Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-03-11
year on the anniversary OF

her mothers death O'ConneIl had a
mass said fer the repose Of .Angela's
soul. and he would kneel beside Peg
through the service and he silent for
the rest of the day. One year be had
candles blessed by the archbishop lit
on Our Lady'S altar. and he stayed long
after the service WAS over He sent
Peg home. But. although Peg obcyed
him partially by leaving the church,
she Kept watch outside until her ia
ther came out. He was wiping his
eyes as he saw her. He pretended to
be very angry,
Didn't | tell We to go homew
I'VE did. father"
Then why didn't We obey me?"
Sure an what would / be dom at
home, all alone. without YOU! Don't
be cross with me, father"
He took her hand. and they walked
home in silence. fIe 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 Il 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 fAthrr. trying TO
make him comfortable. turtively watch
ing him I'LL 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 Il little stool by his
side. After a long silence she strokel
he back of his hand and then gave
him Il little tug. He looked down at
her.
What is it. Peg"
WAS my mother very beautiful. ia
Their"
The most beautiful woman that
eve lived in all the wurrld, Peg"
she looks beautiful in the picture
We have Of her"
From the inside pocket of his coat
he drew out Il little beautifully paint
ed miniature. The frame had long
since been worn and frayed. O'Con-
nell looiled 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 like her at all. father" asked
Peg wistfully.
sometimes We are, dear, very like"
After Il little pause Peg said:
"Ye loved her very much. father,
didn't ye?
lie nodded. Il 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 We loved
her, father?'
ITS different, Peg, quite, quite diff
ferent.'
why is it," She waited.
He did not answer.
Sure. love is love whether We feel
it for Il or a child" she per-
sisted.
O'Connell remained silent.
Did ye love her betther than We
love me, father"" Her soul was in her
great blue eyes as she waited eXcitedly
for the answer to that. to her, momen-
tOuS question.
why do We ask me that said
O'Connell.
Because | always feel a little sharp
pain right through my heart whenever
ye talk about me mother. Ye see, ia
Their, I've thought all these years that
l was the one We really loved
"Ye're the only one l have in the
wurrld, Peg"
And ye don't love her memory bet
Their than ye do me"
OConnell put both of his arms
around her.
Yer mother is with the saints, Peg,
and here are you by me side. Sure
there's room Ill me heart for the mem
DRY Of her and the love Of you"
She breathed Il little sigh of satis.
faction and nestled on to her fathers
shoulder. The little fit Of childish .ieal
ousy OF her dead Enther's place in her
fathers heart passed
She wanted no nMe to share her ia.
Tiers affection with her. She gave him
all Of hers. She needed all Of his.
When Peg vas eighteen years old
and they We're living in Dublin. O'Con.
nell was offered quite a good position
i'll New York. 1t appealed to him
The additional money would make
things easier for Peg. She was almost
a woman now, and he wanted her tc
get the finishing touches of education
that would prepare her for a position
in the world if she met the man she
felt she could marry. Whenever he
would speak of marriage Peg would
laugh scornfully:
WHO would | be afther marryin', IL
like to know? Where in the wurrld
would | find 4 man like you"
And no cOaXing would make her car
ry on the discussion or consider its
possibility.
, 1t still harassed him to think he had
so little to leave her if anything hap