The Irish standard., 1915-04-10

"Will W let me have E202" suddenly
asked Pea.
On the Both day Of June Mr.. Mont
gomery Hawkes. glanced at his up
pointments for the following day and
found the entry. "Mrs. Chichester.
Scarboro-in re Margaret O'Connell.'
He accordingly sent telegram to
Mrs. Chichester. acquainting her with
the pleasant news that she might ex
pect that distinguished lawyer on July
/ to render an account Of her stew
ardship Of the Irish agitator's child
He was shown into the music room
and was admiring genuine Greuzc
when Mrs. Chichester came in.
She greeted him tragically and mo
toned him to seat beside her.
"Wel?" he smiled cheerfully. "AnG
how is our little protegee?"
"Sit down." replied Mrs. Chlcheste,
somberly.
'Thank you"
He sat beside her, waited moment
then, with some sense Of misgivins
asked. Everything going we'll. hopey
Far from it." And Mrs. Chichestc,
shook her head sadly. "She wants t"
leave us today. She has ordered cab
She is packing now"
Dear, dear!' calculated the Devil
dered solicitor. "Where is she going?
"Back to her father"
"How perfectly ridiculous!"
"But don't be uneasy" he replied eaS
lily; 'she will stay. May see herr"
Mrs. Chichester rose. crossed over t"
the bell and rang it
"There is one thing you must know
Mr.. Hawkes.. My son is in love with
her." she said. as though in burst OF
confidence.
"What? Your sonY'
"Yes," she sighed. "Of course shr
is hardly suitable match for Alaric-
as yet But by the time she is Of age
Hawkes. was moving restlessly about
the ROOM. He stopped in front of Mrs.
Chichester as Jarvis disappeared to
notify Peg.
II am afraid. madam, that such a
marriage would be out of the question.
AS one Of the executors Of the late Mr..
Kingsnorth's will. in my opinion, It
would be defeating the object Of the
dead mans legacy"
Mrs. Chichester retorted heatedlv:
HE desires her to be trained. What
training is better than marriage?
"Almost any" replied Mr.. Hawkes..
Marriage should be the union Of two
formed characters. Marriage between
the young is one Of my pet objections.
1t is condition of life essentially for
those who have reached maturity In
nature and in character. I am pre-.
pairing a paper on it for the Croydon
Ethical society and"-
Whatever else Mr.. Hawkes. might
have said in continuation of another
of his pet subjects was cut abruptly
short by the appearance Of Peg. She
was still dressed in one of Mrs. Chi.
chester's gifts. She had not had an on
portunity to change into her little
travelling suit.
"Well. well! What an improvement"
he said.
"Tm glad you've come. Mr.. Hawkes.
"Why, you're young lady" cried
the astonished solicitor
Am I? Ask me aunt about that.
replied Peg somewhat bitterly.
'Now, my dear Miss Margaret O'Con
nell"- began the lawyer.
"Will ye let me have f2O?" sudd.nl!
asked Peg.
Certainly. NowY" and he took out
his pocketbook.
"This mint" replied Peg positively.
with pleasure said Mr. Hawkes.
as he began to count the banknotes.
"And l want ye to get passage OIL
the first ship to America. this after
noon IL there's one!' cried Peg ear
nestly.
"Oh. come, come" demonstrated the
lawyer.
1.-THE EGO l want to buy somethin'
for me father-just to remember Eng
land by. II ye think me uncle
wouldn't like me to have it because
I'm LAWN, why, then me father'il pay
ye back. 1t may take him long time.
but he'll pay it."
"Now, nsten''- interrupted Mr..
Hawkes..
"Mebbe it'll only be a few dollars a
week, but father always pays his debts
in time. That's all he ever needs
dme."
whats all this nonsense about go
ing away?"
1T isn't nonsense. I'm goin' to me
father" answered Peg resolutely.
Hawkes. hunted through his mind for
the cause Of this upheaval in the Chi
chester home. He remembered Mrs
Chichester's statement about Alaric's
affection for bis young cousin. Could
the trouble have arisen from that7 1t
gave him a clew to work on. He
grasped it.
"Answer me one question truthfully.
Miss O'Connell 10 there an affair Of
the hearth