Prev | Current Page 237 | Next

Manners, J. Hartley, 1870-1928

"Peg O' My Heart"

.
"I don't know whether it's hard or aisy until I thry it."
"Then try," urged Jerry, going quite close to her: She faced him: "I
never had anyone makin' such a fuss about havin' me for a friend
before. I don't understand you at all."
"Yet I'm very simple," said Jerry.
"I don't doubt ye," Peg answered drily. "From what I've heard of
them most of the English are--simple."
He laughed and held out his hand. "What's that for?" she asked
suspiciously.
"To our friendship."
"I never saw the likes of you in all me life."
"Come--Peg."
"I don't think it's necessary."
"Come!"
She looked into his eyes: They were fixed upon her. Without quite
knowing why she found herself giving him her hand.
He grasped it firmly.
"Friends, Peg?"
"Not yet now," she answered half defiantly, half frightenedly.
"I'll wager we will be."
"Don't put much on it, ye might lose."
"I'll stake my life on it."
"Ye don't value it much, then."
"More than I did. May you be very happy amongst us, Peg."
A door slammed loudly in the distance. Peg distinctly heard her
aunt's voice and Alaric's. In a moment she became panic-stricken.
She made one bound for the stairs and sprang up them three at a
time. At the top she turned and warned him:
"Don't tell any one ye saw me.


Pages:
225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249