Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-12-29
CHAPTER XIII (Continued),

The curtain rose upon the next act,
and something in the opera toward the
end seemed to bring the two very close
together. AS they were leaving the
theater there was a note of regret from
Peggy. 1T has been perfect" she
breathed, "yet, Monty, isn't it q waste
that no one else should have seen it?
Think Of these poverty stricken peas
ants who adore music and have never
heard an opera"
"Well, they shall hear one now"
Monty rose to 1t, but he felt like a
hypocrite in concealing his chief mo-
tive. We'll repeat the performance
tomorrow night and fill the house with
them"
He was as good as his word Ber-
tier was given q task the next day
which was not to his taste. But with
the assistance Of the city authorities he
carried it through. To them it was an
evidence of insanity, but there was
something prlncely about 1t, and they
were tolerant. The manager Of the Op-
era house was less cOmplacent and he
had an explanatory terror Of the dam
age to his upholstery. But Brewster
had discovered that in Italy gold is a
panacea for all ills, and his prescrip-
lions were liberal To him the day
was short, for Peggy's interest in the
penance, as 1t came to be called, was
30 keen that she insisted ON having q
hand in the prellminaries. There was
something about the partnership that
appealed to Monty.
To her regret the DeAfille dinner in
terfered with the opening Of the per-
Torrance, but Monty consoled her with
the promise that the opera and its
democratic audience should follow.
During the day Mrs. Dan had been
deep In preparations for her banquet,
but her plans were deliberately conceal
ed. They eliminated at 8 o'clock In the
Cova. not far from the Scala, and the
dinner was eaten In the garden to the
sound Of music. Yet it was an effect Of
simplicity with which Mrs. Dan sur
prised her guests. They were prepared
for anything but that, and when they
were served with consomme, spaghetti
a concession to the chef-and chops
and peas, followed by a salad and cof-
fee. the gratitude Of the crowd was
quite beyond expression. In q burst of
enthusiasm Subway Smith suggested
q testimonial.
Monty complained bitterly that he
himself had never received q ghost of
q testimonial. He protested that 1t was
not deserved.
"Why should you expect it," exclaim-
Cd Pettingill. when have you risen
from terrapin and artichOkes to chops
and chicory? When have you given us
nectar and ambrosia like thisY'
Monty was defeated by a unanimous
vote. and Mrs. Dams testimonial was
assured. This matter settled, Peggy
and Mrs. Valentine, with Brewster and
Pettingill, walked over to the Scala
md heard again the last two acts Of
AIDA" But the audience was differ
ent, and the applause.
The next day ut noon the chauffeurs
from Paris reported for duty, and five
cleaning French devil wagons steamed
on through the crowd in the direction
Of Venice. Through Brescia and Verona
and Vicenza they passed, scattering
largess of silver in their wake and
leaving a trail Of breathless wonder.
Brewster found the pace too fast, and
by the time they reached Venice he had
a wistful longing to take this radiant
country more slowly. But this is pure
ly business trip" he thought, "and
can't expect to enjoy 1t. Some day I'll
come back and do 1t differently.
could spend hours in q gondola IL the
blamed thing We're not more expensive
BY the trip"
1t was there that he was suddenly
recalled to his duty from dreams of
moonlight on the water by a cable
gram which demanded 1924 before it
could be read. 1t contained word for
word the parable Of the ten talents
and ended with the simple word
OIouoc