The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-04-21
CHAPTER Viii.
For tho Cause.

~ ,CONNELL had changed very
much since the days of St ker-
~ mans hill. AS was foreshad-
owed earlier, he no longer urged
violence. He had come under the In
iuence Of the more temperate men or
the party and was content to win by
legislative means what Ireland had
failed to accomplish wholly by con-
t1ict. although no one recognized more
thoroughly than UConnell what a
large part the determined attitude OF
the Irish party in resisting the Eng
lish laws, depriVing them Of the right
Of free speech and of meeting to
spread light among the ignorant. had
played in wringing some measure of
recognition and of tolerance from the
English ministers
What changed O'Connell more par
ticularly was the action of a band OF
so called "patriots". who operated IN
many parts Of Ireland-maiming at
tie. running crops, injuring peaceaDle
farmers who did not do their bidding
and shooting at landlords and promi-
nent people connected with the govern
ment
BE avoided the possibility Of i'm
prisonment again for the sake of Peg.
What would befall her If he were TAX
en- from her?
The continual thought that preyed
upon him was that he would have
nothing to leave her when his call
came. Do what he would. he could
make but little money, and when ne
had a small surplus he would spend It
on Peg-a shawl to keep her warm or
a ribbon to give a CLEAN of color to
the drab little clothes.
On great occasions he would buy
her a new dress, and then Peg was
the proudest little child in the whole
Of ireland.
Every year on the anniversary OF
her mothers death O'Connell had a
mass said for the repose of Angela's
soul, and he would kneel beside Peg
through the service and be silent for
the rest of the day. One year he had
candles blessed by the archbishop lit
on Our Lady's altar, and he stayed long
after the service vas over. he sent
Peg home. But, although Peg obeyed
him partially by leaving the church,
she kept watch outside until her IA
Their came out he was wiping his
eyes as he saw her. He pretended to
be very angry.
Didn't I tell ye to so homer
"Ye did, father"
"Then why didn't ye obey me-"
Sure an what would l be dom at
home, all alone. without you2 Don't
be cross with me, father"
He took her hand: and they walked
home in silence. He had been crying.
and Peg could not understand it She
had never seen him do such a thing be-.
fore, and it worried her. 1t did not
seem right that a man should cry. 1t
seemed a weakness, and that .her IA
Their of all men should do it, he who
was not afraid Of anything or any one,
was wholly unaccountable to her.
When they reached home Peg busted
herself about her father, trying to
make him comfortable. furtively watch
ing him all the while. When she had
put him in an easy chair and brought
him his slippers and built up the fire
she sat down on a little stool by his
side. After a long silence she stroked
the back Of his hand and then gave
him a little tug. He looked down at
her.
What IS 1t, Peg?
'"Was my mother very beautiful, IA
ther?"
1.-THE most beautiful woman that
ever lived in all the wurrld, Peg"
"She looks beautiful in the picture
ye have Of her"
From the inside pocket Of his coat
he drew out a little beautifully paint
ed miniature. The frame had long
since been worn and frayed. O'Con-
nell looked at the face, and his eyes
shone.
'The man that painted it couldn't
put the soul of her into it. That he
couldn't; not the soul Of her"
Gam I like her at all, father" asked
Peg wistfully.
"Sometimes ye are. dear, very like"
After a little pause Peg said:
"Ye loved her very much, father,
didn't YEP
He nodded. II loved her with all
the heart Of me and all the strength Of
me-"
Peg sat quiet for some minutes; then
she asked him a question very quietly
and hung in suspense on his answer:
do We love me as much as ye loved
her, father?"
ITS different, Peg, quito quite diff
ferent."
"Why Is it," She waited.
He did not answer.
"Sure, love is love whether ye feel
It for a woman or a child" she per-
sisted.