Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-03-04
PEG O. MY HEART
By Hartley Manners
o

York before the news of her death
reached him.
The one bitter hatred of his life had
been against the man who had taken
his sister in marriage and in so doing
had killed all possibility OF Kingsnorth
succeeding in his political and social
aspirations.
He heard vaguely of daughter.
He took no interest in the news.
Now, however, the remembrance of
his treatment of Angela burnt into
him. He especially repented of that
merciless cable, You have made your
bed; lie in it." IL haunted him through
the long hours Of his slow and painful
illness. Had he helped her she might
have been alive today, and those bitter
reflections that ate into him night and
day might have been replaced by gen
tier ones and 50 make his end the more
peaceful.
He thought of Angela's child and
wondered if she were like his poor
dead sister The wish to see the CHILD
became an obsession with him.
One morning, after restless. fever
ish night, he sent for his lawyer ami
told him to ut once institute inquiries
find out if the child was still living
and if so where.
This his lawyer did. He located
O'Connell in New York through II
friend of his in the Irish party and
found that the child was living with
him in rather poor circumstances. He
communicated the result of his inqui-
ries to kingsnorth. That day letter
was sent to O'Connell asking him to
allow his child to visit her dying un-
Gle O'Connell was to cable at Kings
north'S expense, and if he would con
sent the money for the expenses of
the journey would be cabled immedi-
ately. The girl was to start ut once
as Mr.. kingsnorth had very little
longer to live.
When the letter had gone kingsnorth
drew a breath of relief. He onged to
see the child. He would have to wait
impatiently for the reply Perhaps the
man whom he had hated all his life
would refuse his request If he did
well, he would make some provision in
his will for her in memory of his dead
sister.
The next day he altered his entire
will and made Margaret O'Connell a
special legacy. Ten days later a cable
came:
consent to my daughters visiting you.
FRANK OWEN O'CONNELL.
The lawyer cabled at once, making
all arrangements through their bankers
in New York for Miss O'Connells jour
ney.
That night kingsnorth slept without
being disturbed He awoke refreshed
in the morning. 1t was the first kindly
action he had done for many years.
How much had he robbed himself of
all his life II by doing SO little he was
repaid SO much!
O'Connell had hard struggle with
Peg before she would consent to leave
him. She met all his arguments with
counter arguments Nothing would
move her for hours.
why should | go to man have
never seen and hate the name OFF,"
He's your uncle, Peg"
Its fine uncle he's been to me all
me life. And it was grand way he
threated me mother when she was
starvin'."
He wants to do somethin' for We
now, Peg
"I'll not go to him."
Now listen. dear; it's little I'll have
to lave We when I'm gone" pleaded
OConnell.
I'm not listen to any talk at all
about yer goin'. Yer great, strong.
healthy man-that's what We are
What are We talkin' about? What's
got into yer head about goin'?'
The time must come some day,
Peg
IAN right. Well know how to face
1t when 1t does. But we're not goin
out all the way to meet it, said Peg
resoluteiy.