Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-04-22

Il 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, / wasn't stealin' them. l just
took 'em. | wanted-tO wear them
answered Peg readily. Suddenly Peg
saw a way Of escape, and she jumped
quickly at it. Il wanted to wear them
at the dance"
"What dance:" demanded Mrs. Chi
chester.
cover therein the Assembly rooms
tonight l went over there, an [
danced, an when | came back l 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 were both goin' up to bed when
| 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 COM
ing here. Don't be frightened
Alaric pushed his electric light full
into the visitors face and fell back.
"Good heavens, Jerry!' he calculated,
completely astonished 81 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. 1
asked her to co.
Mrs. Chichester looked at him
stonily.
"You took my niece to a dance in
spite Of my absolute refusal to allow
her to go?"
"He had nothin' to do with it," said
Peg. 81 took him to that dance
Mrs. Chichester looked steadily at
Jerry for a few moments before she
spoke. When she did speak her voice
was cold and hard and accusatory.
"Surely Sir Gerald Adair knows bet
ter than to take a girl of eighteen to a
public ball without her relations sane
tion?'
81 thought only of the pleasure it
would give her." he answered. "Please
accept my sincerest apologies"
4 ~
"Sir Gerald Adair! Are you Sir
Gerald Adair?'
"Yes, Peg"
$50 We have title, have YEP"
Peg felt somehow that she had been
cheated Why had he not told her?
Why did he let her play and romp and
joke and banter with him as though
they had been children and equals?
II am ashamed of you. You have
disgraced us all!' cried Mrs. Chiches-
ter at Peg.
"Have II" screamed Peg fiercely.
1--WE disgraced We. have I? Well, none
Of you can tell me the truth. I'm go
in back to me father"
eco back to your father, and glad
we are to be rid of your
Before Peg could say anything fur
Their Ethel suddenly rose unsteadily
and cried out:
"Wait mother! She mustn't go. We
have all been grossly unfair to her. 1t
is l should go. Tonight she saved me
from-she saved me from Sudden
ly Ethel reached the breaking point.
She slipped from Pegs arms to the
chair and on to the floor and lay quite
still.
Peg knelt down beside her:
"She's tainted. Give her air."
Peg loosened Ethel's dress and talketl
to her all the while. and Jerry and
Alaric hurried out in different direc
tons in quest of restoratives.
Mrs. Chichester came toward Ethel
thoroughly alarmed and upset.
But Peg would not let her touch
the inanimate girl.
go away from herr cried Peg hys-
terically. What good do We think We
can do her? What do you know about
her? You don't know anything about
yer children. Ye don't know how to
| raise them. Ye don't know a thought
in yer child's mind. Why don't We
sit down beside her sometimes an
find out what she thinks an who she
sees? Take her hand in yer own an
get her to open her soul to We! Be a
mother to her! A lot ye know about
motherhood! I want to tell ye me ia
Their knows more about motherhood
than any man in the wurrld."
Poor Mrs. Chichester fell back. crush
ed and Inundated from Pegs on
slaught.