Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-09-29

4 L quiet, old fashioned home as
his own. The house had once been her
grandfather's. and 1t was one Of the
pioneers in that part Of the town. It
was there she was born, in Its quaint
old parlor she was married, and all her
girlhood, her brief welded life and her
widowhoOd were connected with it.
Mrs Gray and Montgomery's mother
had been schoolmates and playmates,
and their friendship endured. When
old Edwin Peter Brewster looked about
ior place to house his orphaned grand
son, Mrs. Gray begged him to let her
care for the little felloy. He was three
years older than her Margaret, and the
children grew up as brother and SIS
ter. Mr.. Brewster was generous in
providing for the boy. While he was
away at college, spending money In
manner that caused the old gentleman
to marvel at his own liberality. Mrs.
Gray was well paid for the unused but
well kept apartments, and there never
was a murmur Of complaint from Ed
win Peter Brewster. He was hard. but
he was not niggardly.
1t had been something of n struggle
for Mrs. Gray to make both ends meet.
The property in Fortieth street was
her only possession. But little money
had come to her Mt her husbands
death, and an unfortunate speculation
Of his had swept away all that had
fallen to her from her father, the late
Judge Merriweather. For years she
kept the old home unincunbered,
teaching French and English until
Margaret was well into her teens. The
girl was sent to one Of the good old
boarding schools on the Hudson and
came out well prepared to help her
mother in the battle to keep the wolf
down and appearances up. Margaret
was rich in friendships, and pride
alone stood between her and the ad-
vantages they offered. Good looking,
bright and cheerful, she knew no natu-
raj privatiOns. With a heart as light
and joyous Us May morning she
faced adversely as though it were
pleasure, and no one would have sus-
pected that even for a moment her
courage wavered.
Now that Brewster had come into
his splendid fortune he could conceive
no greater delight than to share It
with them. To walk into the little
drawing room and serenaly lay large
sums before them as their own seemed
such natural proceeding that he re-
fused to see an obstacle. But he knew
1t was there. The prefer Of such a
gift to Mrs. Gray would mean
wound to the pride inherited from
naughty generations Of men sufficient
unto themselves. There was a small
out troublesome mortgage on the
house. a matter Of two Or three thou
sand dollars. and Brewster tried to
evolve a plan by which he could as
sumo the burden without giving deep
and lasting offense. A hundred wild
designs had come to him, but they
were quickly relegated to the growing
heap Of subterfuges and pretexts con-
demned by his tenderness for the pride
of these two women who meant so
much to him.
Leaving the bank, he hastened by
electric car to Fo9teth street and
Broadway and then walked eagBriy Off
Into the street Of the numeral. He had
not yet come to the point where he felt
like scorning the cars even though a
roll Of bank notes was tucked snugly
away In pocket that seemed to swell
with sudden affiuence. Old Hendrick.
faithful servitor through two genera
lions, was sweeping the autumn leaves
from the sidewalk when MONTGOMERY
came up to the house.
Hello. Hendrick!" was the young
mans CHEEKY greeting. Mice lot of
leaves you have there"
80" ebbed from Hendrick. who did
not even SO much as look I'D from bis
work. Hendrick was a human clam.
Mrs. Cray in?"
A grunt that signifed yes.
You're as loquacious as ever, Hen
drick.'
A mere nod. ---.-.