The San Francisco call., 1903-09-06

last instsllrnent Of "Brewster's MIL
. lions" next Sunday will solve the
mystery Of whether young Monty
got the extra six millions for spend
ing one million and lost the girl or
got the girl and lost the six millions.
It's perfectly fascinating, no matter
which way your interest lies.
- UARRELs and dissensions were
becoming everyday embarrass-
ments, and the venture was an ut
ter failure from a financial point
- OF view. Broken contracts and law
suits were turning the tour into one con-
tinuous round OF losses, and poor Gard
ner was on the point OF de-
spair- From the beginning, appar-
entity, the concerts had been
marked FOR disaster. Public indifference
had aroused the scorn OF the irascible
members OF the orchestra, and there was
imminent danger OF a collapse in the or
Eanization. Gardner lived in constant
fear that his troop OF quarrelsome Hun
garians would finish their tour suddenly
in a pitched battle with daggers and
stems. Brewster smiled at the thought
Of the practical Gardner trying to smooth
Down the electric emotions OF these musi-
clans
A few days later Mrs. Prentiss Drew
and Miss Drew registered at the Ponce
de Leon, and there was much specula-
tiOn upon the chances for q reconciliation.
Monty. however. maintained a strict 81
lence on the subject. and refused to sat
isfy the curiosity Of his friends. Mrs.
Drew had brought down q small crowd
including two pretty Kentucky girls and
q young Chicago millionaire. She lived
wei and sensibly, and with none Of the
eXtrava gance that characterized the cot
tage. Yet II was inevitable that Brew
ster's guests should see hers and join
some Of their rLing parties. Monty
pleaded that he was not well enough to
be in these excursions. but neither he nor
Barbara cared TO over-emphasize their
estrangement.
Peggy Cray was IN despair over Mon
tvs attitude. She had become convinced
that behind his pride he was chershing
a secret longing for Barbara Yet she
could not see how the walls were to be
broken down II he maintained this icy
reserve. She was sure that the masterful
tone was the one 70 win VIII q girl like
that but evidently Monty would not ac-
cept advice. That he was mistaken about
Barbara's feeling she did not doubt for
moment. and she saw things going
hCpelessly wrong for want Of a word.
There were times when she let herself
dream Of possibilities, but they always
ended by seeming too impossible. She
cared too much TO make the attainment
n her vision seem simple. She cared
too much 10 be sure OF anything.
At moments she fancied that she might
say a word to Miss Drew which would
straiehten things out. But there was
something about her which held her. off.
Even now that they were thrown together
more or less she could not get beyond
a certain barrier. It was not until a
sunny day when she had accepted Bar
seemed TO 90 more easily. For the first
time she felt the charm Of the girl and
FOR the first time Barbara seemed unre-
servedly friendly. Il was a quiet drive
they were taking through the woods
and out along the beach. and somehow
in the open air things simplifed them
selves Finally. in the softness and the
idle warmth. even an allusion 10 Monty
whose name usually meant an enbarrass-
ing change Of subject. began to seem pos
sible. II was inevitable that Peggy should
bring Il in; for with her a question Of
tact was never allowed to dominate when
things Of moment were at stake. She
. covered before the plunge, but she took
Il unafraid-
The doctor says Monty may go out
driving tomorrow" she began. Isn't
that fne2"
Barbara's only response was to touch
her pony a little too sharply with the
Of the challenge.
He has been bored to death, poor fell
low. IN the house all this time, and"
Miss Gray. please do not mention Mr.
Brewster's name TO me again" inter
rupted Barbara. with contraction of the
eyebrows But Peggy was seized with a
spirit OF defiance and plunged reck-
lessly on.
What is the use. Miss Drew. Of taking
an attitude like that? / know the sltua-
ton pretty well, and I can't believe that
either Monty or you has lost in a week
a feeling that was 50 deep-seated. I know
Monty much too well 10 think that he
would change so easily" Peggy stilL lived
largely in her ideals. And you are too
fine a thing not 10 have suffered under
this Misunderstanding. It seems as il a
very small word would set you both
straight.
Barbara drew herself up and kept her
ewes on the road which lay white and
cleaning IN the sun. II have not the
least desire TO be set straight" And she
was never more serious.
But il was only few weeks ago that
you were engaged
Il am sorry" answered Barbara, that
Il should have been talked about so much.
Mr.. Brewster did ask me TO marry him,
but never accepted. In fact II was only
his persistence that made me consider the
matter al all. I did think about il. 1
confess that j rather nkeo MIN. But II
was not long before ] found him out"
What do you mean?" And there was
a fash in Peggy's eyes. What has he
done2"
ITO my certain knowledge he has spent
more than four hundred thousand dollars
since last September. That is something.
Is Il not%' Miss Drew said. in her slow,
cool voice. and even Peggy's loyalty ad-
mitted some justification in the criticism.
Generosity has ceased to be virtue,
then2' she asked cOldly-
Generosity" exclaimed Barbara, sharp
". Its sheer idiocy. Haven't you
heard the things people are saying? They
are calling him a fool, and in the clubs
they are betting that he will be pauper
within q year"
Yet they charitably help him 10 spend
his money. And ] have noticed that even