The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-07-21

inal sim In me an that l wasn't TO he
punished for 1t because / couldn't help
it
Then he used to punish himself for
my fault An when i saw 1t hurt bin
/ usen't to do 1t a~ga1n-for awhile at
least l think that was a grand wsEy
to bring up a daughter. I've been Won
dertn' since I've been here II an aunt
could bring a niece up the anne way"
And she looked q~uizzicaIly at Mn.
| Chichester.
Jarvis came in with a letter on q
salver. IT,.
.-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 f.
"Who ia It frum?" asked Mrs. Chi
chester.
Mr.. Brent" replied Ethel indiffer
emily. IT,
"Brent?" cried Alsric. what on
earth does DO write to- yon fort"
He wants me to do something for
him." And she tore the letter up into
the smallest pieces ami placed them in
a receptacle on the desk.
"Come, Aiaric." And Mrs. Ctdches
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
were left alone: Peg went light over
to her and looked at her compassion.
ately. .
what do you meanT' said Ethel.
with a sudden contraction or her
breath. -.
"You like Mr.. Brent, don't yer u
80 the moment had come. The little
SOY 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 / like Mr. Brent. he Is a
very old friend Of the familyr
Hes got q wifeT' a
he hasT' ... ~
AN a babyY'
"Yes-and "a baby" Ethel was net
J going to betray herself. She would
Just wait to see what course this cree
ture was going to take with her.
They were now seated together, Eth
; ell holding her little white poodle, at
| which Peg pointed contemptrousiy.
Peg went on:
.Of course I've seen the wife
or the baby because be never seems
to have them with him when be- calls
here. But I've often heard Aiaric ask
| afther them. ~ e.
sWell?' asked Ethel coldly.
| els II usual for English husbands
with babies to kiss other women's
handsr And Peg looked swiftly at
her cousin. '
Ethel checked an outburst and said
40LIo Soi11Ss s.fFraa#r O.. ga.
1T is a very old and q very respect.
ed custom PSI 40
'The divtl doubt 1t but It's old. I'm
not so sure about the respect Why
doesn't he kiss me aunt's hand as
WELT"
Ethel could not control herself mnch
longer. 1t was becoming unbearable.
As she crossed the room she said with
as little beat as possible:
+You don't understand"
well. but I'm thryin' TO-" persisted
Peg. That's why l watch ~ all the
time" e., ,..
Ethel turned. She was now at tay.
"You watch me?' .... .
aren't 70 me model?"
"It's contemptibe!' cried Ethel.
"Sure I only saw the old an re-
spected custom by accident-wheh I
came In through there q month agO-
an once since when I came In again
by Academia few days a~ftherWard.
I couldn't help seem It both times.
An, as for bein' contemplate. I'm not
70 sure the custom doesn't deserve all
the contempt"
Ethel was now thoroughly aroused.
II suppose 1t Is toO much to expect
that a child OF the common people
should understand the customs OF de-
tent people," -
"Mebbe It is" replied Peg. but I
don't see why the common people
should nave all the decency an the
ar~istocracy none"
1T is impossible 70 talk to you. I
was foolish to have stayed here. You
don't understand. You never could
understand
Peg interrupted: why, I never saw
re excited before-not a bit Of color In
yer cheeks till now-except twice! Ye
look just as ye did when MI. Brent
followed that old an respected Gus
tom ON yer hand" cried Peg. The
young girls eyes were ablaze. How
wildly she remembered the eventful
scene that confronted her when she
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