Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-11-08

livery wan of us'll be that sorr. If we
live long enough"
"Yes? Don't sir me, Peggy. Call me
Tom. I'm mot even like Ginger, you
know. I'm a convict of the deepest
and the newest dye"
"An, what am I?'
'Not you, too, peggyw
"Me, too, Tom, an it's siyen year
i I'm here for. So don't you make sucn
a song Of 1T, me dear, or It's me yen
be putin to the blush!"
Indeed he had done so already. And,
to believe Peggy, the second blush
ever seen at Castle Sullivan was stu
mantlIng her pleasant face when
spurs jingled again in the scullery, and
Mr.. Nat stood on the inner threshold.
Some moments he stood there without
word, a furious glitter in his cold
blue eye. his iewd mouth showing
! through his beard like a cash. Peggy
shrank back. Tom was wondering II
the brute had ever struck her. when
he was addressed in voice that shook
with i'll governed ferocity.
"What are you doing here, Erich
| SEM" were the words.
81 have just had my supper. ] was
told to have it here"
ooh, you've had It, have your Then
why the devil haven't you cleared
outp roared young Sullivan, losing all
control. II tell you what, Peggy, this
mans cold blooded murderer. That's
what he is, and that's what he's here
for. Why they didn't hang him God
knows, but they didn't, 80 we've got
the benefit instead. Let me never
catch him In here again. He'd cut your
throat as soon as look ut you. Clear
out, you galIows bird, and show your
nose inside the palisade again If you
darev'
Tom replied with his eye, and only
scorn was in its steady gaze. When
the other ceased, he waited little to
ascertain If that were all; then he
turned upon his heel, opened the door,
walked out and shut 1t very quietly
behind him.
There were high voices in the kitch-
en- as he went his way. And Tom
himself was less cool when he reached
his room, where, indeed, he lay awake
half the night still wondering whether
Nat Sullivan had ever struck Peggy
O'Brien and whether Peggy would
admit it If he had. But In the end he
slept soundly on the clean straw with
which he first took care to line his
bunk.
Soundly, but not long, for in the mid
die of the night, as 1t seemed to Tom.
the changing of d great bell brought
him to his feet in a state Of high alarm.
He slid into his trousers and rushed
out. 1t was that black hour before
dawn, and ut first In the failing star
light he could see nobody; then he de-
serted figure In long coat parading
to and fro before the huts, but the bel!
was silent, though still swaying from
the twisted arm Of gigantic gum
tree. when Tom ran up and inquired OF
this man what 1t meant He found
he was speaking to the night watch
man, who said his business was to ring
the bell first an hour before sunrise,
then half an hour later and lastly when
the sun appeared.
$50 you're to be groomr added the
Waterman. 81 wouldn't swap my job
for yours"
"No?" said Tom.
"Not me! Cause why7 I'm on all
night, but off all day. so ! see less OF
the coves than any other blessed man
on the place. Now you'll see more OF
'em, and Lord help you If you trot out
a lame nag or a piece Of harness the
old cove can't see his ugly mug In! J.
wouldn't be In your shirt for some
thing; it'll be stickin'- to your back by
this day week."
Tom was returning to his room when
q sash was softly raised In the main
building, and there was Peggy at an
outer window in an inky shower bath
Of pitch black hair. She beckoned him
with her finger. but transferred IT
swiftly to her lips.
"You did we'll! You did well!' she
whispered. Il was in the holy terror
lest you answered Mr.. Nat. If you'd
done that"
She shuddered and shut her lips.
"WeIl, what IL had? said Tom, be-
ginning to feel sorry he had not.
"Niver ask mel" she returned. "Oniy
bear In mind that what they'll call In
science Is a crime out here. Give 'em
cheek, an It's twenty-five or fifty-an'
now I've told ye! IT'S we'll ye should
know. There's some poor Teller from
here gets it livery Monday as iyer Is.
But you mustn't; SO niver checker
me dear, and niyer come near me
kitchen amy more. Sure It'd be the
dith of young g:ntleman like you."
"Would it?" said Tom. We'll. never
you fear, Peggy! I'm not such fool
as all that. and I'll give them no rea'
son, you may depend"
"They may be afther maxim one.
Tom, dear. Faith an they'd have one
ready made IL they cot ye here! There's
the second bell. For Gods sake be on
AN reminder Peggy's words"
'T'll go when I'm ready. Peggy, not
until: and don't shut down that WIN
dow or you'll take of my fingers.
Your hand again! It's to you shall
owe my whole skinp'
He gave her his hand. She took 1t be"
tween both Of hers and pressed 1t with
fervor that should have given him
another warning on the spot. But her
kind voice only put him in mind OF
Claire so far away: nor did he hear II