The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-04-03

nat! Quick. An yer CLOAK. an yer
bag" Peg began quickly to put on
Ethels hat and cloak. Her own she
flung out OF sight beneath the great
oak table.
snow remember" she dictated. I'VE
came here because ye heard me. Ye
weren't goin' out O the house ut ALL
Ye just heard me movin' about In
here. Stick to that!'
The sound Of voices in the distance
broke in ON them
They're COMM" said Peg anx.
iously.
Take care. mater-keep back. Let
me deal with them" And AMric, with
an electric tlashlight. appeared ut the
head OF the stairs. followed by his
mother and the servant jarvis
he began systematic Searcn OF the
room until suddenly the reflector from
the 6ashlight shone full on the two
girls.
Ethel was sitting back fainting in
chair. clinging to Peg. who was stand.
ing beside her trembling.
"Ethel!" cried Alarlc in amazement.
"Margaret!' said Mrs. Chichester in
anger.
We'll, l mean to say" calculated the
astOunded young man as he walked
across to the switch and Hooded the
room with light.
Chichester severely.
Sure Ethel heard me here" answer
I'd Peg. IAN she came in. am
'What were you doing hereY"
Il was goin' out, an Ethel beard me
an came in an stopped me, an
"Where We're you going?" persisted
the old lady.
ed to the open windows.
Mrs. Chichester had been examining
Peg minutely. She suddenly ex-
claimed:
"Why, that is Ethels coat!"
''Sure it is." replied Peg. IAN this
Is her hat I've got, an here's her bag"
Peg was striving her utmost to divert
Mrs. Chichcster's attention from Ethel.
who was in SO tense and nervous a
condition that it seemed as If she
might faint ut any moment She
thrust the dressing bag into the old
lady's hand. Mrs. Chichester opened
it Immediately and found just inside 1t
Ethels jewel box. She took it out and
held it up accusingly before Pegs
eyes. "Her jewel box! Where did you
get this?''
II took it," said Peg promptly.
Mrs. Chichester opened the box. 1t
was full. Every jewel that Ethel own
ed was in it.
"Her jewels-Ethel's jewels!"
Eyes. ] took them too"
"You were stealing them?"
mo. l wasn't stealin' them. just
took 'em. wanted-to wear them"
answered Peg readily. Suddenly Peg
saw way Of escape. and she jumped
quickly ut 1t. II wanted to wear them
at the dance."
"What dancer" demanded Mrs. Chi.
chester
"Over therein the Assembly rooms
tonight went over there, an
danced, an when l came back made
a noise. an Ethel heard me. an she
threw on some clothes. an she came In
here to see who 1t was, an it was me.
an we were both goin' up to bed when
l slipped an fell down the stairs. an
some noisy thing fell down with me,
an that's all"
Alaric called out from the window:
There's some one prowling in the
garden. Hes on the path. He's CON-
ing here. Don't be frightened"
Alaric pushed his electric light full
into the visitors face and fell back.
Good heavens. Jerry!" he calculated.
completely astonished. Il say. you
know" he went ON. what is happen.
ing in this house tonightT
Jerry came straight down to Mrs.
Chichester.
Il saw your lights go up. and came
here on the run. guessed something
like this had happened. Don't be hard
on your niece, Mrs. Chichester. The
whole. thing was entirely my fault.
asked her to CO.,
Mrs. Chichester looked at him
stonily.
| AVu kOOn Auy AICSC " q uOuCC III
spite Of my absolute refusal to allow
her to go?"
HE had nothin' to do with it." said
Peg. II took him to that Dance
Mrs. Chichester looked steadily at
Jerry for few moments before she
spoke. When she did speak her voice
was cold and hard and accusatory.
"Surely Sir Gerald Adair knows bet.
ter than to take girl of eighteen to a
public ball without her relations sane.
toni"
II thought only Of the pleasure it
would give her." he answered. "Please
accept my sincerest apologies"
Peg looked at him In wonder.
"Sir Gera.l Adair! Are you Sir
Gerald Adair?'
Eyes. Peg"
$50 ye have title. have ye?"
Peg felt somehow that she had been
cheated. Why had he not told her?
Why did he let her play and romp and
Joke and banter With him as though
they had been children and equals?
II am ashamed of you: You have
disgraced US ALL" cried Mrs. Chiches.
ter at Peg.
"Have II" screamed Peg flercely.
"l've disgraced ye. have I? Well. none
Of you can tell me the truth. I'm go.
| in back to me f0ther."