The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-08-11
copyriaht, 1918, by Dodd. Mead T. Company
By J. Hartley Manners

in some way for his unkindness to you
mother"
"Nothin' could do that" and Peg':
lips frightened
THAT was why he sent for you"
"Sendin' for me won't bring me poo
mother back to life, will it,"
"At least we must respect his inten
lions. He desired that you should be
given the advantages your mother hat
when she was q girl.
"ln justice to yourself" proceeded
Jerry, you must know that he sci
aside the sum Of $1,000 a year to be
paid to the lady who would undertake
your training"
Peg sprang up and walked across tt
her aunt and looked down at her.
ga thousand pounds a year" She
turned to Jerry and asked: Does she
get a thousand a year for abusin' me?
Well. what do ye think Of that?' cried
Peg, gazing curiously at Mrs. Chiches'
ter. "a thousand pounds a year for
maxim me miserable. an the poor dead
man thinkin' he was dom me q favor"
81 tell you this" went on Jerry, "be'
cause l don't want you to feel that you
have been living on charity. You have
not"
Peg suddenly biaZed up:
"Well. I've been made to feel it." and
she glared ~passionately at her aunt.
Peg's anger gave place to just as sud-
den a twinge of regret as she caught
sight Of Ethel. white faced and star
ing at her compassionately. She went
across to Ethel and buried her face on
her shoulder and wept as she walled:
why wasn't l told? I'd never have
stayed! Why wasn't ! told" y
/ And Ethel comforted her.
Don't cry. DEAR" she whispered.
Don't. The day you came here We
were beggars. You have literally fed
| and housed US for the last month"
! Poor Mrs. Chichester looked at her
daughter ~reproachfully.
Peg grasped the full meaning Of Eth
els words:
And will ye have nothin' If I 60
away?"
Peg persisted:
Tell me-are ye ralely %dependin' on
me? Spake to me. Because if ye are
| won't go. I'll stay with ye. /
wouldn't see ye beggars for the
wurrld. I've been brought up amongst
them, an | know what it is"
Suddenly she took Ethel by the
! Shoulders and asked in a voice so low
that none of the others heard her:
was that the reason ye were goin'
last night"
Ethel tried to stop her.
The truth illumined Ethel's face. and
Peg saw it and knew.
Holy Mary" she cried. "And It
was l was drivir We to it. Ye felt the
insult Of it every time ye met me, as
ye said last night Sure, If Id known.
dear. I'd never have hurt ye, l
wouldn't. Indade l wouldn't"
She turned to the others.
There, it's all settled. III stay with
! ye, aunt. an ye a tache me anything
ye like. Will some one ask Jarvis to
bring back my bundles an Michael?
I'm goin' to stay"
Jerry smiled %approringly at her.
Then be said:
That is Just what I would have ex-
pected you to do; but, my dear Peg.
there's no need for such a sacrifice"
"Sure. why not?" cried Peg excited.
ly. Let me sacrifice meself. feel
like it this mint"
There is no occasion"
He walked over to Mrs. Chichester
and addressed her:
II came here this morning with some
very good news for you. l happen to
be one Of the directors Of Gifford's
bank, and 1 am happy to say that it
will shortly reopen its doors, and all
the depositors' money will be available
for them in a little while"
Mrs. Chichester gave a cry Of Joy.
"Oh, Alaric!" she exclaimed. my
darling Ethel"
"a panic in American securities, In
which we were heavily interested,
caused the suspension Of business" ex-
planned Jerry. 1.-THE panic is over.
The securities are rising every day.
Well soon be on easy street again."
Jerry looked at Peg. She caught his
eye and smiled, but it had a sad wist-
fulness behind it
"Sure, they don't want me now. I'd
better take me cab. Good day to ye."
And she started quickly for the door.
Jerry stopped her.
There is just one more condition OF
Mr.. Kingsnorth's Will that you must
know. Should you 60 through your
course Of training satisfactorily to the
age of twenty-one you will inherit the
sum Of $4,000 year."
when I'm twenty-one I get $4,000
a year," gasped Peg.
IF you carry out certain conditions
"An' what are they"
satisfy the executors that you are
worthy Of the legacy"