The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-27
CONTINUED,
CHAPTER x.
Peg Away From Home.

! ior ueT ScdHts equipment. Inen
the cable came To the effect that a
passage was reserved for her and mon.
| ey was waiting ut a bankers for her
expenses. This Peg obstinately refus-
ed to touch. She didn't want anything
except what her father gave her.
When the morning OF her departure
came poor Peg woke with heavy
heart. 1t was their first parting, and
| she was miserable.
O'Connell. on the contrary. seemed
/ full of life and high spirits. He
| laughed at her and joked with her and
made a little bundle of some things
| that would not go in her bag and that
he had kept for her to the last minute.
They were rosary that had been his
/ mothers. a prayer book Father Cahill
| gave him the day he was confirmed
and lastly the little miniature Of An
| gela. 1t wrung his heart to part with
1t. but he wanted Peg to have it near
her, especially as she was going
among the relations of the dead wo.
man. All through this O'Connell show
ed not trace of emotion before Peg.
He kept telling her there was nothing
to be sad about. 1t was all going to
be for her good.
When the time came to go the
strange pair made their way down to
the ship-the tall. erect. splendid look.
Ing man and the little red haired girl
In her simple black suit and her little
black hat. with red flowers to bright
en- it.
O'Connell went aboard with her. and
an odd couple they looked on the sa-
loon deck, with Peg holding on to
Michael, much to the amusement of
the passengers. the visitors and stew.
ards.
Poor. stanch. loyal. honest. true lit.
tie Peg. going alone to-what? Leav-
ing the one human being she cared for
and worshiped-her playmate. counsel.
or. friend and father-all in one,
OConnell never dropped his high
spirits all the time they were together
on board the ship. He went aboard
with laugh. and when the bell rang
for all visitors to go ashore he said
goodby TO Peg with laugh. while
poor Pegs heart felt like stone in
her breast. She stood sobbing up
against the rail of the saloon deck as
the ship swung clear. She was looking
for her father through the mistS of
tears that blinded her.
Just as the boat slowly swept past
the end of the dock she saw him right
at the last post so that he could watch
the boat unintcrruptedly until it was
out of sight. He was crying himself
now-crying like Il child-and as the
boat swung away he called up: My lit
tie Peg. Peg o my heart How
she longed TO get OFF the ship and go
back to him, They stood waving to
each other as long as they remained
in sight.
While the ship plowed her way to-
ward England with little Peg on board
the man whom she was crossing the
Atlantic to meet died quietly one morn
ing with no one near him.
The nurse found Mr.. Kingsnorth
smiling peacefully rs though asleep.
He had been dead several hours.
Near him on the table was a cable
dispatch from New York:
My daughter sailed on the Mauretania
today at 10 o'clock.
FRANK OWEN O'CONNELL.
Mrs. Chichester. whom we last saw
under extremely distressing circum-
stances in Ireland. now enters promi-
nently into the story. She was lead
ing secluded and charming existence
in an old and picturesque villa at Scar
borough. In the north Of England. AL
though her husband had been dead for
several years, she still clung to the
outward symbols of mourning. 1t add
ed softness to the patrician line of
her features and touch of distinction
TO her manner and poise. She had an
illustrious example Of lifelong sor-
row, and, being ever loyal, Mrs. Chi
chester retained the weeds of widow
hood and the Grape of affiiction ever
present.
She was proud indeed of her two
children, about whom she had written
SO glowingly to her brother Nathaniel.
Alaric was the elder. In him Mrs.
Chichester took the greater pride. He
was SO nearly being great-even from
infancy-that he continually kept his
mother in a condition of expectant
wonder. He was nearly brilliant at
school. At college he almost got his
degree. He just missed his blue" at
cricket, and but for an unfortunate
ball dribbling over the net at a critical
moment in the semi-fnal of the tennis
championships he might have won the
cup. He was quite philosophic about
it, though, and never appeared to re-
proach fate for treating him so shab-
billy.
He was always nearly doing some
thing, and kept Mrs. Chichester In
lively condition of trusting hope and
occasional disappointment. She knew
he would arrive" some day-come into
his own. Then all these half reward
ed efforts would be invaluable in the
building of his character.
Her daughter. Ethel. on the other
hand. was the exact antithesis to Alar-
ic. She had never shown the slightest
interest in anything since she had first
looked up at the man Of medicine who
ushered her into the world. She re-
garded everything about her with the