Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-27

The burden Of it all seemed heavy.
The trained nurses found that some
more powerful stimulant than the med
icine was needed to awaken his ambi-
ton, and they discovered it at last in
Peggy.
Child" he said to her the first time
she was permitted to see him, and his
eyes had lights In them, 'do you know.
this isn't such bad world after all.
Sometimes as I've lain here it has
looked twisted and queer, but there are
things that straighten it out. Today |
feel as though I had place in it-as
though l could fight things and win
out. What do you think, Peggy? Do
you suppose there is something that |
could do? You know what I mean
something that some one else would
not do thousand times better
But Peggy, to whom this chastened
mood In Monty was infinitely pathetic,
would not let him talk. She soothed
him and cheered him and touched his
hair with her cool hands, and then she
left him to think and brood and dream.
1t was many days before his turbu-
lent mind drifted to the subject Of
money, but suddenly he found himself
hoping that the surgeons would be gen.
erous with their charges. He almost
suffered a relapse when Lotless, WIS.,
IDLY distressed. informed him that the
total amount would reach $4,000.
"And what is the additional charge
for the operation?" asked Monty, I'M
willing to accept such unwarranted
favors.
Its included in the S3,ooo,' said
Lotless. "They knew you were my
friend, and it was professional eti-
quette to help keep down expenses"
For days Brewster remained at Mrs.
Gray's. happy in its restfulness, serene
under the charm of Peggy's presence
and satisfied to be hopelessly behind in
his daily expense account. The inter
est shown by the inquiries at the house
So, the anxiety Of his friends were
soothing to the profligate. 1t gave
him back little of his lost self re-
spect. The doctors finally decided that
he would best recuperate in Florida
and advised a month at least in the
warmth. He leaped at the PROPOSE
ton, but took the law into his own
hands by ordering General Manager
Harrison to rent a place and insisting
that he needed the companionship Of
Peggy and Mrs. Gray
How soon can 1 get back to work,
doctor?" demanded Monty the day be-
fore the special train was to carry him
south. He was beginning to see the
dark side of his enforced idleness. His
blood again was tingling with the de-
sire to be back in the harness Of a
spendthrift
'To work?" laughed the physician.
"And what Is your occupation, pray?"
Making other people rich," respond
ed Brewster soberly.
"Well. aren't you satisfied with what
you have done for me? If you are as
charitable as that you must be still
pretty sick. Be careful and you may
be on your feet again in five or six
weeks"
Harrison came in as Lotless left
Peggy smiled at him from the window.
She had been reading aloud from
novel SO garrulous that it fairly cried
aloud for interruptions.
Now, Hopper, what became Of the
ball I was going to give?" demanded
Monty. troubled look in his eyes.
why. we called it off," said Mop
per in surprise.
Don't you remember, Monty?' ask
ed Peggy, looking up quickly and won
dering if his mind had gone trailing
off.
81 know we didn't give it, Of course,
but what date did you hit upon.'
"We didn't postpone it at all,' said
hopper. How could we? We didn't
know whether-I mean, it wouldn't
have been quite right to do that sort Of
thing
II understand. Well, what has be-
come of the orchestra and the flowers
and all that?''
THE orchestra is gallivanting around
the country, quarreling with itself and
erybody else and driving poor Card
ner to the insane asylum. The flowers
have lost their bloom long ago."
well, we'll get together, Hopper,
and try to have the ball at mid-Lent
I think I'll be well by that time"
Peggy looked appealingly at Harri-
son for guidance, but to him silence
seemed the better part Of valor, and he
went off wondering If the illness had
completely carried away Monty's rea-
son.
CHAPTER XVI.
Y T was the cottage of a New York
millionaire which had fallen to
Brewster. The owner had for the