The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-02-15
CHAPTER x.
Pea Away Fron EIonns

Peg Away From Home.
 NOR the next few days Peg was A busy preparing herself for the
 journey and buying little things
 for her scanty equipment. Then the cable came to the effect that a passage was reserved for her and mon ey was waiting at a bankers for her expenses. This Peg obstinately refus- ed to touch. She didn't want anything except what her father gave her.
 When the morning of her departure came poor Peg woke with a heavy heart It was their first parting ana she was miserable.
 O'Connell, on the contrary, seemed full of life and high spirits. He laughed at her and joked with her and made a little bundle of some things that would not go in her bag and that he had kept for her to the last minute. They were a rosary that had been his mothers, prayer book Father Cahin gave him the day he was confirmed and lastly the little miniature of An gela. It wrung his heart to part with it, but he wanted Peg to have it near her, especially as she was going among the relations of the-dead wo- man. All through this O'Connell show ed not a trace of emotion before Peg. He kept telling her there was nothing to be sad about, It was all going to be for her good.
 When the time came to go the strange pair made their way down to the ship-the tall, erect, splendid look ing man and the little red haired girl in her simple black suit and her little black hat, with red flowers to bright en 1t.
 O'Connen went aboard with her, and an odd couple they looked on the sg- loon deck, with Peg holding on to Michael, much to the amusement of the passengers, the visitors and stew ards.
 Poor, stanch, loyal. honest, true lit tie Peg, going alone to-what2 LeaV- ing the one human being she cared for and worshiped-- playmate, counsel or, friend and father-all in one!
 o'Connen never dropped his high spirits all the time they were together on board the ship. He went aboard with laugh, and when the bell rang for all visitors to go ashore he said goodby to Peg with a laugh, while poor Pegs heart felt like a stone in her breast She stood sobbing up against the rail of the saloon deck as the ship swung clear. She was looking for her father through the mists of tears that blinded her.
 Just as the boat slowly swept past the end of the~dock she saw him right at the last post so that he could watch the boat uninterruptedly until it wan out of sight. He was crying himself now-crying like child-and aa the boat swung away he Called up: My ht- tie Peg! Peg O my hearth How A7, sIrqv -T back to him! They stood waving to each other as long as they remained in sight.
 While the ship plowed her way to- ward England with little Peg on board the man whom she was crossing the Atlantic to meet died quietly one morn ing with no one near him
 The nurse found MT. KingsnOrth smiling peacefully as though asleep He had been dead several hours,
 Near him on the table was cable dispatch from New York:
 My daughter sailed on the 1Eaureta.nia today at 10 o'clock.
 FRANK OWEN o'coDJNEL.L.
 Mrs. Chichester, whom we last saw under extremely distressing circum- stances in Ireland, now enters promt- nently into the story. She was lead ing a secluded and charming existence in an old and picturesque villa at Scar borough, in the north of England AL though her husband had been dead for l several years, she still clung to the outward symbols of mourning It add ed a softness to the patrician line Of her features and touch of dishnctl0n to her manner and poise. She had an l fIIustrious example of a lifelong sor- row, and, being ever loyal, Mrs. Chi chester retained the weeds of widow hood and the crape of afhiction ever present.
 tTo Be conttnued.1