Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-11-24

There was IN immediate council OF
war when this piece Of news was an
nounccd, and the Little Sons were
unanimous in favor of recalling the In
vitations and declaring the party off.
At first Monty was obdurate, but when
some one suggested that he could give
the ball later on, after he was well. he
relented. The opportunity to double
the cost by giving two parties was not
to be ignored.
"Call it off, then, but say that it is
only postponed"
A great rushing to and fro resulted
In the cancelng Of contracts. the re-
calling of Invitations, the settlement Of
accounts, with the most loyal effort to
save as much as possible from the
wreckage. Harrison and his associ-
ates, almost frantic with fear for Brew
ster's life, managed to perform Won
ders in the few hours Of grace. Gard
ner with rare foresight, saw that the
Viennese orchestra would prove dead
loss. lie suggested the possibility of
concert tour through the country
covering several weeks, and Monty, too
Ill to care one way or the other, au-
thorized him to carry out the plan If 1t
seemed feasible.
To Monty, fearless and less disturb
ed than any other member Of his cir
Gle, appendicitis seemed as inevitable
rs vaccination.
THE appendix is becoming an I'M
portant feature In the book of life," he
once told Peggy Gray.
He refused to go to hospital, but
pathetically begged to be taken to his
old rooms ut Mrs. Gray's.
With all the unhappy loneliness of
sick boy he craved the care and COM
partnership Of those who seemed part
of his own. DIR. Lotless had them
transform a small bedchamber into a
model operating room, and Monty took
no small satisfaction In the thought
that If he was to be denied the priv
ilege Of spending money for several
weeks he would at least make his Ill
ness as expensive as possible. A con-
sultatiOn Of eminent surgeons was call
ed: but. true to his colOrs, Brewster
installed DR.. LOtless, Little Son, as
his house surgeon. Monty grimly bore
the pain and suffering and submitted
to the operation which alone could
save his life. Then came the struggle,
then the promise Of victory and then
the quiet days Of convalescence. In
the little room where he had dreamed
his boyish dreams and suffered his boy
ish sorrows he struggled against death
and gradually emerged from the mists
Of lassitude. He found it harder than
he had thought to come back to life.
The burden of 1t 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 a bad world after all.
Sometimes as I've lain here 1t has
looked twisted and queer. but there are
things that straighten 1t out. Today
feel as though I had a place in it-as
though 1 could fight things and win
out. What do you think, Peggy Do
you suppose there IL something that /
could do? You know what 1 mean
something that some one else would
not do a 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.
It 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 relapse when Lotless, Wis
ibly distressed. Informed him that the
total amount would reach 5000.
And what Is the additional charge
for the operation?" asked Monty, un-
willing to accept such unwarranted
favors.
ITS included in the $2,0Go." said
Lotless. "They knew you were my
friend, and 1t 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
and the anxiety OF bis friends were
soothing to the profiigate. 1t gave
him back q little of his lost self re-
spect. The doctors finally decided that
he would best recuperate In Florida
and advised q 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 place and insisting
that he needed the companionship of
Peggy and Mrs. Gray.
How soon can get back to work,
| doctorr' 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.
ITO 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 q
novel SO garrulous that it fairly cried
aloud for Interruptions.
Now, hopper, what became Of the
ball l was going to give?" demanded
Monty, n 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,
Il know we didn't give 1t, of course,
but what date did you hit upon"
1--WE didn't postpone it at ALL" said
NQnnor. aaa,ll 4