The Bossier banner., 1915-06-03

reg sal uOWu DeSlue ueI tuuC duO eA.
planned to her: "N'henever l did any
thing willful or disturbin' as child ,
me father always said it was the orig
inal sin in me an that | wasn't to be ,
punished for it because l couldn't help ,
it.
Then he used to punish himself for
my fault An when saw it hurt him
| usen't to do it again-for awhile at
least think that was a grand way
to bring up daughter. I've been Won
derin since I've been here If an aunt
could bring niece up the same way"
And she looked quizzcally at Mrs.
| Chichester.
| Jarvis came in with a letter on a
| salver.
"Wel?" 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 it.
"Who is it from?" asked Mrs. Chi
chester
''Mr. Brent" replied Ethel indiffer-
entity.
"Brent?" cried Alaric. What on
earth does he write to you forY'
He wants me to do something for
him." And she tore the letter up into
the smallest pieces and placed them In
a receptacle on the desk.
Come, Alaric." And Mrs. Chiche3-
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 ut her compassion
ately.
What do you mean?" said Ethel,
with sudden contraction OF her
breath.
"You like Mr.. Brent, don't ye7"
SO the moment had come. The little
spy 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 q
very old friend of the familyg'
Hes got a wifer'
He has!
AN a baby"
"Yes-and a baby" Ethel was not
going to betray herself She would
just wait to see what course this crea-
ture was going to take with her.
They were now seated together, Eth
ell holding her little white poodle. at
which Peg pointed contemptuously.
), Peg went on:
"Of course Eve never seen the wife
3 or the baby because he never seems
= to have them with him when be calls
/ here. But I've often heard Alaric ask
afther them"
"Well?' asked Ethel coldly.
e "Is it usual for English husbands
with babies to kiss other women's
II handsY And Peg looked swiftly at
Il her cousin.
Ethel checked an outburst and said
!" quite calmly:
+ 1T is very old and a very respect
4" ed custom"
'"The divil doubt it but it's old. I'm
. not so sure about the respect. Why
doesn't he kiss me aunt's hand rs
well?"
Ethel could not control herself much
70 longer. 1t was becoming unbearable.
AS she crossed the room she said with
;, as little heat as possible:
You don't understand
n "Wel, but I'm thryin' to-" persisted
Peg. That's why watch ye all the
n time"
r, Ethel turned. She was now at bay.
"You watch me|'
ri "Arent ye me model?"
,f Its contemptibIe!' cried Ethel.
Sure l only saw the old an re-
ne spected custom by accident-when
came In through there month agU-
ii an once since when l came In again
of by accident-a few days aftherward.
~ 1 couldn't help seem 1t both times.
"a An, as for bein' contemplate. I'm not
" so sure the custom doesn't deserve all
the contempt"
Of Ethel was now thoroughly aroused.
i'll II suppose it is too much to expect
( that child OF the common people
Od SnOulu understand Tue cuSIotuS VI ue-
cent people" "
a "Mebbe it is.'' replied Peg. "Rut I
don't see why the common people
ly. should have all the decency an the
aristocracy none"
at is impossible TO talk to you.
e? was foolish to have stayed here. You
don't understand. You never could
De- understand
to Peg interrupted: why. never saw
IN. We excited before-not a bit of color In
ly yer cheeks till now-except twice! "
be look just as ye did when Mr.. Brent
followed that old an respected Gus
or tom ON yer hand" cried Peg. Tht
young girls eyes were ablaze. How
vividly she remembered the eventfu
to scene that confronted her when sh'
first arrived at the Chichester horn'
days before!
VII Ethel answered this time. excitedly
and Indignantly. giving full and fret
vent to her just anger:
BE good enough never to- speak t.
hes me again as long as you're in thi
house IF had my way you'd leav,
ck- it this moment. As it is-as it is
Her voice rose almost to scream
ied Her rage was unbridied.
What more she might have said wa
,in checked by the door opening and Jai
ris showing in Jerry.
eV Jarrv walk o1 cbeerfnlly and smiling