The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-05-13

tearS-1Of he was utterly uHHAdAi4ci-
and asked her out of pure curiosity
what lie had done to make such an
enemy of Mr.. Nat.
Peggy resumed her cheerful manner
AN don't we know?" said she. mask
ing q trembling lip with smile. us ii
no notion ye have at ALP
None whatever"
"Arrah, Tom, it's in love ye are en-
tirelyr'
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' minute" said Peggy
self consciously.
Not you. was it?'
Peggy nodded.
But what nonsenser' he exclaimed.
"An' it was all that" said Peggy.
Il mean we never saw each other.
And was that all he had against meT'
NO; there was little more than
that"
She neSltated-
.'Wbat:' he asked.
more of his nonsense, then, for he
thought I was as bad as you"
Idiot
"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
remem bered there was no God to hear
it 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
at ALTO be bullied and beaten to
death or desperation in cruel and
unequal war? He told her in reply
what he calmly proposed to do, and
her blood ran cold to hear him; yhen
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 81 gestion 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 a pang of instructive |
jealousy, as the blanket fell apart in |
his movements, mysterious some |
thing that he wore next his breast like |
4 scapula. 1t was sewn up in oiled silk, |
which glistened in the feeble light, and I
IN the bitter intuition that this pre-
.ious possession was a packet of true
owes letters she made him ask his I
questions twice.
Peggy then told him he must run due
east for the sea, for it was but thirty /
niles from there, and she had good
mind to run with him, since they were
going TO turn her into government /
without fail. This she said with Il
augh, but he made no answer. His
face was drawn with pain at every
It reminded Peggy of some
scraps of cotton wool that she had
brought for him to put next his LAGER
lted skin. and a grateful look he gave
Ter was her comfort and her hope, as
she left him to fight his own battle
With his shirt and set herself to pull
ng down the brushwood fence
breach was easily and not noisily
made, and both moon and stars were
still crisp in the sky when Tom pain
ully followed the girls lead and the
wo plunged together into the open
,ush.
"Djue east" repeated Peggy, stop
ling in the first thicket Dye know
he Southern Cross now? I'm afther
it meself."
up yonder. Peggy. Those five"
An as like cross as a ham saw.
But as We know t ye can steer due
.aSt by I, an due east lies the say.
f you're wantin' wather on the way,
ct the Southern Cross shine in your
ace, an that'll bring We TO the river.
heard 'em say so as L waited table"
Il know, Peggy, 1 know. And when
get TO the sea-if ever I do-well, at
east my bones can sleep in it, instead
f in this pestilent land"'
He stood eying her, eager to be
zone. and yet reluctant to show IN
,ratefui haste.
An why would they?" cried Peggy.
It's nanny a convict has escaped on
ats before ye. so why wouldn't you?
only fetch up wild the say an there's
lope.''
Then, Peggy, there's no time to
ose." And his hand was out in an in
slant
''Ah, then. Tom. an must 1 be LAWN
re-"
Her voice was altered.
This is not the way to Castle Sulli-
-an, Peggy. Its the very opposite di-
'ection. And I've got you into trou-
Die enough, goodness knows"