The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-11-10

year ago. The million Is gone. and nv
wings are clipped" Her face was
white: her heart was I'm the clutch Of
ice. How could he be so calm about 1t
| when for him she was suffering such
agony? Twice she started to speak.
but her voice failed her. She turned
slowly and walked to the window,
keeping her back to the man who
smiled so sadly and yet so heartlessly.
Il didn't want the million, Peggy"
he went on. You think as the rest
do know, that was fool to act as
did. 1t would be rank idiocy on my
| part to blame you any more than the
| others for thinking as you do. Ap-
pearances are against me; the proof Is
overwhelming. A year ago 1 was call
ed man; today they are stripping me
of every claim to that distinction. The
world says am fool, a dolt, almost a
criminal, but no one believes I am q
man. Peggy, will you feel better to-
ward me II tell you that am going
to begin life all over again? 1t win
be n new Monty Brewster that starts
out again in few days, or, IL you will,
| 1t shall be the old one-the MONTY you
| once knew" -
"The old Monty?" she murmured
softly, drramily. 1T would be good
10 see him-so much better than to see
| !he Monty of the last year."
And in spite Of all l have done,
| Peggy, you will stand by me? You
| won't desert me like the rest? You'll
be the same Peggy of the other days?'
cfp1
How can you ask? Why should
you doubt meY"
For a moment they stood silent, each
| looking into the heart of the other, each
seeing the beginning of a new day:
"Child"-lis voice trembled danger
ously-"G-I wonder If you care enough
for me Toto But he could only
look the question.
"To start all over again with your?
she whispered.
"Yes-to trust yourself to the prodi-
gal who has returned. Without you,
child, all the rest would be as the
husks. Peggy, I want you-you! You
do love me. I can see it in your eyes:
can fee! it in your presence"
How long you have been In realiz-
ing it!' she said pensively as she
stretched out her arms to him. For
many minutes he held her close, find
ing beautiful peace in the world
again.
"How long have you really cared?"
he asked in whisper
always, Monty; all my life"
"And l, too, child; all my life. know
l-,,~ = g..
what fool 1 was to have wasted all
this love of yours and all this love of
mine! But I'll not be a profligate in
love, Peggy. I'll not squander an atom
of it, dear, not as long as live"
"And we will build greater love,
II-AAIonty, ns we build the new life togeth-
er. We never c1rn be- be- p6Sff p66Sf while we
have love as treasure" 6.
"You won't mind being poor with
me?" he asked.
81 can't be poor with you," she said
simply.
"And 1 might have let all this escape
me-" he cried fervently Listen, Peg
gy; we will start together, you rs my
wife and my fortune. You shall be all
that is left to me Of the past. Will you
marry me the day after tomorrow?
Don't say No. dearest. want to begin
on that day. At in the morning, dear?
Don't you see how good the start will
be?"
And he pleaded so ardently and so
earnestly that he won his point even
though it grew out Of whim that she
could not then understand. She was
not to learn until afterward his object
In having the marriage take place on
the morning Of Sept. 90, two hours be-
fore the time set for the turning over
OF the Sedgwick millions. If all went
well they would be Brewster's millions
before ~ o'clock, and Peggy's life Of
poverty would cover no more than
three hours of time. She believed him
worth n lifetime Of poverty. SO they
would start the new life With but one
posseSsiOn-love.
Peggy rebelled against his desire to
spend the $40 that still remained. but
| he was firm in his determination. They
would dine and drive together and sec
| all of the old life that was left-on $40.
| Then on the next day they would start
all over again. There was one rude mo.
| ment of dismay when it occurred to
him that Peggy might be considered
| an "asset" If she became his wife be-
fore 8 o'clock. But he realized ut once
| that 1t was only demanded of him that
he be penniless and that he possess no
object that had been acquired through
| the medium Of Edwin Peter Brewster's
money. Surely this wife who was not
to come to him until his last dollar was
| gone could not be the product of an old
| mans legacy. But so careful was he in
regard to the transaction that he decid,
ed to borrow money Of Joe Bragdon to
buy the license and to pay the minis
ter's fee. Not only would he be penni.