The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-09-08
CHATTER VIII.

ChAIIER VIII.
NE morning not long after the
incidents just related Brew
ster lay in bed staring Mt the
ceiling, deep In thought
There was worried pucker on his
forehead. half hidden by the rumplctl
hair, ana his eyes were wide and sleep.
less. He had dined Mt the Drews' the
evening before and had had an awak-
cning. AS he thought Of the matter hc
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 he had endured a
wretched evening.
"That little English Johnnie was to
blame" he argued. "Of course Barbara
had a 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! If had been OH the
other side I'll 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
liked, although the poor man had hard
ly spoken during the dinner. But
Monty could not be reconciled. He
knew. Of course. that Barbara had suit
ors by the dozen. but 1t had never oc-
CURED to him that they were even Sc
riously considered. Notwithstanding
the fact that his encounter with The
siraife notice, sne rorsuvc iIlin erel,-
thing after a moments consideration.
The first few wrenches Of resentment
were overbalanced by her American
appreciation Of chivalry, however in
spired. 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years unpublished, his coarse wit be-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 vindictive was his pen that other
men feared him, and there were many
who lived in glass houses in terror Of
a fusillade. Brewster's prompt and
sufficient action had checked the per-
niclous attacks. and he became hero
among men and women. After that
night there was no point to The Cen
sor's pen. Monty'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 n matter Of form.
But on this morning rs he lay in his
bed Monty was thinking deeply and
painfully. He was confronted by a
most embarrassing condition, and he
was discussing it soberly with him
self. 1--WE never told her." he said to
himself, but II she doesn't know my
feeling she is not as clever as I think.
Besides, haven't time to make love to
her now. II it were any other girl
suppose I'd have to, but Babs-why,
she must understand. And yet-hang
that duke!
In order to WOO her properly he
would be compelled to neglect finnn.
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
the night before. The last four days
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 $1,000. An average like
that would be ruinous.
"Why, think Of It," he continued.
"For each day sacrificed to Barbara
I must deduct something like $500
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
heavy task am facing. And there
I am out Of the running? I cannot 20
TO her and say: Please. may l. have
a venr's vacation? I'll come back next
September On the other hand,
shall surely neglect my business II
she expects me to compete. What
pleasure shall get out of the seven
millions if lose her? 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 21st or 22d. >
Then a brilliant thought occurred
to him which caused him to ring for a
messenger boy with such q show Of i'm
patience that Rawles stood aghast
The telegram which Monty wrote was