Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-05-26

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his arm. 5s
Mrs. Chichester qsielly interpossk
MY niece Il tiredsafter her tournsy,
She will lunch In her room" asx
"Oh, but I'm not a bit tired" ejacu.
lated Peg anxiously. "I'm not tired
at all, an I'd much rather have lunch
down here with Mr.. Jerry"
The whole family were nghast
Ethel looked Indignantly at Peg.
Mrs. Chichester calculated, "What?''
Alaric, almost struck dumb, fell back
upon "Well, mean to sayv'
"And you shall go in with Mr.. Jer-
ry," said that young gentleman, Slip
ping Pegs arm through his own. Turn
ing to Mrs. Chichester, he asked her:
with your permission we will lead
the way. Come, Peg" and he led her
to the door and opened it.
Peg looked up at him, a roguish light
dancing in her big, expressive eyes.
"Thanks. I'm not so sure about that
wager Of yours. think yer life Is
safe. l want to tell We we've saved
mine." She put one hand gently on
her little stomach and cried, II am so
hungry me soul is hangin' by a
thread"
Laughing gayly the two new found
friends went In search of the dining
room.
"Disgraceful" ventured Ethel.
"Awful!' said the stunned Alaric.
"She must be taken in hand at oncey'
came in firm tones from Mrs. Chiches-
ter. ''She must never be left alone
again. Come quickly before she can
disgrace us any further today"
The days that followed were never
to be forgotten ones for Peg. Her ma
ture was in continual revolt. The
teaching of her whole lifetime she was
told to correct. Everything she said,
everything she looked, everything she
did was wrong.
Tutors were engaged to prepare her
for the position she might one day en-
JOY through her dead uncle's will.
They did not remain long. She show
ed either marked 1ncapacity to acquire
the slightest veneer of culture-else it
was pure willfulness.
The only CLEANS of relief she had
were on the occasions when Jerry WIS.,
tied the family. Whenever they could
avoid Mrs. Chichester's watchful eyes
they would chat and laugh and play
like children.
Her letters to her father were at
first very bitter regarding her treat.
ment by the family. Indeed, so resent
full did they become that her father
wrote to her in reply urging her, If she
was so unhappy, to at once return to
him on the next steamer. The month
she had promised to stay was drawing
to an end. But one more day remain
ed. It was to be q memorable one for
Peg.
Jerry had endeavored at various
times to encourage her to study. One
day he gave her large, handsomely
bound volume and asked her to read
it at odd times and he would examine
her in it when she had mastered its
contents. She opened it wonderingly
and found it to be "Love Stories of
the World"
It became Pegs treasure. She kept
it hidden from every one in the house.
She made a cover for it out of piece
of cloth, so that no one could see the
ornate, binding. She would read it at
night in her room, by day out in the
fields or by the sea. The book was q
revelation to her. 1t gave all her i'm
agination full play. Through it's pages
treaded a stately procession of kings
and queens Wagnerian heroes and
heroines, Shakespearean creations, me.
lodious In verse, and countless others.
All through the month Christian
Brent was frequent visitor. If Peg
only despised the Chichesters she posi-
lively loathed Brent. Peg was wait
ing for really good chance to find out
Mr.. Brent's real character. The op-
portunity came.
On the night Of the last day of the
trial month Peg was lying face down,
ward on sofa reading her treasure
when she became conscious of some
one being in the room watching her
She started up in panic, instinctively
hiding the book behind her. She found
Brent staring down at her in open ad.
miration. Something in the intentness
Of his gaze caused her to spring to hel
feet.
'"The book must be absorbing.
What is it?'' he asked.
Peg faced him, the book clasped in
both Of her hands behind her back,
her eyes flashing and her heart throb.
bling.
"You mustn't be angry, child. What
is it, eh? Something forbiddenY and
he leered knowingly at her. Then he
made quick snatch at the book, say,
ing, "ShOw it me!'
Peg ran across the room and, turn.
ing up corner of the carpet, put the
book under it, turned back the carpet
put her foot determinedly on it and
turned again to face her tormentOr.
Brent went rapidly across to her
The instinct Of the chase was quick In
his blood.
"A hiding place, eh? Now you make
me really curious. Let me see." He
again made a movement toward the
hidden book.
Peg clinched both Of her hands into
little fists and glared at Brent, while
her breath came in quick, sharp gasps
II love spiritv' cried Brent.
Then he looked at her charming
6roco ~ how ekx,1lol, oolAc,,~o % A.