The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-06-10


Mrs Chichester's attention from Ethel.
who was in so tense and nervous
condition that 1t seemed as if she
might faint at any moment. She
thrust the dressing bag into the old
lady's hand. Mrs. Chichester opened
it Immediately and found just inside it
Ethel's jewel box. She took it out and
held it up accusingly before Pegs
eyes. Her jewel box! Where did you
get this?"
II took it," said Peg promptly.
Mrs. Chichester opened the box. 1t
was full. Every jewel that Ethel own
ed was in it.
"Her jewels-Ethel's jewels!
Eyes, took them too
"You were stealing them"
"No, l wasn't steaiin' them. just
took 'em. l wanted-to wear them"
answered Peg readily. Suddenly Peg
saw way of escape. and she jumped
quickly at it. II wanted to wear them
at the dance"
"What dancer" demanded Mrs. Chi
chester
''Over therein the Assembly rooms
tonight. l went over there, an
danced, an when / came back made
a noise, an Ethel heard me. an she
threw on some clothes. an she came in
here to see who it was, an it was ME,
an we We're both goin' up to bed when
l slipped an fell down the stairs, an
some noisy thing fell down with me,
an that's ALL
Alaric called out from the window:
There's some one prowling in the
garden. He's on the path. He's CON-
ing here. Don't he frightened"
Alaric pushed his electric light full
into the visitors face and fell back.
"Good heavens, jerry" he calculated
completely astonished. Il say, you
know" he went on. what is happen
ing in this house tonight?"
Jerry came straight down to Mrs
Chichester.
81 saw your lights go up, and / came
here on the run. | guessed something
like this had happened. Don't be hard
on your niece. Mrs. Chichester. The
| whole thing was entirely my fault.
! asked her to go"
Mrs. Chichester looked at hin
stonily.
You took my niece to dance ir
spite of my absolute refusal to allow
her to go?"
"He had nothin' to do with it." sale
Peg. 81 took him to that dance
/ Mrs. Chichester looked steadily a
Jerry for a few moments before sh'
spoke When she did speak her voic.
was cold and hard and accusatory.
"Surely Sir Gerald Adair knows bet
ter than to take girl of eighteen to {
public ball without her relations sane
tion?'~
81 thought only of the pleasure j
would give her." he answered. "Pleas'
accept my sincerest apologies"
Peg locked at him in wonder.
"Sir Gerald Adair! Are you 81
Gerald Adair?"
Eyes. Peg"
$50 We have title. have ye?"
Peg felt somehow that she had beer
cheated Why had he not told her
Why did he let her play and romp an
Joke and banter with him as though
they had been children and equals?
II am ashamed of you! You hav
disgraced us ALL" cried Mrs. Chiches
ter at Peg.
"Have r." screamed Peg fiercely
"I've disgraced We, have I? Well, non
of you can tell me the truth. I'm &c
in back to me father"
"Go back to your father, and gla'
we are to be rid Of your
Before Peg could say anything ful
ther Ethel suddenly rose unsteadil
and cried out:
"Wait. mother. She mustn't go. W
have all been grossly unfair to her.
is should go. Tonight she saved m
from-she saved me from Sudder
ly Ethel reached the breaking poin
She slipped from Pegs arms to th
chair and on to the floor and lay quit
STILL
Peg knelt down beside her:
| Sle 5 Iiluteu. UlEe HeE all.
/ Peg loosened Ethel's dress and talke
to her all the while. and Jerry an
Alaric hurried out in different dire
tons il guest of restoratives.
Mrs Chichester came toward Ethe
thoroughly alarmed and upset.
But Peg would not let her touc
; the inanimate girl.
3 "Go away from herr cried Peg by
!. terically. What good do We think J
4 can do her? What do you know abo'
her? You don't know anything abol
yer children. Ye don't know how
raise them Ye don't know a thOugl
: in yer cbild's mind. Why don't .
sit down beside her sometimes a
: find out what she thinks an who $!
sees: Take her hand in yer own a
get her to open her soul to ye! Be
mother to her! A lot ye know abo
motherhood. I want to tell ye me |
e ther knows more about motherho
q than any man in the wurrld.'
. Poor Mrs. Chichester fell back. crus
ed and humiliated from Pegs Q
slaught.