The Washington times., 1912-06-23
CHAPTER VII.
The Truth About Peggy,

CHAPTER VII.
The Truth About Peggy.
| - UNDAY morning came as one OF
the clear. cool September days
which, when they do come make
Scotland a land OF romantic
| beauty. The sun shone lavishly; the
mists rolled away from the mountains:
the wind died to a rifle, and the sea
and land lay under a blush tint. 1t
was difficult to believe that the town
had been ahame but two hours before
the sun rose upon the weekly hold day.
The old parish kirk bell was tolling
| with nearness and clearness. Matthew
MeikleJohn, who hauled the great rope
IN the old tower, perspired under his
Sunday coat and fresh linen. If a man
must labor of a Sunday-even for the
Lord-the least he can do Is to keep his
coat on. So Matthew thought.
There were features about the kirk
service that morning that made Sunday
as much of red-letter day as Saturday
had been. The congregation was at
kirk in unusually full force. The
prince, who had returned to Dalgleishs $
house In the dawn, was in the front pew
with the dominic and Margaret, and
he was the cynosure of all eyes. His
pesence in kirk won the approval OF
sacred edifice and the mans sanctuary
save for the curious eyes that were
fixed upon the royal figures in the front
pew, 1t was as II he was but a stranger
there.
But the service seemed to have a
special bearing upon the prince and his
presence IN the kirk Instead OF III :
usual old Hundred" the chosen psalm
Great Strength. Oh. Lord" and after
ward. tn? Rev. Hugh Black preached
IN ambiguous sermon, choosing his te xt
from, Luke. xii. Il: "Anl they said,
What need Of further witness. fer we
have heard of his own mouth"
The result Of the sermon was that in
some way which was hardly intended
by the minister. Charles Edward re-
ceived the approval and support of the
Eirk of Scotland. AS DR.. Wallace said
afterward.
NO matter what old Hrghie had TO
say against putting faith in princes, he
had to wind up by admitting that Christ
wns the king of the Jews. 1t was n
case of good theology versus logic"
Wallace was alone at church. Peggy,
sun piroccupied at home. was hot
there. Can't. George Kilby, sitting in
the strangers pew at the back Of the
church. noted the girls absence. and
suddenly discovered that the Scots
service was exceedingly long and
dreaIy. He escaped before the psalm
waE ended.
Out in the graveyard he drank in the
utes, Then he sat off In the direction
the back road OF the town near Janet
Glen's house.
l While Kilbv stepped along with the
feeling OF a man who, going ciandcs.
timely to his love, feels that the coast
is clear, he did not believe that he was
playing anv trick upon the doctor oI
stealing anv mnrch upon Peggy. In his
heart the young soldier felt that Ton
Wallace was with him. They were men
OF the same stamp. and they understood
each other. And instinct told him that
Peggy Wallace loved him as he loved
her.
strength and forcefulness and determi.
nation to overcome that peculiar reserve
of hers and make her confess herself
with sudden and complete surrender
What II she had been silent and distrait
on the previous evening? He succeeded
in convincing himself that woman Is
most unapproachable when nearest the
edge of surrender. Now was his chance
apologize to the doctor when he came
home from kirk and found
3 It seemed as II fate had taken g
5 hand in the affair. Kilby had not found
on the previous night. And when KilbH
left for kirk that morning, F1tzwtllian
was still snoring in his quarters AND
! now the doctor was at kirk and Peggy
flowers in the garden. Also the wealth
= er seemed to be in the conspiracy o
love and love making.
Presently the captain arrived at th'
3 gate to the doctors flower garden. TIT
} sun was beaming warmly on the beds
| and many a blossom that had almos
g dried in the stress of weather was lift
s ing its head and giving forth perfume
] with renewed sweet courage.
The cottage seemed untenanted. bu
nerhaps Peggy was inside, sitting alone
dreaming alone. 1t was day 70
dreaming and-she must know that h
was coming. She could not fall to fee
the nearing of a heart that was 81
yearning in sympathy toward her own
= Like a schoolboy, he leaned agains
the gate. For moment ne en)oye'
the prospect.the prospect OF the mex hS
}, lips and whistled a few bars o
n "BIack-eyed Susan" his eyes fixed upol
a the windows and the front door or IN
doctors cottage. while the morning SUI
bathed the back of his neck with
= sweet, urging warmth.
IS He had hoped that she would com
out. but the windows and the door re
T manned closed, and no Peggy appear
r. cd. Eilbv laughed to himself; sh
:, knew She must hear him whistlinG
, She must know the whistler. She wa
= merely pretending she did not know, o
= hear. or perhaps she was "Ntching M fii
from behind a curtain. lnsttnctivel
he squared his shoulders and looke
manly -soldierly.
FInally he lost patience and tried tn
4 | 'front.' OOOf Win d Rtillle hnO'h'
l no response he more gently tried tn
handle The door was locked.
ts Then he came to the unpleasant con
" clusion that Peggy was not at hom
. after all.
II He was quite downcast for moment
~ It was aggravating that the lass hersel
IF should upset the plans which the Fate
had so graciously arranged. But he Wa
determined to find her. Where coul
i she be? 1t was unusual for her not
Is be at kirk She must either be Ill, O
n feignng illness II she was Ill, the
q she would be in the house. and III
20 Wallace would not be at kirk either
20 DIR. Wallace was at kirk. Therefore. sh
10 must be feignlng illness.
70 1t was now 1:30. Kilby knew tina
"a II would be an hour and a half befor
10 Hugh Black got through pounding th
pulpit An hour and a half to spare
"a Wherever Peggy was, 1t was certai
- she would be back before the kirk wa
out.
He sat down on stone by the gat
and whistled. 1t was a very public an
patent aCt-thls whistling at Pegg
Wallaces gate of a SUNDAY mornip;
?" But it was Sunday, after all, and IA
lnverlachie was In kirk to see III