis-
ter and forbidding as TO cause her to
halt for space and then, overcoming
her dread, to pursue her path, but
slowly and by crossing the yard.
AS she did so her weapon caught in
her heel, and as she bent to discngage
it voice speaking in low. muflled
tones arrested her gait.
1t was the voice of Sir Robin Nc
Tart, saying:
'If make it 10 guineas apiece on the
spot, you swear 10 leave him cold OH
the pier yonder come Sunday night or
to tie stone about his throat and
throw him into the river?"
aye, aye" girlnts one of the two
companions of this most valorous gem
tleman. "'E's Railways 'ullsin' ere
abouts O. Sunday nights"
Lady Peggy. with such pull string
of terror at her heart as she never had
before, draws cl,a,ar to the wall OF the
tenement before which she has halted
and crceps nearer to the portal wherein
these cavaliers are quartered.
Let it be 5 guineas apiece tonight"
squeaks the baronet, land the remain
der when the business is done:"
"The deuce take you With your when
the BUSINESS is done!" mutters the
other. Yves dom your job for you
for little enough. faint every one
as d undertake the funeral of Il
hearts, heir like Sir Percy de Eolun."
Her ladysliips like now TO fall in 3
swoon, but not she; Only leans she Il
bit against the bricks. her bosom heav-
ing, her eyes dilatiny. her lips bitten in
until they Are almost bleeding.
"Husl-h-h! 30 names. you varlets!
interrupts Sir Robin.
Hey responds the other. The
walls amt got no hears. and il they
lad wot I'm sayin's the cussid truth.
eh, Eioksey:"
Boksey gi'unls.
The town II be ntire when it's out
that Il gallant like i'm that's heir to
Lord Covers been done fer, and then,
my fine gentleman. who's TO pay fort
If Yves caught and if we 'appcns to be
seen by amy one when we're a-doin of
your job! No; money all down now or
Sir Percy lives rs long us e likes, for
usI'
Pegs hand is upon the hilt of her
sword.
Shall she spring and run Sir Robin
through?
Shall she hide and buy the rascals
out III /, higher price than he has paid?