Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-05-06

ter left the room after admonishing
Peg that an hour would be sufficient to
sit up.
LET us be honest with each other.
Ethel" said Peg when the two girls
were left alone. Peg went right over
to her and looked at her compassion.
ately.
what do you mean?" said Ethel,
with sudden contraction of her
breath.
"You like Mr.. Brent, don't ye2"
So the moment had come. The little
spy had been watching her. Well. she
would fight this common little Irish
nobody to the bitter end All the an-
ger in her nature surged uppermost as
Ethel answered Peg, but she kept her
voice under control.
Certainly like MT. Brent. He is a
very old friend Of the familyv'
"He's got wife?"
"He hasv'
AN baby?"
.Yes-and baby" Ethel was not
going to betray herself. She would
just wait to see what course this crea-
ture was going to take with her.
They were now seated together, Eth
ell holding her little white poodle, at
which Peg pointed contemporary.
Peg went on:
'Of course I've never seen the wife
or the baby because he never seems
to have them with him when ne calls
here. But I've often heard Alaric ask
afther them"
"Well?" asked Ethel coldly.
lis it usual for English husbands
with babies to kiss other womens
hands?" And Peg looked swiftly at
her cousin.
Ethel checked an outburst and said
quite calmly:
ut is very old and very respect
ed custom"
''The divil doubt 1t but it's old. I'm
not SO sure about the respect. Why
doesn't he kiss me aunts hand as
well?"
Ethel could not control herself mnch
longer. 1t was becoming unbearable.
AS she crossed the room she said with
as little heat as possible:
"You don't understand"
"Well. but I'm thryin' to-" persisted
Peg. That's why l watch ye all the
time"
Ethel turned. She was now at bay.
"You watch meY'
Aren't ye me modelY
tits contemptiblep' cried Ethel.
"Sure only saw the old an re-.
spected custom by accident-when
came In through there month ago
an once since when came in again
by accident-a few days aftherward.
couldn't help SEEM It both times
An, as for bein' contemplate, I'm not
so sure the custom doesn't deserve all
the contempt"
Ethel was now thoroughly aroused.
Il suppose it is too much to expect
that child OF the common people
should understand the customs OF de-
cent people"
"Mebbe it is" replied Peg. but
don't see why the common people
should have ali the decency an the
aristocracy none"
ut is impossible to talk to you.
was foolish to have stayed here. You
don't understand. You never could
understand
Peg interrupted: why, never saw
ye excited before-not bit of color in
yer cheeks till now--except twice! Ye
look just as ye did when Mr.. Brent
followed that old an respected Gus.
tom on yer hand,' cried Peg. The
young girls eyes were ablaze. How
vividly she remembered the eventfuI
scene that confronted her when she
first arrived at the Chichester home
days before!
Ethel answered this time, excitedly
and Indignantly, giving full and fre~
vent to her Just anger:
"Be good enough never to speak to
me again as long as you're In this
house. II had my way you'd leave
It this moment AS It is-as 1t is"-
Her voice rose almost to scream.
Her rage was unbridled.
What more she might have said was
checked by the door opening and Jar.
Wis showing in Jerry.
Jerry walked cheerfully and smiling
" into the room and Was sinazed to
find the two young ladies' giaring at
each other and apparently in the midst
of conflict
All power OF speech left him as be
stood looking In amazement at the
eombatants.