Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-31

Over in Germany they'd sing month
for half that amount"
Six hundred guests to fced-totaj
cost OF not less than $4,000" groaned
Hopper dolcfuliy.
"And there aren't 400 in town. Ia
mented subway Smith. "All that glory
wasted on 200 rank outsiders"
You men are borrowing lot OF trou
b'e." yawned Brewster, with a rollan,
effort TO seem bored. AN ] ask OF vor
Is to come 70 the party and nut up
good imitation Of having the time O,
your life. Between you and mo. I'd
rather be caught drinking icc cream 40
da than giving this thing But
THAT'S what we want to know-bw
what?' and Subway leaned forward
eagerly.
"But," continued Monty. II am in 70,
II now. and it Is going to be q ball thu,
Ia ball"
Nevertheless the optimistic brewster
could not find the courage to tell Peg
gy Of these picturesque extravagances
To satisfy her curiosity he blandly in.
formed her that he was getting on
much more cheaply than he had expect
ell. lie lnughiDgly denounced as untrue
the stories that had come to her rrou
outside sources. and before his con
vinclng assertions that reports were ri
d'culously exaggerated the troubled OK
preston in the girls eyes dsappcared
Il must seem "A fool" gronned Mon.
~ as he left the house after ono NJ
these explanatory trials, but what
VIII she think Of me toward tho end Of
the year when am really in harncss?"
He found II hard to control the desire
70 be straight with Peggy and tell be,
the story of his mad race in pursuit Of
poverty.
Preparations for the ball went ON
steadily, and in dull winter it had
its color value for society. 1t was te
be Spanish costume ball. and a,
many tea tables the talk OF it was
godsend. Sarcastic as it frequently
was on the question of Montys extrav.
agance there was a splendor about the
Aladdin-like entertainment which had
charm. Beneath the outward d;sap.
prevail there was a secret admiration
"A
there was little reluctance 70 help him
In the wild career he had chosen. II
was so easy to go with him to the edge
OF the precipice and let him take the
plunge alone. Only the echo of the
criticism reached Brewster, for he had
silenced Harrison with work and Pet.
tingill with opportunities. 1t troubled
him little. as he was engaged in jotting
down items that swelled the profit side
OF his ledger account enormously. The
ball was bound TO give him O good lead
in the race once more despite tho
heavy handicap the Stock Exchange
had imposed The Little Sons took
OFF their coats ard helped Pettingill in
the work Of preparation. He found
them quite superfuous. for their ideas
never agreed. and each man had way
of preferring his own suggestion To
Rrewster's chagrin. they were united
in the effort to curb his extravaganza
Hell he giving automobiles and
ropes Of pearls for favors If we don't
stop him." said Subway Smith after
Monty had ordered vintage cham.
payne to be served during the entiN
evening. "Give them two glasses first
IL you like, and then they won't mini
II they have cider the rest of the
night"
Monty is plain dotty." chimed ia
Bragdon. land the pace is beginning to
tell on him"
AS matter Of fact the pace was be.
ginning to tell on Brewster. Work and
worry were plainly having an effect Oh
his health His color was bad, his
eyes We're losing their luster. and there
was Il listlessness in his actions that
even determined effort could not con-
zeal from his friends. Little fits Of
fever annoyed him occasionally, and
he admitted that he did not feel quito
right.
Something is wrong somewhere" he
said ruefully, and my whole system
seems ready TO stop work through sym.
patty"
Suddenly there was mighty check
to the preparations. Two days before
the date set for the ball everything
came to a standstil and the managers
sank back in perplexity and consterna
ton. Monty Brewster was critically
H.
Appendicitis. the doctors called It,
and an operation was imperative.
Thank heaven it's fashionable"
laughed Monty, who showed no fear OF
the prospect. "How ridiculous if K
had been the mumps OF if the newspa-
pers had said. On account Of the
whooping cough Mr.. Brewster did not
attend his ball"
You don't mean to say-the ball 10
off, of course" And Harrison was real
ly alarmed
Not bit Of 1t. hopper" said Monty.
ITS what I've been wanting all along
You chaps do the handshaking and I
stay at home"
There was an immediate council Of
war when this piece of news was an
nounced, and the Little Sons were
unanimous In favor Of recalling the in.
vitations and declaring the party of
At first Monty was obdurate. but when
some one suggested that he could give
the ball later on, after he was well, ht
relented. The opportunity to double
the cost by giving two parties was not
to be ignored.
call 1t OF. then. but say that II y
only postponed