Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-10-05
BREWSTER'S
M IL L l O N s
BY.
GEORGE BARR M'CUTCHEON
Orchard Greaves
Copyngh,, 1904. by Herbert S. Stone & Company
copyish,. 1904. by Herbert S. Stone & Company

tears disappeared and left her AT white
heat
Frankly, father. you don't under
stand matters" she said, with slow en-
phasis. II wish you to know now that
II Montgomery Brewster calls again |
shall not see him."
"If that is your point Of view, Barba-
ra, wish you to know mine" The
colonel rose and stood over her, every
thing forgotten but the rage that went
30 deep that II left the surface calm.
Throwing aside his promise to Brew
ster, he told Barbara with dramatic
simplicity the story OF the rescue of the
bank. "You see" he added, IF ii had
not been for that open hearted boy we
would now be ruined. Instead of CIV
ing cotillons you might be giving mu-
sic lessons. Montgomery Brewster will
always be welcome In this house, and
you will see that my wishes are re-
spected. Do you understand
Perfectly" Barbara answered in
still voice. "As your friend shall try
to be civil TO him."
The colonel was not satisfied with so
cold blooded an acqulescence. but he
wisely retired from the field. He left
the girl silent and crushed, but with a
CLEAN In her eyes that was not alto
gether to be concealed. The story had
touched her more deeply than she
would willingly confess. 1t was some
thing to know that Monty Brewster
could do thing like that and would do
Il for her. The exultant smile which 1t
brought TO her lips could only be made
to disappear by reminding herself
sharply of his recent arrogance. Her
anger, she found, was plant which
needed careful cultivation.
1t was In a somewhat chastened
mood that she started few days later
for a dinner at the DeMilles'. AS she
entered in her sweeping golden gown
the sight Of Monty Brewster at the 9TH
err end OF the room gave her a fiutter ut
the heart but II was an agitation that
was very carefully concealed. Brew
ster was certainly unconscious Of 1t.
To him the position of guest was like a
disguise. and he was pleased at the
prospect Of letting himself go under
. the mask without responsibility. But
1t took on different color when the
butler handed him card which signi-
fed that no was to take Miss Drew in
to dinner. Hastily seeking out the host
ess, he endeavored to convey 10 her
The impossibility Of the situation.
II hope ysu won't misunderstood
me-" he said. But Is 1t too late to
change my place at the table?'
ut isn't conventional, know, Mon
ty. Society's chief aim is to separate
engaged couples at dinner said Mrs.
Dan, with a laugh. 1T would be pos
itively compromising IL a man and his
wife sat together"
Dinner was announced before Monty
could utter another word. and as she
LED him over TO Barbara she said: BE
hold generous hostess who gives up
the The best ..s.an in the crowd 50 that he
and some one else may have happy
time. leave 1t to you, Barbara, If
that isn't the test OF friendship"
For moment the two riveted their
~
the situation came to Monty.
II did not knew that we were sup
posed to do Gibson tableaux tonight
he said dryly as he pronfered his arm.
II don't understand" And Barba-
ra's curiosity overcame her determine
tion not to speak.
Don't you remember the picture OF
the man WHO was called upon to take
his late fiancee out to dinner?"
The awful silence with which this
remark was received put an end TO
further efforts at humor.
The dinner was probably the most
painful experience in their lives. Bar
,Aara had come 70 It softeped and ready
70 meet him halfway. The right kind
Of humility in Monty would have found
her plastic. But she had very definite
and rigid ideas Of his duty In the
premises, and Monty was too simple
minded to ceem to suffer and much too
flippant to understand. 1t was p'sin to
each that the other did not expect to
talk. but they both realized that they
owed a duty to appearances and to
their hostess. Through two courses at
least there was dead silence between
them. It seemed as though every eye
IN the room were on them and every
mind were specializing. At last In
sheer desperation Barbara turned TO
him with The frat smile he had seen on
her face in days. There was no smile
a her eyes, however, and Monty IN