Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-03

win Peter Brewster. He was hard, but he was not niggardly. :. It had been something of a struggle for Mrs. Gray to make both ends meet. The property in Fortieth street was her only possession. But little money had come to her at her husbands death, and an unfortunate speculation of his had swept away all that had fallen to her from her father, the late Judge Merriweather. For years she kept the old home unincumbered, teaching French and English until Margaret was well into her teens. The girl was sent to one of the good old boarding schools on the Hudson and came out we'll prepared to help her mother in the battle to keep the wolf down and appearances up. Margaret was rich in friendships, and pride alone stood between her and the ad- vantages they offered. Good looking, bright and cheerful, she knew no natu- ral privations. With heart as light and joyous as May morning she faced adversity as though it were a pleasure, and no one would have sus- pected that even for a moment her courage wavered.
 Now that Brewster had come into bis splendid fortune he could conceive no greater delight than to share 1t with them. To walk into the little drawing room and serenely lay large sums before them as their own seemed such natural proceeding that he re- fused to see an obstacle. But he knew 1t was there. The proffer of such a gift to Mrs. Gray would mean wound to the pride inherited from naughty generations of men sufficient unto themselves. There was a small but troublesome mortgage on the house, matter of two or three thou sand dollars, and Brewster tried to evolve a plan by which he could as- sume the burden without giving deep and lasting offense. A hundred wild designs had come to him, but they were quickly relegated to the growing heap of subterfuges and pretexts con demned by his tenderness for the pride of these two women who meant so much to him.
 Leaving the bank, he hastened by electric car to Fortieth street and Broadway and then walked eagerly oi into the street of the numeral He had not yet come to the point where he felt like scorning the cars even though a roll of bank notes was tucked snugly away in pocket that seemed to swell with sudden afiluence. Old Hendrick, faithful servitor through two genera, tions, was sweeping the autumn leaves from the sidewalk when Montgomery came up to the house.
 Hello, Hendrickl' was the young mans cheery greeting. "Nice lot oi leaves you have there"
 "So?" ebbed from Hendrick, who dit not even so much as look up from hii work. Hendrick was human clam.
 Mrs. Gray in?"
 A grunt that signifed yes.
 You're as loquacious as ever, Hen drick." 3 a 4. F mere nod G IL
 Brewster let himself in with his ow, latchkey, threw his hat on chair ant unceremoniously bolted into the libra ". Margaret was seated near a win dow, book in her lap. The first evi dence of unbiased friendship he hat | tn eh In, hov- Ia took his hand and said simply, "We ar, glad to welcome the prodigal to hi home again."
 q remind myself more of the fatte, calf"
 Her first self consciousness had gone
 T thought of that, but I didn't dar say it." she laughed. "One must b respectful to rich relatives"
 Hang your rich relatives. Peggy If I thought that this money woul' make any difference would give it ul this minute"
 Nonsense, Monyr' she said. "Hoy could it make a differencef But vol must admit it is rather startling. Tn friend of our youth leaves his humbl dwelling Saturday night with his sal ary drawn for two weeks ahead. H returns the following Thursday . da, zling millionaire"
 "I'm glad I've begun to dazzle any way. I thought it might be hard { look the part"
 Well. l can't see that you are muc changed" There was suggestion of quaver in her voice. and the shadow did not prevent him from seeing tn quick mist that fitted across her dee eyes
 After all. it's easy work being a mi lionaire." he explained. when you'v always had million dollar inclinations.
 And fifty cent possibilities" sh added.
 Really. though. I'll never get a much joy out of my abundant riche as I did out of financial embarras' ments.-
 But think how fine 1t Is. Monty. ne ever to wonder where your winter overcoat ia to come from and ho' long the coal will last and all that"
 -oh, I never wondered about m overcoats. The tailor did the wondel ing. But wish could % on Twin here just as before. I'd heap ratbs live here than at that gloomy place c the avenue
 That sounded like the things 70 used to say when we played in t garrett You'6 a heap sooner do thl