The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1915-06-24

The grief stricken woman turned
away as Jarvis passed out Alaric
tried to comfort her. But the strain
Of the morning had been too great.
He looked cheerfully at Jerry and
smiled as he said:
81 even offered to marry her II she'd
stay. Couldn't do more than that.
could Ir'
Jerry returned Alaric's smile as he
asked:
.You offered to marry herr'
sAlaric nodded.
"Poor little wretchr'
Down the stairs came Peg and Ethel.
Mrs. Chichester looked at Peg through
misty eyes and said reproachfnlly:
"Why that old black dress! Why not
one Of the dresses gave your
"This IL the way left me father. an
this 70 the way I'm goin' back to himl'
raplied Peg stufdily.
"xUurs nvt Ding, Peg" said Jerry
quietly and positively.
''Who'a g0in' to stop mer
'-1'he chief executor of the late Mr..
Kingsnurth's WILL"
"An' who 10 thatT'
"Mr. Jerry, Pegr'
you an executorT
II am. Sit d0wn-here In our midst
and know why you have been here all
the past month"
He forced Peg gently into chair.
"Have you ever wondered at the real
reason you were brought here to this
house and the extraordinary interest
taken in you by relations who until a
month ago had never even bothered
about your existence2"
II have, indade," Peg answered.
"But whenever I've asked any one I've
always been told it was me uncle's
WISH"
"And It was. Indeed, his keenest de-
sire Just before his death was to atone
in some way for his unkindness to your
mother"
"Nothin' could do that" and Pegs
lips frightened.
'That was why he sent for you"
"Sendin' for me won't bring me poor
mother back to life, will it?"
AT least we must respect his inten-
lions. He desired that you should be
given the advantages your mother had
when she was girl.
"ln justice to yourself" proceeded
Jerry, you must know that he set
aside the sum Of $1,000 year to be
paid to the lady who would undertake
your training"
Peg sprang up and walked across to
her aunt and looked down at her.
"A thousand pounds YEAR, She
turned to Jerry and asked: Does she
get thousand year for abusln' me?
Well, what do ye think Of that?" cried
reg, gazing curiously at Mrs. Chiches.
ter. "a thousand pounds a year for
maxim me miserable. an the poor dead
man thinkin' he was dOln' me favOr!"
II tell you this" went on Jerry, "be-
cause don't want you to feel that you
have been living on charity. You have
not"
Peg suddenly biazed up:
"Well, I've been made to feel It." and
she glared passiOnately at her aunt
Pegs anger gave place to just as sud.
den twinge Of regret as she caught
sight Of Ethel, white faced and stnr.
ing at her c0mpassionately. She went
across to Ethel and buried her face on
her shoulder and wept as she wailed:s
"Why wasn't told2 I'd never have
stayed! Why wasn't told?"
And Ethel comfOrted her.
"Don't cry, DEAR" she whispered.
Don't The day you came here We
were beggars You have literally fed
and housed us for the last month"
Poor Mrs. Chichester looked at her
daughter reproachfully.
Peg grasped the full meaning Of Eth
els words:
"And will ye have nothin' If 60
awayw
Peg persisted:
'Tell me-are We ralely dependin' on
me? Spake to me. Because II ye are
won't 60. I'll stay with ye. l
wouldn't see ye beggars for the
wurrld. I've been brought up amongst
them, an know what It is"
Suddenly she took Ethel by the
shoulders and asked In voice 80 low
that none Of the others heard her:
WAS that the reason We were goin'
last night"
Ethel tried to stop her.
The truth illumined Ethel's face. and
Peg saw 1t and knew.
"HOly Mary" she cried. "And 1t
was was drivin' ye to It. Ye felt the
insult of it every time ye met me, as
ye said last night. Sure, II I'd known.
dear, I'd never have hurt ye,
wouldn't. Indade wouldnt?'
She turned to the others.
'sThere. it's all settled. I'll stay with
We, aunt. an ye can tache me anything
We like. Will some one ask Jarvis to
bring back my bundles an Michael3
I'm goln' to stayr'
Jerry smiled approvingly at her.
Then he said:
'That is just what ! would have ex-
pected you to do; but. my dear Peg.
there's no need for such sacrifice"
"Sure, why notY' cried Peg excited
". LET me sacrifice meself. ! feel
like It this mint"
"There Is no occasion"
He walked over to Mrs. Chichester
and addressed her:
81 came here this morning with some
very good news for you. happen to
be one of the directors of Gthord's