Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-09-14

which is being swallowed up. This
kind Of thing cant go on. And what
10 to follow it? You are wasting your
substance. and you are not making any
life for yourself that Opeus out"
Peggy" he answered very seriously,
you have got to trust me. I can't
back out, but I'll tell you this-you
shall not be disappointed in me in the
end"
There was mist before the girls
eyes as she looked ut him. II believe
you, Monty" she said simply. 81 shall
not forget"
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 note OF regret from
Peggy. ut has been perfect she
brcathed, 'yct, Monty, isn't II waste
that no one else should have seen it?
Think Of these poverty stricken pens
ants who adore music and have never
heard an OPERA
well, they shall hear one now"
iOSc W IL, UuI Nv iVil hhc u
hypocrite in conccaing his chief mo
tive. well repeat the performance
tomorrow night and Ill the house with
them"
He was as good as his word. Ber-
tier was given task the next day
which was not to his taste. But with
the assistance OF the city authorities he
nj tn, " n N
evidence of insanity, but there was
something princely about 1t. and they
were tolerant. The manager Of the OPP
era house was less conplacent. and he
had an explanatory terror of the dam
age 10 his upholstery. But Brewster
had discovered that in Italy gold is
panacea for all ills, and his prescrip-
tons We're liberal To him the day
was short for Peggy'S interest in the
penance. as 1t came TO he called. was
so keen that she insisted on having a
hand in the prclminaries. There was
something about the partnership that
appealed to Monty.
To her regret the peNillc dinner in
terfered with the opening Of the per-
the promise that the opera and its
democratic" audience should follow.
During the day Mrs Dan had been
deep in preparations for her banquet.
hut her plans were deliberately conceal
ed. They eliminated at S o'clock III the
COva, nGt far from the Scala. and the
dinner was eaten in the garden to the
sound Of music. Yet il 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. spa ghetti
a concession TO the Chefand ctops
and peas, followed by a salad and cof-
fee the gratitude Of the crowd was
quite beyond expression. In burst Of
enthusiasm Subway Smith suggested
testimonial
Monty complained bitterly that he
himself had never received n ghost OF
testimonial. He protested that it was
not deserved
"Why should Won expect it," exclaim-
ed Pettingll. When have you risen
from terrapin ana artichokes to chops
and chicory? When have you given us
nectar and ambrosia like this?"
Monty was defeated by unanimous
vote. and Mrs. Dams testimonial was
assured. This matter settled. Peggy
and Mrs. Valentine, with Brewster and
Pettingill, walked over to the Scala
and heard again the last two acts OF
"Aida." But the Aldeucc was differ
ent and the applause
The next day at noon the chauffeurs
from Paris reported for duty. and five
cleaning French devil wagons stea med
off through the crowd in the direction
Of Venice. Through Brescia and Verona
and Nicenza they passed, scattering
largess Of silver in their wake ard
leaving a trail Of breathlcss wonder.
Brewster found me pace too fast. and
by the time they reached Venice be had
a wistfu, longing to take this radiant
country more slowly. But this is pure
ly business trip" he thought. land l
can't expect to enjoy IT, Some day I'll
come back ana do it differently
could spend hours in a gondola if the
blamed thing were 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 Il 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
Jones"