Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-08-17

the trap and the two light hearts. Mrs.
Gray turned from window in the
house with tears in her eyes. To her
troubled mind they were driving off
into utter darkness.
"The queerest looking man came to
the house to see you this afternoon,
Monty" said Peggy. HE wore a
beard, and he made me think of Rem
ingtons cowboys"
What was his name?'
HE told the maid it did not matter
I saw him as he walked away, and he
looked very much a man. He said he
would come tomorrow if he did not
find you downtown tonight Don't you
recognize him from the description"
Not at all. Can't imagine who he
u.s."
Monty" she said after a moments
painful reflection. "He-he couldn't
have been a.
II know what you mean, an officer
sent up to attach my belongings or
something of the sort. No, dearest;
give you my word of honor l do not
owe dollar in the world" Then he
recalled his peculiar Indebtedness to
Bragdon and Gardner. Except one or
two very small personal obligations"
he added hastily. Don't worry about
it, dear; we are out for good time,
and we must make the most of it,
First we drive through the park, then
we dine at Merry's."
"But we must dress for that, DEAR
she cried. "And the chaperon?"
He turned very red when she spoke
Of dressing. I'm ashamed to confess
it, Peggy, but have no other clothes
than these I'm wearing now. Don't
look so hurt, dear. I'm going to leave
an order for new evening clothes to-
morrow If have the time And about
the chaperon. People won't be talking
before tomorrow, and by that time
''No, Monty, Merrys is out Of the
question. We can't go there" she said
decisively.
"Oh, Peggy! That spoils everything
he cried in deep Disappointment.
ut isn't fair to me, Monty. Every
body would know us, and every
tongue would wag. They would say:
There are Monty Brewster and Mar
garet Gray. Spending his last few dol
lars on her. You wouldn't have them
think that?"
He saw the justice in her protest.
"a quiet little dinner in some out Of
the way place would be joyous" she
| added persuasively.
You're right, Peggy, you're always
right. You see, I'm so used to spend
ing money by the handful that don't
know how to do it any other way. I
believe I'll let you carry the pocket
book after tomorrow. Let me think.
I know nice little restaurant down
town. Well go there and then to the
theater. Dan DeMille and his wife are
t. be in my box, and we're all going
up to Pettingill's studio afterward
I'm to give the Little Sons a farewell
supper. If my calculations don't go
wrong that will be the end Of the jaunt
and We'll go home happy"
At II o'clock Pettingill's studio open
ed Its doors to the Little Sons and
their guests, and the last Dutch
lunch" was soon under way. Brewster
had paid for it early in the evening,
and when he sat down at the head Of
| the table there was not penny in his
| pockets. A year ago at the same place
and at the same hour he and the Lit
tie Sons were having a birthday feast.
| A million dollars came to him on that
night. Tonight he was poorer by far
than on the other occasion, but he ex-
pected little gift on the new ami
varsary.
Around the board besides the nine
Little Sons sat six guests, among them
the DeMilles, Peggy Gray and Mary
Valentine. hopper Harrison was the
only absent Little Son, and his health
was proposed by Brewster almost be-
fore the echoes Of the toast to the bride
and groom died away.
Interruption came earlier on this -oc-
casion than it did that night year
ago. Ellis did not deliver his messages
to Brewster until O'Clock in the morn
ing, but the A. D. I. boy who rang the
bell at Pettingill's year later handed
him telegram before IL o'clock.
| SodEl are COulluS Ill, Olu
man." said DeN1ille as Monty looked
fearfully at the little envelope the boy
had given him.
Many happy returns Of the day.
suggested Bragdon. by Jove, it's sen.
sible of you to get married on your
birthday, Monty. 1t saves time and eX.
pense to Your friends"
Read it aloud said Subway Smith
Two to one it's from hopper Harri
son." cried Pettingill
Brewster's fingers trembled, he knew
not why, as he opened the envelope
There was the most desolate feeling In
his heart, the most CHASTITY premonitio1
that Ill news had come in this last
hour. He drew forth the telegram and
slowly, painfully, unfolded it. No one
could have told by his expression that
he felt almost thot hn was raa6tDo his