Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-12-29


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 off
much more cheaply than he had expect
ed. He laughingly denounced as untrue
the stories that had come to her from
outside sources, and before his con-
vincing assertions that reports were ri
diculously exaggerated the troubled ex-
preston in the girls eyes disappeared.
Il must seem fool" groaned Mon
ty as he left the house after one of
these explanatory trials, "but what
Will she think of me toward the end of
the year when 1 am really in harness ?"
He found it hard to control the desire
to be straight with Peggy and tell her
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 to
be a Spanish costume ball, and at
many tea tables the talk Of it was
godsend. Sarcastic as it frequently
was on the question of Monty's extrav-
agance, there was a splendor about the
Aladdin-like entertainment which had
charm. Beneath the outward dlsap-
proval there was a secret admiration
of the superb nerve Of the man. And
there was little reluctance to help him
In the wild career he had chosen. 1t
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 a good lead
In the race once more despite the
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 superfluous, for their ideas
never agreed. and each man had a way
Of preferring his own suggestion. To
Brewster's chagrin, they were united
In the effort to curb his extravaganza.
Hell be giving automobiles and
ropes of pearls for favors if we don't
stop him." said Subway Smith after
Monty had ordered a vintage cham
payne to be served during the entire
evening. Give them two glasses first
II you like, and then they won't mind
if they have cider the rest of the
night"
Monty is plain dotty," chimed in
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 on
his health. His color was bad, his
eyes were losing their luster, and there
was listlessness in his actions that
even determined effort could not con-
ceal from his friends. Little fits of
fever annoyed him occasionally, and
he admitted that he did not feel quite
right.
Something is wrong somewhere" he
said ruefully. land my whole system
patty"
Suddenly there was a mighty check
to the preparations. Two days before
the date set for the ball everything
came to a standstll and the managers
sank back in perplexity and consterna-
ton. Monty Brewster was critically
ILL.,
"a cd
and an operation was imperative.
'Thank heaven it's fashionable"
laughed Monty, who showed no fear Of
the prospect. How ridiculous if it
had been the mumps or 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 Is
off, of course" And Harrison was real
ly alarmed.
Not bit Of it, Hopper" said Monty.
"It's what I've been wanting all along
You chaps do the handshaking and
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
vltatiOns and declaring the party Off
| At first Monty was obdurate, but when
some one suggested that he could give
the ball later on, after he was well. he
relented, The opportunity to double
the cost by giving two parties was not
to be Ignored.
call it Off then, but say that 1t Is
only postponed"
A great rushing TO and fro resulted
In the canceling Of contracts, the re-
calling of invitations the settlement of
accounts, with the most loyal effort to
save as much as possible from the
wreckage. Harrison and his associ-
ates, almost frantic with fear for Brew.
ster's life, managed to perform Won
ders in the few hours of grace. Gard