The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-05-27

ticaiiy hidden, and went straight to
Jerry and, smiling up at him, her eyes
danciug with amusement, said:
SO am l starvin' too. I've not had
bite since e.
ALLOW me-" and Jerry offered her
his arm
Mrs. Chichester quickly interposed.
'AIy niece is tired after her journey.
She will lunch in her ROOM"
''Oh. but I'm not Il bit tired" ejacr-
lated Peg anXiously I'm not tired
ut all. an Id much rather have lunch
down here with Mr.. Jerry"
The whole family We're aghast
Ethel looked Indignantly at Peg.
Mrs. Chichester calculated, "What?"
Alaric, almost struck dumb, fell back
upon We'll, | mean to sayv"
And you shall go in with Mr.. Jer-
ry," said that young gentleman. slip
ping Pegs arm through his own Turn.
ing to Mrs. Chichester. he asked her:
with your permission we will lead
the way. Come, Peg" and he led her
TO the door and opened it.
Peg looked up at him, a roguish light
dancing in her big. expressive eyes.
Thanks. I'm not so sure about that
wager Of yours. think yer life is
safe. / want to tell ye ye've saved
NINE" She put one hand gently on
her little stomach and cried. II am So
hungry me soul is hangin' by d
thread"-
! Laughing gayly the two new found
friends went in search of the dining
room.
"Disgracefulr' ventured Ethel.
"Awfulr' said the stunned Alaric.
"She must be taken in hand at oncer
came in firm tones from Mrs. Chiches
ter. "She must never be left alone
again. Come quickly before she car
disgrace us any further today
The days that followed We're neve
to be forgotten ones for Peg. Her ma
ture was in continual revolt. TIT
teaching of her whole lifetime she wa
told to correct Everything she said
everything she looked. everything sh
did was wrong.
Tutors were engaged to prepare he
for the position she might one day en-
Joy through her dead uncles will
They did not remain long. She show
ed either marked incapacity to acquir
the slightest veneer of culture-else i
was pure willfulness.
The only CLEANS of relief she ha'
were on the occasions when Jerry Wis
tied the family. Whenever they coui
avoid Mrs. Chichesters Watchful eye
they would chat and laugh and pla
like children
Her letters to her father were Il
first very bitter regarding her treat
ment by the family. Indeed. so resent
full did they become that her fathe
wrote to her in reply urging her, If sh
was so unhappy, to at once return t
him on the next steamer. The mont
she had promised to stay was DRAWN
to an end. But one more day remain
ed 1t was to be a memorable one 70
Peg.
| JctIN uuu cuuCttS otGu fdkioV
times to encourage her to study. On
day he gave her a large. handsomel
, bound volume and asked her to rea
it at odd tunes and he would examin
her in it when she had mastered II
contents She opened it wondering
and found it to be Love Stories {
the World"
1t became Pegs treasure. She keI
it hidden from every one in the hous
She made cover for it ont of Il piet
of cloth. SO that no one could see tt
ornate binding. She would read 1t ;
night in her room, by day ont in tt
fields or by the sea. The book was
revelation to her. 1t gave all her In
agination full play. Through its page
treaded n stately procession of kins
and qucens-Wagnerian heroes ar
heroines. Shakcspearean creations. m
tedious in verse, and countless others
All through the month Christia
Brent was a frequent visitor. If Pt
only dcspised the Clichesters she pos
lively loathed Brent. Peg was wal
ing for a really good chance to find o.
Mr.. Rrent's real character. The o
portunity came.
On the night of the last day of Il
trial month Peg was lying face dow
ward on sofa reading her treasu
when she became conscious of son
one being III the room watching be
She started up in panic. instructive
hiding the book behind her. She -four
Brent staring down at her in open q
mir,tion Something in the intentne
of his gaze caused her to spring to h
feet.
THE book must be absorbin
What is itT' he asked.
Peg faced him. the book clasped
both of her hands behind her bac
her eyes flashing and her heart thrO
Z bing.-
= 'You mustn't be angry. child. VIII
is it, eh? Something forbidden| al
he leered knowingly at her. Then
. made a quick snatch at the book. sd
ing, 'Show 1t mer'
II Peg ran across the room and. tul
ing up a corner Of the carpet, put t
: book under 1t. turned back the carp
n put her foot determinedly on it a
a turned again to face her tormentor.
Brent went rapidly across to b
" The instinct of the chase was quick
his blood.
= "a hiding place, eh! Now you ma