Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-24
CHAPTER VIII.

ster lay in bed staring Mt the
| ceiling. deep in thought.
There was a worried pucker on his
forehead. half hidden by the rumpled
hair, and his eyes were wide and sleep
less. He had dined at the Drews' the
evening before and had had an qwak.
ening. Az he thought Of the matter he
could recall no special occurrence that
he could really use as evidence. Colo
mel and Mrs. Drew had been as kind as
ever, and Barbara could not have been
more charming. But something had
gone wrong. and no had endured
wretcled evening.
"That little English Johnnie was to
blame" nc argued. "Of course Barbara
had right to put any one she liked
next to her, but why she should have
chosen that silly ass Ia more than !
know. by Jove! II had been on the
other side III warrant his grace would
have been lost IN the dust"
His brain was whirling. and for the
first time he was beginning to feel the
unpleasant pangs of jealousy. The
Duke Of Beauchamp he especially dis
|
~ spoken during the dinner. But
Monty could not be raconcled. He
knew. of course, that Barbara had suit
ors by the dozen. but 1t had never &C.
Cured to him that they were even Sc
riously considered. Notwithstanding
the fact that his encounter with The
Censor had brought her into unde-
sirnble notice, she forgave him every
thing after moments consideration.
The first few wrenchcs Of resentment
were ovcrbalanced by her American
appreciation Of chivalry. however in
srired. The Censor had gone for
years UNPUBLISHED. his coarse wit be-
ing aimed at every one who had come
into social prominence. So pungent
and vindlctive was his pen that other
men feared him. and there were many
who lived in glass houses in terror of
fusillade. Brewster's prompt and
sufficient action had checked the per-
nicious attacks. and he became hero
among men and women. After that
night there was no point to The Cen
sor's pen. Nlonty's first qualms Of
apprehension were swept away when
Colonel Drew himself hailed him the
morning after the encounter and In
no unmeasured terms congratulated
him upon his achievement. assuring
him that Barbara and Mrs. Drew ap-
proved, although they might lecture
him as a matter Of form.
| But on this morning as he lay in his
bed Monty was thinking deeply and
painfully. He was confronted by
most embarrassing condition, and he
was discussing it sOberly with him
self 1--WE never told her" he said to
himself. but il she doesn't know my
feeling she is not as clever as think.
Besides, haven't time to make love to
suppose I'd have to. but Babs--why.
she must understand. And yet-hang
that duke"
| In order to WOO her properly he
would he compelled to neglect f1nan.
cial duties that needed every particle
| Of brain energy at his command. He
found himself opposed Mt the outset by
a startling embarrassment. made alb
solutely clear by the computations Of
Of Indifference to finance on one side
and pampering the heart on the other
had proved very costly. To use his
own expression. he had been "set
back" almost $4,000. An average like
that would be ruinous.
"Why, think Of it," he continued
For each day sacrificed to Barbara
I must deduct something like $4,000
A long campaign would put me ire
trievably in the hole; I'd get so far
behind that holocaust couldn't put
me even. She can't expect that Of me-
yet girls are such idiots about devotion
and Of course she doesn't know what
q heavy task am facing. And there
are the others-what will they do while
I am out of the running? cannot so
to her and say: Please. may have
a years vacation? I'll come back next
September On the other hand, l
shall surely neglect my business II
she expects me to compete. What
pleasure shall get out of the seven
millions il l lose her? l can't afford to
take chances. That duke won't have
seven millions next September. it's
true, but he'll have prodigious argu-
ment against me about the 2lst or 22d"
Then brilliant thought occurred
to him which caused him to ring for a
messenger boy with such show of i'm
patience that Rawles stood aghast
The telegram which Monty wrote was
as follows.
Swearengen Jones. Butte. Mont:
May l marry and turn all property over
to wife. provided she will have me?
MONTGOMERY BREWSTER.
"Why isn't that reasonable?' he
asked himself after the boy had gone.
Making property over to ones wife
Is neither loan nor Ia 1t charity. Old
Jones might call 1t needless extrava-
gance, since he's a bachelor, but it's
generally done because it's good bust.
ness" Monty was hopeful.
Following his habit in trouble. he
sought Margaret Gray. to whom he
could always appeal for advice and
consolation. She was to come to his
next dinner party. and 1t was easy to
lead up to the subject in hand by men,
tioning the other guests.
"And Barbara Drew" he concluded
after naming all the others. They
were alone in the library, and she was
l