The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-04-18

heads together to devise ways and
means of curbing Monty's reckless ex-
travagance. They were worried.
Hes like a sailor in port protest
ed Harrison. "A1oney is no object if he
wants a thing, and-hang 1.-THE seems
to want everything he sees.''
"It won't last long," Gardner said
reassuringly. Like his namesake,
Monte-C Christie, the world is bis just
now. and he wants to enjoy it."
"ae wants to get rid Of it, it seems
to me-
Whenever they reproached Brewster
about the matter he disarmed them
by saying: .'Now that I've got money
I mean to give my friends good time.
Just what you'd do if you were in my
place. What's money for, anyway"
.But this $4,000 plate dinner
"Im going to give a dozen Of them,
and even then I can't pay my just
debts. For years I've been entertained
at peoples houses and have been
taken cruising on their yachts. They
have always been bully to me, and
what have ever done for them? Moth
ing. Now that I can afford it, I am
going to return some Of these favors
and square myself. Doesn't it sound
reasonable?"
And so preparations for Monty's din
ner went on In addition to what he
called his efficient corps Of gentle
manly aids" he had secured the serv-
ices Of Mrs. Dan DeMille as 'social
mentor and utility chaperon." Mrs.
DeAlille was known in the papers as
the leader of the fast young married
set. She was one Of the cleverest
and best looking young women in town,
and her husband was one Of those who
did not have to be invited too" Mr..
DeA1ille lived at the club and visited
his home. Some one said that he was
so slow and his wife SO fast that when
she invited him to dinner he was uSu-
ally two or three days late. Alto
gether Mrs. DeMille was a decided
acquisition to Brewster's campaign
committee. It required just her touch
to make his parties fun instead Of
funny.
It was on Oct. IS that the dinner was
given. With the skill Of general Mrs.
Dan had seated the guests in such a
way that from the beginning things
went off with zest. Colonel Drew took
In Mrs. Valentine, and his content was
assured. Mr.. Van Winkle and the
beautiful Miss Valentine were side by
side, and no one could say he looked
unhappy. Mr.. Cromwell went in with
Mrs. Savage. and tba same delicate
tact-in some cases It was almost in
deiicate-was displayed in the DISPOSE
ton of other guests.
Somehow they had come with the ex-
pectation Of being bored. Curiosity
prompted them to accept, but it did not
prevent the subsequent inevitable lassi-
tude. Socially Monty Brewster had yet
to make himself felt. He and his din
ners were something tc talk abo.lt. but
they were accepted nssitaHns'y. halt
sngly. People wondered how be had
secured the co-operat;0n OF Mrs. Dan.
but then Mrs. Daia always did go IL for
rev 10Y. To her WAS inevitably AZ
tributed whatever success the dinner
achieved, and it was no small measure.
Yet there was nothing startling about
the affair. Monty had decided to begin
conServatively. He did the conven-
ttonal thing, but he did it we'll. He add
ed a touch or two of luxury, the faint
est aroma Of splendor. Pettingill had
designed the curiously hayward ia
BILE. with it's comfortable atmosphere
of companionship, and arranged it's
decoration Of great lavender orchids
and lacy butterfly festoons Of white
ones touched with yellow. He had
wanted to use dahlias in their many
rich shades, from pale yellow to
orange and deep red, but Monty held
out for orchids. 1t was the artist, too,
who had found in a rare and happy
moment the massive gold candelabra-
ancient things Of more luxurious
age-and their opalescent shades.
Against his advice the service, too, was
of goid.,''rank vulgarity," he called it,
with it's rich meaningless ornamepglttaaS. glta. ::
ton. But here Monty was obdurate.
He insisted that be liked the ;ccolor az and
that porcelain had no character. Mrs.
Dan only prevented a quarrel by sug-
gesting that several courses should be
served .upon Sevres: -. -
-Petting7lrs scheme for lighting the
room was particularly happy. :Fef the
benefit Of his walls: and the four. love-
Il Monets which Monty. had purchased
at his, instigation he had. designed
ceiling screen of heavy rich glass in
tones of white trat grew into, yellow
and dull green: It served to- conceal
the lights in the daytime, and at night
; the glare sof electricity was Immensely
softened and. made harmonious by.
passing through it. :, 1t agave. a note OF
quiet to the pictures which caused
even these men and women, who had
been here and there and seen many
things, to draw in their breath sharply.
Altogether the effect manifestly made