Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-25
'rHJ; STACKER.
CHAPTER /.

Wouldnt be any run at all IT PcEEy
didn't 60"
Don't be so sure about my going
Madsc." replied the girl in question.
Margaret Blake. or Peggy. as she
was usually called. was beautiful
girl with auburn hair and dark blue
eyes that at times seemed almost dark
In thci. deep biucness, The boys and
girls were going on j house party, and
conscience let her? Would her mother
De al right while she was away? She
over again, and finally gave her dc.
ctsion ~ her friends as she said good
| Dy to them at the beautiful residence,
where she and her mother lived ali
alone save for the servants.
Yes I'll go. / simply can't resist
the temptation"
-. Good | knew our PEGGY wouldn't
hshmu n" 5 az tho Last st.; minute and Jaek
We'll. Sood-by. See you again to.
morrow." pegG, called out after them
as theE ven, down the walk in trout
o. MIS-. biakc'S. laughing and waving
their handkerchicfs back to her.
She turned, vent into the house
TOOK on her wraps and entered her
mother room where old lady with
SilNtrE haze sat before u lire that was
casting weird shadows over the beau.
ti!ui old face that. though all wrinklcd
Win age, had not lost the gcntlcncsS
and softncss that had made the owner
q rr;GninE belle m her day.
= "Hsilo, dearie," she said as he,
planted smart Kiss on the withcred
cheek Have a good time 4, Caro-
l!n.S this afternoon"
DO at her house" and she sighed i'm
hspp? remembrance of the glowing al.
tterno2n she had JUS, spent at her
Ring for Jennie ard request her to
serve tea in this rom at once" Mrs
b'ake bade Marga.e ct.
of A ,he tea she broaehed the subject
Of me mouse party. ending With MA )
go, mother"
/ "of course, you can. wouldn't have
But YOU know we'll be away TO,
for the servants. WI. you be al
Certainly will Write Ami.
,rogng ut once and accept her kline
wroie annie ' Young 1 and s m she pre
lied forth into the night.
the a0naaX Hr"Hs ,, she s%oks to hss
window. She hastily scanned the six,
for any evidence of ram. but TO hel
was the day for her trip 10 Anmie's, 81
she hurriedly dressed and soon Joined
her mother in the dininE-room.
ier mother looked up as she entered
good morning i:iss said, Yo S" have e"s
tine day for your Tip. honey
bst,ef on we %SSuse, hays
!, would ram; but our fear was Ger,
tainly groundless.'
Finally they NIL got started. and tn.
journey VAS soon over.
An2is met the train with large au,
charmed With the scenery, every one
| chauffeur with their baggage
Annis's home was. about ono mils
from the station. and they soon came
old Colonial mansion. The yards sur.
rounding The house were beautifully
Kept. the flowers were OF the richest
Indicated wealth and prosperity.
Mr.. and Mrs. Young came out to vel
come the gay party. MIR. Young WAS {;
weatherbeatcn countensnce and rough
knotted hands that went to prove thai
ne mad ,, not fat In tho lap Of luxury al
was a beautiful, well-educated woman
they found. 70 their great delight. tina
venience. The roon.s had high ceiling,
and we're very spacious.
SHOW the girls TO their rooms
servants $50 they can can rsf Ens o' them hem,
The first week OF Tho house part,
MS spent III 3ttendlna parties Hn(
thcaters. and nothing happened to ma,
the happiness OF any one until on.
morning Jack received Telegram
Your mother very III. Wants you
Come at once.
DIR. vENARp."
Jack read this with whitcnod lips
and hurriediy caught the next trair
for homo
In darksned room the mistress o,
Ashmun Hall lay--dying. Doctors 70,
miles around had been to sec her. and
their rerdicts had all been. she can.
She had had "a accr i'm her head for
some time, and the day before it had
reached her brain, and though she iaG
not lost her mind, she vas sure TO, ant
that would mean death.
EVERY r Nv and then she would wills.
per to- the nurse b. her side and ask
he r,er,y would ,nvariably be. no
MIS- Ashmun. lie hasn't come yet" TIL.
last time This was asked Jack himself
answered u by softly dropping TO TN
noor ~ his mothers side and murmur.
ing; Yes. mother. I am here"
boy for few minu:es?" she asked IL
catering accents Of the head doctor
doctors. nurses aud ali silently with
drew leaving the dying mother amr
her son alone together
When Jack came from out or hi,
mothers room his { ce was blanchnt
and in his eyes vas "a haunted lool
that no one had ever sven there before
and hr tainted dead ap.av as soon a,
ne had shut tho door. Two days ate,
Mrs. AShmun died
tConcIuG, Ncs Sunday.)
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