Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-02-25

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 a laugh. while
poor Pegs heart felt like a 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 uninterruptedly until it was
out of sight. He was crying himself
now-crying like 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 so
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 as 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 a 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 chung to the
outward symbols of mourning. 1t add
ed a softness to the patrician line Of
her features and a 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 affection 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 critical
moment in the semi-final 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 shah
billy.
He was always nearly doing some
thing, and kept Mrs. Chichester in a
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
greatest complacency. She was never
surprised or angry or pleased or de-
pressed. Sorrow never seemed to af-
feet her-nor joy make her smile. She
looked on life as gentle brook down
whose current she was perfectly con-
tent to drift undisturbed. At least
that was the effect created in Mrs.
Chichester's mind. She never thought
ii possible there might be latent pos
sibilities in her impressive daughter.
While her mother admired Ethers
lofty attitude of Indifference toward
the world. manner that bespoke the
aristocrat, she secretly chafed at her
daughters lack of enthusiasm.
How different from Alaric, always full
Of nearly new ideas, always about to
do something. Alaric kept those around
him on the alert No one ever really
knew what he would do next. On the
other hand. Ethel depressed by her
stolid content with everything about
her. Every one knew what she would
door thought they did.
Mrs. Chichester had long since aban
doned any further attempt to interest
her brother Nathaniel in the children.
Angela's wretched marriage had up
set everything-driven Nathaniel to be
a recluse and to close his doors on
near and distant relatives.
Angela's death the following year
did not relieve the situation. If any
thing, it intensified it. since she left a
baby that. naturally, none Of the fam
lily could possibly take the slightest
notice of-nor interest in.