The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-09-29

calling Of invitations, the settlement OF
accounts, with the most loyal eAoxe 30
save as much as possible from the
wreckage. Harrison and his assocf-
ates, almost frantic with fear for Brew
sters life, managed to perform won
ders in the few hours Of grace. Gard.
ner, with rare foresight. saw that the
Viennese orchestra would prove a dead
loss. lie suggested the possibility of
concert tour through the country
covering several weeks, and Monty, too
Ill TO care one way or the other, au-
thorized him to carry out the plan IL It
seemed feasible.
10 Monty, fearless and less disturb
ed than any other member Of his cir
Gle, appendicitis seemed as inevitable
as vaccination.
Ihe appendix Is becoming an I'm
portant feature in the book of life," he
once told Peggy Gray.
He refused to go to a hospital. but
pathetlcally begged to be taken to his
old rooms Mt Mrs. Gray's.
With all the unhappy loneliness of a
SICK boy he craved the care and COM
panionshlp Of those who seemed part
or his own. DIR. Lotless had them
transform small bedchamber into n
model operating room, and Monty took
no small satisfaction in the thought
that if he was to be denied the priv
flege OF spending money for several
weeks lie would Mt least make his i'll.
ness as expensive rs possible. A con-
suitation Of eminent surgeons was call
ed; but, true to his colors, Brewster
installed DIR. Lotless, a Little Son, as
his house surgeon. Monty grimly bore
the pain and suffering and submitted
to the operation which alone could
save his life. Then came the struggle.
then the promise Of victory and then
tho quiet days Of convalescence. In
the little room where he had dreamed
his boyish dreams and suffered his boy
ish sorrows he struggled against death
and gradually emerged from the mists
Of lassitude. He found 1t harder than
he had thought to come back to life
The burden Of 1t all seemed heavy
The trained nurses found that some
more powerful stimulant than the med
icine was needed to awaken his ambt-
ton, and they discovered 1t at last In
Peggy.
"Child," he said to her the first time
she was permitted to see him, and his
eyes had lights in them. do you know.
this isn't such bad world after ALL
Sometimes rs I've lain here II has
looked twisted and queer. but there arc
things that straighten it out. Today
feel rs though I had a place in it-as
though could tight things and win
out. What do you think, Peggy? Do
you suppose there Is something that
could do? You know what I mean
something that some one else would
not do a thousand times better
But Peggy, to whom this chastened
mood In Monty was infinitely pathetic.
would not let him talk. She soothed
him and cheered him and touched his
i.>t~--i<a. a-----~o, ,aas.<>s, si,>>
left him to think and brood and dream
1t was many days before his turbu-
lent mind drifted to the subject Of
money, but suddenly he found himself
hoping that the surgeons would be gen
erous with their charges. He almost
suffered relapse when Lotless, Wis
IDLY distressed, informed him that the
total amount would reach 5000.
'And what Is the additional charge
for the operation7" asked Monty, un-
willing to accept such unwarranted
favors.
"It's included in the $1,000" said
Lotless. "They knew you were my
friend, and 1t was professional etf-
quette to help keep down expenses"
For days Brewster remained at Mrs
Gray's, happy in Its restfulness, serene
under the charm Of Peggy's presence
and satisfied to be hopelessly behind in
his daily expense account. The inter
est shown by the Inquiries at the house
and the anxiety OF his friends were
soothing TO the profigate. 1t gave
him back little Of his lost self re-
spect. The doctors finally decided that
he would best recuperate In Florida
and advised a month Mt least In the
warmth. He leaped ut the PROPOSE
tlon, but took the law into his own
hands by ordering General Manager
Harrison to rent a place and insisting
that lie needed the companiOnship of
Peggy and Mrs. Gray.
How soon can 1 get back to work.
doctor" demanded Monty the day be-
fore the special train was to carry him
south. He was beginning to see the
dark side of his enforced idleness. His
blood again was tingling with the de-
sire to be back in the harness Of q
spendthrift
"To work." laughed the physician.
"And what is your occupation, prayT
Making other people rich," respond
cd Brewster soberly.
"WelI, aEen't you satisfied with what
you have done for me? II you are as
charitable as that you must be still
pretty sick. Be careful and you may