O'Connell Had not the heart to turn him out, so he poured
out some milk and broke up some dry biscuits for him and then played
with him until Peg came home. She liked the little dog at once and
then and there O'Connell adopted him and gave him to Peg. He said
the dog's face had a look of Michael Quinlan, the Fenian. So
"Michael" he was named and he took his place in the little home. He
became Peg's boon companion. They romped together like children, and
they talked to each other and understood each other. "Michael" had
an eloquent tail, an expressive bark and a pair of eyes that told
more than speech.
The days flowed quietly on, O'Connell apparently satisfied with his
lot. But to Peg's sharp eye all was not well with him. There was a
settled melancholy about him whenever she surprised him thinking
alone. She thought he was fretting for Ireland and their happy days
together and so said nothing.
He was really worrying over Peg's future. He had such a small amount
of money put by, and working on a salary it would be long before he
could save enough to leave Peg sufficient to carry her on for a
while if "anything happened." There was always that "if anything
happened!" running in his mind.
One day the chance of solving the whole difficulty of Peg's future
was placed in his hands.
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