, 1905-11-22

so@
IF 1t had not been for him lOc might
haze been ruined"
evening when the Sons were gathered
for an old time supper party.
Its always the way" commented
the philosophical Bragdon. when you
lose your heart your sense of humor
goes too. Engaged couples couldn't do
such ridiculous stunts if they had the
least particle of it left
"Well, if Monty Brewster is still in
love with Miss Drew he takes a mighty
poor WAY of showing it," Subway
Smiths remark fell like a bombshell.
The thought had come to every one,
but no one had been given the courage
to utter it. For them Brewster's ST
lence on the subject since the DeMille
dinner seemed to have something ON
nous behind it.
Its probably only a lovers quar-
REL" said Bragdon. But further COM
ment was cut short by the entrance of
Monty himself, and they took their
places at table.
Before the evening came to an end
they were in possession of many aston
ishing details in connection with the
coming ball. Monty did not say that it
was to be given for Miss Drew, and
her name was conspicuously absent
from his descriptions. AS he unfolded
his plans even the Little Sons, who
were imaginative by instinct and reck-
less on principle, could not be quite
acquiescent.
hopper Harrison solemnly expressed
the opinion that the ball would cost
Brewster at least Si25,000. The Little
Sons looked at one another in con
sternation, while Brewster's indiffer-
ence expressed itself in an unflatter-
ing comment upon his friends vulgar
ity. Good Lord, Hopper" he added,
you would speculate about the price
of gloves for your w%edding.'
Harrison resented the taunt. II
would be much less vulgar to Go that,
Monty, saving your presence, than to
force YOU millions down every ones
throat"
"Well. they swallow them, I've no.
ticed,'' retorted Brewster, "as though
they we're chocolates"
PettinCill interrupted grandiloquent-
ly, "My friends and gentlemen"
(Which is which?' asked Van Win
kle casually.
But the artist vas in the saddle.
Permit me to present you to the boy
Croesus-the only one eXtant. His mar
bles are plunlis. and his kites are made
of fifty dollar notes. He feeds upon
coupons Il In Newhnrg, and his cham
payne is liquid golden eagles. Look at
him, gentlemen. while you can and
watch him while he spends $4,000 for
f1owers!'
"With a Yiennese orchestra for TWEEN
ty-nine thoasanl.i added Bragdon.
"And yet they maintain that silence is
golden
"And three singers to divide twelve
thousand among tsemsclyes! That's al
solutely criminal cried Van Wrinkle.
cover in Ge"many they'd sing a month
for half that amount"
"SiX hundred guests to feed-total
cost of not less than $40,O00," groaned
hopper d%olefully.
"And there aren't 600 in town." la
mented Subway Smith. "All that glory
wasted on 200 rank outsiders"
"You men are borrowing a lot of trou-
ble," yawned Brewster, with a gallant
effort to seem bored. "All ask of you
is to come to the party and put up a
good imitation of having the time of
your life. Between you and me, I'd
rather be caught drinking ice cream so
da than giving this thing. But
"That's what we want to know-but
what?" and Subway leaned forward
eagerly.
But" continued Monty, 81 am in for
it now, and it is going to be a ball that
is a 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 off
much more cheaply than he had expect
ed. He l%aughingly denounced as untrue
the stories that had come to her from