The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-11-17

one 70 WIN WIN XIII IKE tnnJ out
evidently Monty would not accept ad-
vice. That be was mistaken shout Bar
bara's feeling she did not doubt for a
moment. and she saw things going
ho7elessly wrong for want OF q 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
OF her vision seem simple She cared
too much to be sure Of anything.
At moments she fancied that she
might say a word to Miss Drew which
would strai@hten things out. but there
was something about her which held
her of Even now that they were
thrown together more or less she could
not get beyond certain barrier. 1t
was not until a sunny day whcH she
had accepted Barbaras invitation to
drive that things seemed to 20 more
easily. For the first time she felt the
charm of the girl, and for the first time
Barbara seem =. unreseryedly friendly.
1t was a quiet drive they were taking
through the woods and out along the
beach. and somehow in the open. air
things simplided themselves. Finally
in the softness and the idle warmth
eyen an allusion to Monty, whose name
usually meant an embarrassing changc
Of subject, began to seem possible 1t
was inevitable that Peggy should bring
it 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 it unafraid.
The doctor says Monty may go ont
driving tomorrow" she began Isn't
that dne2r
Barharas only response was to touch
her pony little too sharply with the
whip Peggy went on as If mcon-
scious Of the challenge.
"He has been bored to death, poor
fellow, in the house all this time, and
Miss Gray. please do not mention
Mr.. Brewster's name TO me again" in
terrupted Barbara. with a contraction
of the eyebrows. But Peggy was seized
with spirit Of defiance and plunged
recklessly on.
"What is the use. Miss Drew. Of tax.
ing an attitude like that? l know the
situation pretty well, and l can't be
lieve that eithev Monty or you have lost
in week a feeling that was so deep
seated / know Monty much too we'll
TO think that he would change so cas-
ily." Peggy still lived largely In her
ideals. And you are too fine a thing
not to have suffered under this misun-
derstandng 1t seems as il very
small word would set you both
straight"
Barbara drew herself up and kept
her eyes on the road, which lay white
and cleaning in the sun Il have not
the least desire 10 be set straight "
And she was never more serious.
But It was only few weeks ago
that you were engaged"
II ann sorry" answered Barbara,
'that it should have been talked nbout
so much Mr. Brewster did ask me 70
marry him, but never accepted. In
fact, II was only his persistence that
made me consider the matter at all.
did think about It. confess that
rather liked him. But It was not long
before found him OUT
what do you meanY And there was
a fash in Peggy's eyes. what has he
done2"
10 my certain knowledge he has
spent more than 100000 since last
September That is something is 1t
notG' Miss Drew said In her slow. cool
voice, and even Peggy's loyalty admit
ted some justification in the criticism.
Generosity has ceased to be a vir-
tue. thenf" she asked coldly.
"Generosityr' exclaimed Barbara
sharply Its sheer idlocy. Haven't
you heard the things people are say
ing? They are calling him a fool. and
in the clubs they are betting that he
/ wiz be a paupeI within a year"
yet they enatitably help him TO
/ spend his money ana | have noticed
that even worldly mammas find him
/ eligible" The comment was not with.
out its caust'c side
THAT was months ago, my deiiv,"
/ protested Barbara calmly = Wbep b.
spoke TO me he told me 1t woGld Dc
impossible for him to marry within a
year. And don't you see that year
may make him an affect beggarY'
Naturally anything is preferable ia
a beggar' came in Peggy's clear, soft
voice
Barbara hesitated only moment
"Well you must admit. Miss Gray
that it shows shameful lack OF char
acter How could any girl be happy
with a man like that7 And, after ali
one must look out for ones own fate"
"UndoubtedlT," replied Peggy. bui
many thougAts were dashing through
her brain.
Shall we turn back 10 the cottage p
she said after an awkward silence
You certainly don't approve OF Mr.
Brewster's conductT' Barbara did no
like to be placed IN the wrong and fel
that she must endeavor 70 justify her
self He Is the most reckless o
spendthrfts. we know. and he prob
ably indulges IN even less respectable
excitement"
Peggy was not tall, but she carried
her bead at this moment as though sn,
were ia the habit OF looking down OF
the world.
Aren't you going little too FAR
Miss DrewY' she asked placidly
1T is not only New York that laugh
owe, his Quisotic transactions" Bar
bara persisted. Mr. Hampton. ou
guest from Chicago. says the storle
are worse out there than they are II
the east"