Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-05-06

ed herself quickly.
"And why did you do thatw asked
her aunt severely.
II had a picture Of what we're goin'
to tell him."
"Why do you constantly disobey me?'
pursued the old lady.
II suppose it is the original gin in
me-" replied Peg thouehtfully.
"What?" cried Mrs. Chichester, again
taken completely aback.
ooh, | say. you know. That's good!
Ha" And Alaric laughed heartily. Peg
Joined in and laughed heartily with
him. Alaric Immediately stopped.
Ethel took absolutely no notice Of
any one.
Peg sat down beside her aunt and ex-
planned to her: "Whenever / did any
thing Willful or diSturbin' as Il child
me father always said it was the orig
1nal sin in me an that / v"H;n't to be
punished for it because l couldn't help
it.
Then he used to punish himself for
my fault. An when l saw it hurt him
l usen't to do it again-for awhile at
least. l think that was a grand way
to bring up a daughter. I've been Won
derin' since I've been here if an aunt
could bring q niece up the same way
And she looked quizzically at Mrs.
Chichester.
Jarvis came in with a letter on Il
salver.
"Well:" 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.
"VFho is it FROM" asked Mrs. Chi
chester.
"Mr. Brent" replied Ethel indifer-
emily.
BRENT" cried Alaric. what on
earth does he write to you for?"
He wants me to do something for
him. And she tore the letter up into
the smallest pieces and placed them in
q IeCepldcle Oh TIE desk.
Come, Alaric." And Mrs. Chiches-
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
We're left alone. Peg went right over
to her and looked at her compassion
ately.
"What do you mean?" said Ethel,
with Il sudden contraction Of 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 the an
ger in her nature surged uppermost as
Ethel answered Peg, but she kept her
voice under control.
Certainly l like Mr.. Brent. He is q
very old friend of the family!'
He's got q wife,
"He has!!'
"An' a baby?"
"Yes-and a baby" Ethel was not
going to betray herself. She would
just wait to see what course this crea-
ture was going to take with her.
They were now seated together, Eth
ell holding her little white poodle, al
which Peg pointed contemptuously.
Peg went on:
"Of course I've never seen the wife
Or the baby because he never seems
to have them with him when he calls
here. But I've often heard Alaric ask
afther them"
"Well?" asked Ethel coldly.
"Is it usual for English husbands
with babies to kiss other women's
hands" And Peg looked swiftly al
her cousin.
Ethel checked an outburst and said
quite calmly:
ct is Il very old and a very respect,
ed CUSTOM
"The divil doubt it but it's old. I'm
not so sure about the respect. Why
doesn't he kiss me aunts hand as
well?"
Ethel could not control herself mucl
longer. 1t was becoming unbearable
AS she crossed the room she said with
as little heat as possible:
"You don't understand"
"Well. but I'm thryin' to-" persisted
Peg. CHATS why l watch We all the
time"
Ethel turned. She was now at bay.
You watch me-"
aren't ye me model?'
"It's contemptible!.' cried Ethel.
Sure I only saw the old an re
sDected custom by accident-when !