The San Francisco call., 1903-09-06

ing so much attention.
''They take u for American Dukes and
Processes" explained Monty. They
never saw q white man before"
Perhaps they expected N to Hds on
bunaloes." said Mrs. Dan. with Indian
captives In our train"
mo" Subway Smith protested, Il
seem to see disappointment b their faces,
They are looking for crowns and BcepterB
and a shower Of gold coin Really. Mon
ty, you don't play the game as you
should Why, could give you points on
the potentate act myself a milk-White
steed. a few clattering attendants In
gorgeous uniforms. q lofty nod here and
there. and little me distributing silver In
the rear
"I wonder" exclaimed Mr.. Dan, ~
they don't get tired now and then Of BE-
ing potentates. Can't you fancy living
in palaces and longing for thatohed cots
tage?''
Easily" answered '-subwGy'' with .
laugh Haven't We tried IL oursslves3
Two montns OF living upon nothing but
fatted calves is moro than I can stand.
We shall be ready for a home for dys~
peptics II you can't slow down q BIT.
Monty"
Whereupon Mrs. Dan evolved q plan,
and promptly began to carry Il out bY
inviting the crowd to dinner the next
night. Monty protested that they would
be leaving Milan In the afternoon, and
that this was distinctly his affair and be
was selfish.
But Mrs. Dan was very sure. MY dear
boy, you can't have things your own way
every minute. In another month you will
be quite spoiled. Anything to prevent
that My duty Is plain. Even II I have
to use heroic measures, you dine with me-
tomorrow"
Monty recognized defeat whan he met
1t, and graciously accepted her very kind
invitation. The next moment they drew
up at the opera-house and were ushered
in with a Difference only accorded to
wealth. The splendor OF the effect was
overpowering to Brewster a. well as to
his bewildered guests. Aladdin, Il
seemed, had fairly outdons himself The
wonder Of II was so complete that Il was
some time before they could settle down
to the opera. which was Aida" given
with an enthusiasm that only Italians
can compass.
During the last intsrraission Brewster
and Peggy were walking In the foyer.
They had rarely spoken since the day Of
the ride, but Monty noticed with hAppt-
ness that she had on several occasions 4
avoided Pettingill.
II thought we had given up falryIand
when we left the lakes, but believe you
carry IT with you," she said.
THE trouble with this" Monty replied,
''is that there are too many people about.
My fairyland is to be just . little di1er-
ent"
your fairyland, Monty, will be built Of
gold and paved with silver. You viii sit
all day cutting coupons in an once OF ala
baster."
Peggy. do you too think me vulgarP
It's a beastly parade. know, but IL
can't stop now. You don't realize tho
momentum OF the thing"
You do 1t up to the handle" she put
in. "And you are much too generous to
be vulgar. But 1t worries me, Monty, II
worries me desperately. It's tho future
I'm thinking of-your future. which Is
being swallowed up. This kind OF thing
can't go on. And what IS to follow tit
You are wasting your substance, and you
are not making any life for yourself that
opens out"
Peggy" he answered very seriously,
''you have got to trust me. I can't back
out, but I'll tell you this: You shall nos
be disappointed in me in the end"
There was a mist before the girls eyes
as she looked at him "I believe YOU
Monty, she said simply; ''I shall not for.
get'
The curtain rose upon the next act, ana
something in the opera toward the end
seemed to bring the two very close to-
gether. As they were leaving the theater
there was a note OF regret from Peggy
1T has been perfect" she breathed, ''yet.
Monty, isn't 1t a waste that no one else
should have seen It? Think OF these
sic and have never heard an opera"
well. they shall hear one now" Monty
rose to 1t, but he felt like hypocrfte In
concealing his chief motive. wen re-
peat the performance tomorrow night
and I'LL the house with them"
He was as good as his word. Bertier
was given task the next day which was
not to his taste. But with the assistance
Of the city authorities he carried n
through. To them IT was an evidence Of
insanity, but there was something prince
iy about 1t and they were tolerant.
The manager Of the opera-house
was less complacent, and he had an ex-
clamatory terror Of the damage TO his I'D
holstery. But Brewster had discovered
that in Italy gold Is a panacea for ALI
Ills. and his prescriptions were liberal. To
him the day was short, for Peggy's inter-
est + the ps1ance, as II came to be called.
was so keen that she insisted on having
a hand in the preliminaries There was
something about the partnership that ap-
pealed to Monty.
To her regret the DeA1Ille dinner inter
fered with the opening OF the perform
ance, but Monty consoled her with the
promise that the opera and its democratic
audience should follow. During the dav
Mrs. Dan had been deep In preparations
for her banquet, but her plans were elab-
orately concealed They eliminated at
eight o'clock In the Cova not far from
the Scala, and the dinner was eaten IN
the garden to the sound Of music. Yet
it was an effect OF simplicity with which
Mrs. Dan surprised her guests. They
were prepared for anything but that and
when they were served with consomme.
spaghetti-a concession to the chef-and
chops and peas. followed by a salad and
coffee, the gratitude Of the crowd was
quite beyond expression. In burst OF
enthusiasm subway Smith suggested a
testimonial.
Monty complained bitterly that he him
self had never received q ghost OF a tes-
timonial. He protested that II was not
deserved.
Why should you expect itF' exclaimed
Pettingin, when have you risen from ter
rapin and artichokes to chops and chic
ory? When have you given Us nectar and
ambrosia like thisr'
Monty was defeated by unanimous vote
and Mrs. Dams testimonial was assured
This matter settled. Peggy and Mrs. VAL
entfne. with Brewster and PettfnzfIl-