Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1915 — PEG O'MY HEART [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PEG O'MY HEART

By J. Hartley Manners

A Comedy of Youth Founded by Mr. Manners on His Great Play of the Same Title—lllustrations From Photographs of the Play Copyright. 1913, by Dodd, Mead & Company

CHAPTER IV. Angela In Distress. KINGSNORTH went on: “The attitude of the people, their views, their conduct, is deplor-able-hopeless. I came here to see what I could do for them. I even thought of spending a certain portion of each year here. But from what I’ve heard it would be a waste of time and money.” “It is discouraging at first sight, but we’ll have a better state of affairs presently. We must first stamp out the agitator. He is the most potent handicap.” “Could it be done?” “It would take time —every big movement takes time.” Roche paused, looked shrewdly at Klngsnorth and asked him: “What do you intend doing with this estate?” “I am in a quandary. I’m almost determined to put it in the market—sell it, be rid of it. It has always been a source of annoyance to our family. However, I’ll settle nothing until I return to London. I’ll go In a few days —much sooner than I intended. This man being brought into my house has annoyed and upset me.” “I’m sorry,” said the magistrate. “Miss Kingsnorth was so insistent, and the fellow seemed in a bad way; otherwise I would never have allowed it.” A servant came in response to Kingsnorth’s ring and was sent with a message to have the man O’Connell ready to accompany the magistrate as quickly as possible. Over a glass of sherry and a. cigar the two men resumed their discussion about the estate. “I wouldn’t decide too hastily about disposing of the land. Although there’s always a good deal of discontent, there -is really very little trouble here. In fact, until agitators like O’Connell came among us we had everything pretty’peaceful. We'll dispose of him in short order.” “Do. Do. Make an example of him by all means.” “Trust us to do that,” said Roche. After a moment he added: “To refer again to selling the estate, you would get very little for it. It can’t depreciate much more, and there is always the chance it may improve. Some of the people are quite willing to work”— “Are they? They’ve not shown any willingness to me” “Oh, no. They wouldn’t.” “What? Not to their landlord?” “You’d be the last they’d show it to. They’re strange people in many ways until you get to know them. Now there are many natural resources that might be developed if some capital were put into them.” “My new steward discouraged me about doing that. He said it might be ten years before 1 got a penny out of the property.” “Your new steward?” “Andrew McPherson, the prominent lawyer.” “He’s a hard man, sir.” “The estate needs one.” “Burke understands the nature of the people.” “He sympathizes with them. I don't want a man like that working for me. I want loyalty to my interests. The makeshift policy of Burke during my father’s lifetime helped to bring about this pretty state of things. We’ll see what firmness will do—new broom, sweep the place clean, rid of slovenly, ungrateful tenants, clear away the taproom orators. I have a definite plan in my mind, if I decide not to sell I’ll perfect my plan in London and begin operations as soon as I’m satisfied it is feasible and can be put upon a proper business basis. There’s too much sentiment in Ireland. That’s been their ruin. lam going to bring a little common sense into play.” Kingsnorth walked restlessly around the room as he spoke. He stopped by the windows and beckoned the magistrate. “There’s your man on the drive. See?” And he pointed to where O’Connell, with a soldier each side of him, was slowly moving down the long avenue. The door of the room opened, and Angela came in hurriedly and went straight to where the two men stood. There was the catch of a sob in her voice as she spoke to the magistrate. “Are you taking that poor wounded man to prison?” “The doctor says he is well enough to be moved.” replied Roche. “You’ve not seen the doctor. I’ve just questioned him. He told me you had not asked his opinion and that if you move him it will be without his sanction.” Kingsnorth interrupted angrily, “Please don’t interfere.” Angela turned on him, “So, it’s you who are sending him to prison?” “I am.” Angela appealed strongly to the magistrate-.

