Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-08-15

smiled SO sadly and yet so heartlessly.
II didn't want the million, Peggy"
he went on. "You think as the rest
do, know, that was a fool to act as
I did. 1t would be rank idiocy on my
part to blame you any more than the
others for thinking as you do. APP
pearances are against me; the proof is
overwhelming. A year ago was call
ed man; today they are stripping me
of every claim to that distinction, The
world says am fool, a dolt, almost
criminal, but no one believes am
man. Peggy, will you feel better to-
ward me If tell you that am going
to begin life all over again? 1t will
be new Monty Brewster that starts
out again in few days, or, if you will.
it shall be the old one-the Monty you
once knew"
sorty d S,a s Weuld bs soea
N see him-so much better than to sea
the Monty Of the last year."
And in. spite of all have done,
Peggy, you will stand by me? You
won't desert me like the rest? You'll
be the same Peggy Of the other days?"
he cried, his calmness breaking down.
"How can you ask? Why should
you doubt me?"
For moment they stood silent, each
looking into the heart of the other, each
seeing the beginning of new day.
"Child"-his voice trembled danger
ously-"I-I wonder il you care enough
7D,,4 L. IL
look the question.
ITO start all over again with you?"
she whispered.
"Yes-to trust yourself to the prodi-
gal who has returned. Without you,
child, all the rest would be as the
husks. Peggy, want you-you! You
do love me. can see it In your eyes; l
can feel it in your presence"
How long you have been in realiz-
| ing itv' she said pensively as she
stretched out her arms to him. For
many minutes ne held her close, find
ing a beautiful peace in the world
again.
he asked in whisper.
always, Monty; all my life"
"And I, too, child; all my life. know
it now; rye known it for months. Oh,
what fool 1 was to have wasted all
this love of yours and all this love Of
mine! But I'll not be a profigate in
love, Peggy. I'll not squander an atom
Of it, dear, not as long as live"
"And we will build greater love,
Monty, as we build the new life togeth-
er. We never can be poor while we
have love as treasure :"
You won't mind | ing poor with
me?" he asked.
II can't be poor with you," she said
simply.
"And I might have let all this escape
mel" he cried fervently. Listen, Peg
gy; we will start together, you as my
wife and my fortune. You shall be all
that is left to me Of the past. Will you
marry me the day after tomorrow
Don't say No. dearest. I want to begin
on that day. At Z in the morning, dear?
Don't you see how good the start will
be-"
And he pleaded so ardently and SO
earnestly that he won his point even
though it grew out Of a whim that she
i could not then understand. She was
4 not to learn until afterward his object
in having the marriage take place on
the morning Of Sept. %, two hours be-
fore the time set for the turning over
i Of the Sedgwics millions. If all went
we'll they would be Brewster's millions
before - o'clock, and Peggy's life of
4 poverty would cover no more than
three hours OF time. She believed him
worth lifetime Of poverty. So they
would start the new life with but one
possession-love.
Peggy rebelled against his desire to
spend the $40 that still remained, but
he was firm in his determination. They
would dine and drive together and see
all Of the old life that was left-on $40
Then on the next day they would start
all over again. There was one rude mo
ment Of dismay when it occurred to
him that Peggy might be considered
an ''asset" If she became his wife be
fore o'clock. But he realized at once
that it was only demanded Of him that
he be penniless and that he possess nc
object that had been acquired through
the medium Of Edwin Peter Brewster's
money. Surely this wife who was ao1
to come to him until his last dollar was
gone could not be the product of an ole
mans legacy. But SO careful was he ii
regard to the transaction that he decid
ed to borrow money of Joe Bragdon tt
buy the license and to pay the minis
ter's fee. Not only would he be PENN
less on the day Of settlement, but he
would be in debt. So changed was the
color of the world to him now that ever
the failure to win Sedgwick's millions
could not crush out the new life anc
the new joy that had come to him will
the winning Of Peggy Gray.
CHAPTER XXI.
~ DON after noon on the 22d o.
~ September Monty folded his re
port to Swearengen Jones, stucl