Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-11-08
CHAPTER NIX (Continued.)

Peggy resumed her cheerful manner
AN don't We knowY said she, mask
ing trembling lip with smile. "Is It
no notion We have at all?
"None whatever"
'Arrah, Tom, tits in love ye are en-
tirely!'
At these words, which took him cru
ely by surprise, he gave her kind
Of wounded glare that was their con-
firmatiOn, whereupOn she forced gig
gle and asked him whom he supposed
Nat had suspected him of being in
love with.
Tom YEARLY gave it up.
BE thinkin' q minute" said Peggy
self consciously.
mot you, was itY'
Peggy nodded.
but what nonsensew he exclaimed.
"An' 1t was all that" said Peggy.
Il mean we never saw each other.
And was that all he had against me?'
mo; there was a little more than
that"
She hesitated.
"What? he asked.
more Of his nonsense, then. for he
thought I was as bad as you"
'IdiOtv
'Idjut, indeed" said Peggy sadly.
"When we hadn't exchanged a dozen
words.'
Not dozen? Not many dozens per-
haps, for up to tonight Peggy had
them every one by heart. She was not
SO sure that she would be able to re-
member all they were saying now; she
was not so sure that she should want
to. But she steeled herself to answer
cheerfully. And he guessed nothing
then, for to speak Of love was still to
think of Claire, and to think of Claire
was to pray that never in this life or
another might she know or dream
what had befallen him that day. But
even with the prayer in his heart he
remembered there was no God to hear
1t and was retracing his steps in this
blind alley Of despair when Peggy
took his hand and flashed a suggestion
before his mind.
Why should he go back to the farm
~ NC Ouiilcu uuu DcutCu "
death or desperation in a cruel and
unequal war? He told her in reply
what he calmly proposed to do. and
her blood ran cold to hear him; then
common sense came to her aid, and
she showed him the folly rather than
the wickedness Of his diabolical plans.
He listened sullenly, but said he could
not answer for himself after this and
pretended to take less than he really
did to the suggestion that he should
run away there and then. According
to Peggy, there was not another min
ute to lose.
Tom wanted to know where he was
to run to, but he began feeling about
for his shirt. Peggy found it for him
and noticed. with pang Of instructive
Jealousy, as the blanket fell apart in
bis movements, mysterious some
thing that he wore next his breast like
q scapula. 1t was sewn up In oiled silk,
which glistened in the feeble light, and
In the bitter intuition that this pre-
ciouS possession was a packet Of true
loves letters she made him ask his
questions twice.
east for the sea, for 1t was but thirty
miles from there, and she had q good
mind to run with him, since they were
going to turn her into government
without fail. This she said with a
laugh, but he made no answer. His
face was drawn with pain ut every
movement. 1t reminded Peggy Of some
scraps of cotton wool that she had
brought for him to put next his LAGER
ated skin. and a grateful look he gave
her was her comfort and her hope, as
she left him to fight his own battle
with his shirt and set herself to pull
ing down the brushwood fence. A
made, and both moon and stars were
still crisp In the sky when Tom pain
fully followed the girls lead and the
two plunged together into the open
bush.
"Djue east" repeated Peggy, stop
ping In the first thicket. Dye know
the Southern Cross now? I'm afther
misrememberin' it meself."
up yonder, Peggy. Those five"
An as like cross as q ham saw.
But as ye know t ye can steer due
east by t. an due east lies the say.
II you're wantln' wather on the way,
let the Southern Cross shine In your
face. an that'll bring We to the river.
heard 'em say so as waited table"
Il know, Peggy, know. And when
! get to the sea-if ever l do-well, at