“Don’t do this, I entreat you—don’t do it.” , (■' . ■ “But I have no choice, Miss Kingsnorth.” “The man can scarcely walk,” she pleaded. “He will receive every attention, Relieve me. Miss Kingsnorth,” Roche replied. Angela faced her brother again. “If you let that wounded man go from this house today you will regret it to the end of your life.” Her face was dead white. Her breath was coming thickly. Her eyes were fastened in hatred on her brother's face. “Kindly try to control yourself, Angela," Kingsnorth said sternly. “You should consider my position a little more”— “Your position? And what is his? You with everything you want in life—that man with nothing. He is being hounded to prison for what? Pleading for his country! Is that a crime? He was shot down by soldiers—for what? For showing something we English are always boasting of feeling ourselves and resent any other nation feeling it—patriotism!” “Stop!” commanded Kingsnorth. “If you take that sick, wretched man out of this house it will be a crime”— began Angela. Kingsnorth stopped her. He turned to the magistrate, “Kindly take the man away.” Roche moved to the window. Angela's heart sank. All her pleading was in vain. Her voice faltered and broke: “Very well, then, take him. Sentence him for doing something his own countrymen will one day build a monument to him for doing. The moment the prison door closes behind him a thousand voices will cry ‘Shame!’ on you and your government and a thousand new patriots will be enrolled. And when he comes out from his torture he'll carry on the work of hatred and vengeance against his tyrants. He will fight you to the last ditch. You may torture his body, but you cannot break his heart or wither his spirit. They’re beyond you. They’re—they’re” —she stopped suddenly as her voice rose to the breaking point and left the room.

The magistrate went down the drive. In a few moments O'Connell was on his way to the courthouse, a closely guarded prisoner. Angela, from her window, watched the men disappear. She buried her face in her hands and moaned as she had not done since her mother left her just a few years before. The girlhood in her was dead. She was a woman. The one great note had come to her. transforming her whole nature—love. And the man she loved was being carried away to the misery and degradation of a convict. Gradually the moans died away. The convulsive heaving of her breast subsided. A little later, when her sister, Monica, came in search of her, she found Angela in a dead faint. By night she was in a fever. *•*' * ♦ * • One day in November Angela received the following letter: Dublin, Ireland, Nov. 16, 18—. Dear Lady of Mercy—l have served my sentence. I am free. At first the horrible humiliation of my treatment, of my surroundings, of the depths I had to sink to, burned into me. Then the thought of you sustained me. Your gentle voice, your beauty, your pity, your unbounded faith in me, strengthened my soul. All the degradation fell from me. They Were but ignoble means to a noble end. I Was tortured that others might never know sorrow. I was imprisoned that my countrymen might know liberty. And so the load was lighter. Tlie memory of those three wonderful days was so marvelous, so vivid, that it shone like a star through the blackness of those terrible days. You seem to have taken hold of my heart and my soul and my life. Forgive me for writing this to you, but it seems that you are the only one I’ve ever known who understands the mainsprings of my nature, of my hopes and my ambitions indeed, of my very thoughts. Today I met the leader of my party. He greeted me warmly. At last I have proved myself a worthy follower. They think it best 1 should leave Ireland for awhile. If I take active part at once 1 shall be arrested again and sent for a longer sentence. They have offered me the position of one of the speakers in a campaign in America to raise funds for the “cause.” I must first see the chief in London. He sent a message, writing in the highest terms .of my work and expressing a wish to meet me. I wonder If it would be possible to see you in London? If I am sent to America it would speed my going to speak to you again. If you feel that I ask too mudh do not answer this, and I will understand. ' . the , fullnesa of my heart, from the depths of my soul and with the whole V ° r ° f ’? e,n s’ 1 ask y° u to accept all the gratitude of a heart filled to overflowing. God bless and keep you. Yours in homage and gratitude, FRANK OWEN O'CONNELL. Her answer: „ _. ~ Nov. 19, 18—. My tear Mr. O Cornell—l am_ glad in-

deed to have your letter and to know you are free again. 1 have often thought ot your misery during all these months and longed to do something to assuage it. It is only when a friend is in need and all avenues of help are closed to him that a woman realizes how helpless she is. That they have not crushed your spirit does not surprise me. 1 was as sure of that as I am that the sun is shining today. That you do not work actively in Ireland at once is, I am sure, wise. Foolhardiness is not courage. In a little while the English government may realize how hopeless it is to try to conquer a people who have liberty in their hearts. Then they will abate the rigor of their unjust laws. When that day comes you must return and take up the mission with renewed strength and hope and stimulated bv the added experience of bitter suffering. ' 1 should most certainly like to see 1 you in London. I am staying with a distant connection of the family. We go to the south of France in a few weeks. 1 have been very ill—another reproach to the weakness of woman. I am almost recovered now, but far from strong. 1 have to lie still all day. My only companions are my books and my thoughts. Let me know when you expect to arrive in London. ’ Come straight here. I have so much to tell you, but the words halt as they come to my pen. Looking forward to seeing you, in all sincerity, ANGELA KINGSNORTH. (TO BE CONTINUED )