The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-03-04

49, - -
ed herself quickly
'sAnd why did you do that?' asked
her aunt severely.
81 had a picture Of what ye're goin'
to tell him.
teyvhy do you Constantly disobey me2''
pursued the old lady.
81 suppose it is the original sin in
me-" replied Peg thoughtfuIiy-
sWhatT' cried Mrs. Chichester, again
taken completely aback.
'-Oh, I say. you know! That's goodl
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 exc
planned to her: whenever did any
thing willfdI or dtsturbin' as a child
me father always said it was the orig
1nal sim in me an that I wasn't to be-
punished for it Because I couldn't HELM
It.
Then he used to punish him9elf for
my fault An when I saw it hglrt him
usen't to do it again-for awhile at
least. think that was a gSspd way
to bring up a daughter. I've been Won
derin' since I've been here if an aunt
could bring s. niece up the same Way.s
And she looked qutzzically at hrs
Chichester.
Jarvis came in with letter on a
ealver.
@WelIY' asked the old lady.
eFer Miss Chichester, madam" And.
he handed Ethel hesIetter. "By hand
miss
Ethel took the letter quite uncOn-
sciously and opened it
'sWho is it fromg' asked Mrs Chi
chester
.Mr. Brent replied Ethel tndiner-
emily.
"Brent?' cried AIaric. s'What on
earth does he write to you for9''
ssHe wants me to do something for
him. And she tore the letter up into
the smallest pieces and placed them in
a receptacle on the desk
"Come, A1aric'' And Mrs. Chiches-
ter left the room after admOuishing
Peg that an hour would be sufficient to
sit up
LET us be honest with each other
Ethel said Peg when the two girls
were left alone. Peg went right over
to her and looked at her compassion
ately.
"What do you meang" said Ethel,
with a sudden contraction of her
breath.
s.You like Mr. Brent. don't yep
So the moment had come. The little
spy had been watching her. Well, she
would fight this common ittl0 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 I like Mr.. Brent. He is a
very old friend of the familyr'
lies got a w1fe9''
Gle hasg'
can baby?"
'.Yes-and a baby" Ethel was NOT
going to betray herself. She would
just wait TO see what course this erea-
ture was going to take with hex
They were now seated together, Eth
ell holding her little white poodle, at
which Peg pointed eentemptuously.
Peg went on:
ssOf course I've never seen the wife
or the baby because he never seems
to have them with him when be calls
here. But I've often heard Alaric ask
afther them"
"WeIl?,' asked Ethel coldly.
rs it usual for English husbands
with babies to kiss other women's
handsY' And Peg. looked swiftly at
her cousin.
Ethel checked an outburst and said
quite calmly:
1T is very old and very respect
ed custom
seThe div1l doubt it but it's old. I'm
not so sure about the respect. Why
doesn't he kiss me auntss hand as
we1l?''
Ethel could not control herself much
longer It was becoming unbearable-
AS she crossed the room she said with
as little heat as possible:
ss1Gou don't understand
sswell, but I'm thryin' to-, persisted
Peg. That's why 1 watch ye all the
time''
Ethel turned. She was now at bay
ssYou watch negs'
"Aren't ye me ndodel?'
cts contemptibler" cried Ethel.
..Sure only saw the old an res
spected custom by accident-wfen Z
came in through there a month ago
an once since when 1 came in again
by accident-a few days aftherWard.
1 couldn't help SEEM it both times.
An, as for bein' contemplate. Tn Ees
so sure the custom doesn't deserve ga
the contempt
Ethel was now thoroughly aroused. \
81 sup, csc it is too much to expect
that a child of the common people
should understand the customs of de@
cent people" j
tTo Be cohtinued.J