The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-08-25

which beneficiaries might choose to
manage their own affairs.
The house in Fifth avenue went to a
sister, together with n million or two,
and the residue of the estate found
kindly disposed relatives VINO were
willing to keep it from going to the
|-Home For Fricndless Fortunes. Old
Mr.. Brewster left his affairs in order.
Ihe Will nominated Jerome Buskirk us
executor, and he was instructed, in con-
cllslon, to turn over to Montgomery
Brewster the day after the will was
probatcd securities to the amount Of
Sl,OOO,OUO, provided for in clause 1
OF the instrument. And so it was that
on the 2Gth Of September young Mr..
Brewster had an unconditional fortune
thrust upon him, weighted only with
the suggestion of Grape that clung to it.
Since his grandfather's death he had
been staying at the gloomy old Brow.
ster house in Fifth avenue, paying bat
two or three hurried visits to the rooms
ut Mrs. Gray's where he had made his
nome. The gloom Of death stiu darlirn-
ell the Fifth avenue place, and there
was stiffness, n gentle stealthincss,
about the house that made him long
for more cheerful companionship. uc
wondered dimly If fortune alw3y.;
carried the suggestion of tuheToScs.
The richness and strangeness of 1t all
nung about him unplcasantly. He had
nau no eNtravagant affection for the
grim Old dictator who was dead. yot
his grandfather was Il man and had
commanded his respect. 1t seemed
brutal to leave him out Of the reckoning
to dance OH the grave Of the mentor
VINO had treated him so we'll The at.
t!tude OF the friends who clappcd him
on the back, of the newspapers which
congratulated him, Of the crowd that
expected him to rejoice, repellcI him.
lt seemed n tragic comedy, haunted
TOO, by memories and by sharp regret
FOR his own foolish thoughtlcssucss
Even the fortune itself weighed upon
nim ut moments with half des-cJ
melancholy.
Yet the situation was not without
It's compcnsations. For several davs
when Ellis called him at he would
answer him and thank fortune that
lie was not required at the bank that
morning. The luxury of another hour
Of sleep seemed the greatest perouisite
or wealth. His morning mail amused
nm at first. for since the newspapers
mad published his prosperity to the
world he was dcluged with letters. Re-
quests for public or private charity
were abundant, but most of his cor
respondents were generous and thought
ssIly of his own good.
For three days he was in a homeless
state OF bewilderment. He was VISIT
Ell by reporters, photographers and in
genious strangers, who benevolcntly
offered to invest his money I'M enter
prises with certified futures. When he
was not engaged in declining a gold
mine In Colorado, worth $4,000, 600,
marked down to $3.50, lie was avoiding
a guileless inventor who offered to sac
rifice the secrets Of marvellous de-
vice for $500 or denying the report that
he had been rendered the presidency
of the First National bank.
oliver Harrison stirred him out early
ono morning and, while the sleepy mil
lionaire was rubbing his eyes and still
dodging the bombshell that dream
anarchist had hurled from the pima
Gle of bedpost, urged him In excited,
confidential tones to take time by the
forelock and prepare for possible
breach of promise suits. Brewster sat
on the edge of the bed and listened to
diabolical stories Of how constituencies
females had fieeced innocent and even
godly men Of wealth. From the bath
room between splashes he retained
Harrison by the year, month, day and
hour to stand between him and black
mail,
The directors of the bank met and
adopted resolutions lnmentlng the
death of their late president, passed the
leadership OIL to the first vice president
ana speedily adjourned. The question
of admitting Monty to the directory
was brought up and discussed. but 1t
was left for time to settle.
One of the directors was Colonel
Prentiss Drew, "the railroad mag
nate" Of the newspapers. He had
shown fondness for young Mr.. Brew
ster, and Monty had been n frequent
visitor at his house. Colonel Drew
uuu Sioilly
called him "a bully old chap" though
not In his presence. But the existence
Of Miss Barbara Drew may have had
something to do with the feeling be-
tween the two men.
AS he left the directors room on the
afternoon of the meeting Colonel Drew
came up to Monty, who had notified
the officers Of the bank that he was
leaving.
"Ah, my dear boy" said the colonel,
shaking the young mans hand warmly,
'now you have Il chance to show what
you can do. You have fortune, and,
with Judgment, you ought to be able
to triple it. If l can help you in any
way, come and see me-"
Monty thanked him.
you'll be bored to death by the raft