Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-12-29

pathetically begged to be taken to his
old rooms at Mrs. Gray's.
With all the unhappy loneliness of a
sick boy he craved the care and COM
partnership Of those who seemed part
Of his own. DR.. 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 oil spending money for several
weeks he would at least make his Ill
ness as expensive as possible. A con-
sultatlon 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 1t harder than
he had thought to come back to life.
The burden of it 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 il 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 it has
looked twisted and queer but there are
things that straighten it out. Today
feel as though l had place in it-as
though I could fight things and win
out. What do you think Peggy? Do
you suppose there is something that
could do? You know what l 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
1t 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 a relapse when Lotless, Wis
ibly distressed, informed him that the
total amount would reach $1,000
And what is the additional charge
for the operation?" asked Monty, un-
willing to accept such unwarranted
favors.
It's included in the $1,000" said
Lotless. "They knew you were my
friend, and it was professional Ell
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 his friends were
soothing to the profligate. 1t gave
him back little of his lost self re-
spect. The doctors finally decided that
he would best recuperate in Florida
and advised Il month ut 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 a place and insisting
that he needed the cOmpanionship of
! eggy and Mrs. Gray.
How soon can l get back to work.
doctorT 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 q
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? II 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"
Peggy smiled at him from the window
She had been reading aloud from a
novel 80 garrulous that it fairly cried
aloud for interruptions.
Now, hopper, what became Of the
ball | was going to giveT demanded
Monty, a 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
of.
but what date did you hit upon"
I'VE didn't postpone it at ALL" said
( hopper. How could we? We didn't
know whether-I mean, 1t wouldn't
have been quite right to do that sort of
thing"
II understand. Well, what has be-
copoa af tho Ornbactra and tho Aoxuarc