Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-05-06

The whole family were aghast.
Ethel looked Indignantly at Peg.
Mrs. Chichester calculated, "What?'
Alaric, almost struck dumb, fell back
upon We'll, [ mean to say"
"And you shall go in with MI. Jer-
~" 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. 1 think yer life is
safe. I want to tell We we've saved
NINE" She put one hand gently on
her little stomach and cried, 81 am so
hungry me soul is hangin' by a
thread"
Laughing gayly the two new found
friends went in search Of the dining
room.
"Dsgracefulw ventured Ethel.
"AWful!' said the stunned Alaric.
"She must be taken in hand at once!"
came in firm tones from Mrs. Chiches-
ter. "She must never be left alone
again. Come quickly before she can
disgrace us any further today"
The days that followed were never
to be forgotten ones for Peg. Her ma
ture was in continual revolt. The
teaching Of her whole lifetime she was
told to correct. Everything she said,
everything she looked, everything she
did was wrong.
Tutors We're engaged to prepare her
for the position she might II day en-
joy through her dead uncle's will.
They did not remain long. She show
ed either marked incapacity to acquire
the slightest veneer Of culture-else it
was pure willfulness.
The only CLEANS of relief she had
We're on the occasions when Jerry Wis
tied the family. Whenever they could
avoid Mrs. Chichester's watchful eyes
they would chat and laugh and play
like children.
Her letters to her father were at
first very bitter regarding her treat
ment by the family. Indeed, so resent
full did they become that her father
wrote to her in reply urging her, If she
was so unhappy, to at once return to
him on the next steamer. The month
she had promised to stay was drawing
to an end. But one more day remain
ed. 1t was to be a memorable one for
Peg.
Jerry had ~endeavored at various
times to encourage her to study. One
day he gave her a large, handsomely
bound volume and asked her to read
it at odd times and he would examine
her in it when she had mastered its
contents. She opened it wonderingly
and found it to be Love Stories of
the World"
1t became Pegs treasure. She kept
it hidden from every one in the house.
She made a cover for it out of a piece
Of cloth, so that no one could see the
ornate binding. She would read it at
night in her room, by day out in the
fields or by the sea. The book was q
revelation to her. 1t gave all her i'm
a%gination full play. Through its pages
treaded q stately procession Of kings
and queens-Wagnerian heroes and
heroines, Shakespearean creations, me-
lodious in verse, and countless others.
All through the month Christian
Brent vas 4 frequent visitor. 1t Peg
only despised the Chichesters she posi-
lively loathed Brent. Peg was wait
ing for a really good chance to find out
Mr.. Brent's real character. The op-
portunity came.
On the night of the last day of the
trial month Peg vas lying face down
ward on a. sofa reading her treasure
when she became conscious of some
one being in the room watching her.
She started up in a panic, i%nstinctively
hiding the book behind her. She found
Brent staring down at her in open adj
miration. Something in the intentness
feet.
1.-THE book must be absorbing.
What is it?' he asked.
Peg faced him, the book clasped in
both Of her hands behind her back.
her eyes flashing and her heart throb-
bling.
"You mustn't be angry, child. What
is it, eh? Something forbidden" and
he leered knowingly at her. Then he
made a quick snatch at the book. say
ing, "ShOw it me"
Peg ran across the room and, turn
ing up a corner Of the carpet, put the
book under it, turned back the carpet,
put her foot determinedly on it and
turned again to face her tormentor.
Brent went rapidly across to her.
The instinct Of the chase was quick in
his blood.
"a hiding place. eh? Now you make
me really curious. Let me see." He
again made Il movement toward the
hidden book.
Peg clinched both Of her hands into
Iittln Q,tc and ulopaI NJ Prapt whilo