The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-11
tcoNTlNUED.,

'Then he used to punish himself for
my fnult An when saw It hurt him
/ usen't to do 1t again-for awhile at
least think that was grand way
to bring up u daughter I've been Won
derin' since I've been here IL an aunt
could bring niece up the same way"
And she looked qulzzicaIly at Mrs.
Chichester.
Jarvis came in with letter on a
salver
"WellT asked the old lady.
For Miss Chichester, madam" And
he handed Ethel the letter. by hand,
miss"
Ethel took the letter quite uncOn-
sciously and opened it.
who is II from?' asked Mrs. Chi
chester
MIR. Brent" replied Ethel indiffer-
emily.
"Brent?" cried Alaric. What on
earth does he write to you FORT"
HE wants me to do something for
him." And she tore the letter mp into
the smallest pieces and placed them IN
n receptacle on the desk
Come, Alaric." And Mrs. Chirhes-
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 tight over
to her and looked at her compassion
ately.
what do you mean:" said Ethel,
with sudden contraction or her
breath.
''You like Mr.. Brent. don't ye?"
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 he an.
ger In her nature surged uppermost as
Ethel answered Peg, hut she kept her
voice under control
Certainly like Mr. Brent. He Is a
very old friend of the family"
"He's got II wife!"
He has!''
AN baby"
"Yes-and baby" Ethel was not
going to betray herself She wonld
just wait to see what course this crea.
ture was going to take with her.
They were now seated together, Eth
ell holding her iittp white puodle. at
which Peg pointed contemporary.
Peg went on:
'Of course I've never seen the wife
or the baby because lie never seems
to have them with him when ne calls
here. But I've often heard Alaric ask
afther them"
"Well?' asked Ethel c0ldly.
SIS 1t usual for English husbands
with babies to kiss other woInrn y
hands?" And Peg looked swiftly at
her cousin =
Ethel checked an outburst and said
quite calmly:
1T is a very old and very respect.
ed custom
"The divil doubt 1t hut it's old. I'm
not so sure about the respect. Why
doesn't be kiss me aunt's hand as
well?"
Ethel could not control herself much
longer. 1t was becoming unbearable.
AS she crossed the rooni she said with
as little heat us possible:
"You don't understand
"Well. but I'm thryin' to-" persisted
Peg. That's why watch We all the
time"
Ethel turned. She was now ut bay.
"You watch me?''
Aren't ye me- model?'
Its contemptibie." cried Ethel.
Sure only saw the old an re-
spected custom by accident when
came in through there IA month ago
an once since when | came in again
by accidental few days aftherwaul.
L couldn't help seem it both times.
An. as for Dein' contemptibe, I'm not
so sure the custom doesn't deserve all
the contempt
Ethel was now thoroughly aroused
Il suppose II Is too much 10 expect
that q child or the common people
should understand the customs OF de-
cent people,"
"Mebbe 1t is." replied Peg. but
don't see why the common people
should have all the decency an the
aristocracy none"
1T Is impossible to talk 10 you. 1
was foolish TO have stayed here. Yon
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 We did when Mr.. Brent
followed that old an respected GUS
tom on yer hand" cried peg. The
young girls eyes were -ablaae. How
vividly she remembered the ereutfui
scene that confronted her when she
first arrived at the Chichester home
days before!
Ethel answered this time. excitedly
and Indignantly. giving full and free
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
1t this moment As it is-as It 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