Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-04-02

smiled feggY.
You are quite mistaken, my dear. l
did not fall asleep at all. But l won't
allow you to stop a minute longer. 1t
outs rings under the eyes, and some
Zines they're red the morning after"
"Oh, you dear sweet philosopher"
cried Peggy, 'how wise you are! DO
YOU think | need a beauty sleepI'
Il don't want you to be a sleepy
beauty. that's all" retorted Mrs. Dan.
Upon Monty's return from his trying
hour with the lawyers he had been be-
sieged with questions, but he was clev-
erly e~vasive. Peggy alone was insist
ent. She had curbed her curiosity until
they were on the way home, and then
she implored him To tell her what had
happened. The misery he had endured
was as nothing to this reckoning with
the who hsd the right to expect
fair treatment. His duty was clear,
but the strain had been heavy, .and it
was not easy to meet it.
Peggy, something terrible has hap
pened," he faltered, uncertain Of his
course.
Tell me everything, Monty. You can
trust Inc to be brave
when l asked you to marry me" ne
continued gravely, "it was with the
thought that | could give you every
thing tomorrow. l looked for a Tor
tune. | never meant that you should
marry a pauper."
Il don't understand. You tried to
test my love for you?'
mo, child, not that. But L was
pledged not to speak Of the money L
expected, and 1 wanted you so much
before it came"
"And it has failed your" she answer
ed Il can't see that it changes things.
1 expected to marry a pauper, as you
call it. Do you think this could make
a difference?'
but you don't understand, Peggy.
!, l haven't a penny in the world"
I "You hadn't a penny when | accept
ed YOU" she replied. II am not afraid.
, 1 believe in you, and if you love me l
| shall not give you up"
'Dearest!' And the carriage was at
the door before another word was ut
tered. But Monty called to the coach
man to drive just once around the
block.
Good night, my darling" he said
e when they reached home. "Sleep till
q s O'Clock if you like. There is nothing
J. now in the way of having the wedding
at 9 instead Of at Z. In fact, 1 have
a a reason for wanting my whole fortune
4 to come to me then. You will be all
g that I have in the world, child, but
/ am the happiest man alive"
. In his room the strain was relaxed
q and Brewster faced the bitter reality
# Without undressing he threw himself
% upon the lounge Inc wondered what
"a the world held for him. It held Peg
CIV at least, he thought, and she wa
= enough. But had he been fair to her
Was he right in exacting a sacrifice
His tired brain whirled in the effor
q to decide. Only one thing was clear
o that he could not give her up. The flu
o ture grew black at the very thought OF
= it. With her he could make things
: go, but alone it was another matter
/" He would take the plunge, and h
d would justify it. His mind went trav
cling back over the graceless year
If and he suddenly realized that he hat
,e forfeited the confidence of men VIII
O. were worth while. His course il
10 profiigacy would not be considered th
s. best training for business. The though
I nerved him to action. He must max
ne good. Peggy had faith in him. Sh
IL came to him when everything wa
I against him, and he would slave 70
a her, he would starve, he would do any
all thing to prove that she was not mis-
taken in him. She at least shout
.e- know him for a man.
10 Looking toward the window, he say
IF. the black, uneasy night give way to th
mt coming day. Haggard and faint, b
on arose from the couch to watch the al
proach Of the sun that Is Indifferent t
wealth and poverty, to gayety and d'
re lection. From far off in the gray ligf
We there came the sound of a 5 o'cloc
bell. A little later the shrieks Of ia
ng tory whistles were borne to his ear
muf1ed by distance, but pregnant wit
,m the Importance of a new day Of toi
ey They were calling him, with all pot
he men, to the sweatshop and the forge,
we the great mill Of life. The new Ell
we had begun, dawning bright and cle'
ars to disperse the gloom in his soul. Lea
see ing against the easement and wonde
ed. ing where he could earn the first doll:
ed. for the Peggy Brewster that was Pc
,od gy Gray, he rose to meet it with a fl
be unfinching fearlessness.
It's Before Z o'clock he was downstai
and waiting. Joe Bragdon Joined hi
wv a bit later, followed by Gardner al
kes the minister. The DeMilles appear'
Tas without an invitation, but they we
tile not denied. Mrs. Dan sagely shook b
mt head when told that Peggy was st
ry. asleep and that the ceremony was {
md till 9 O'clock.
ere MONTY, are you going away? ask
ent Dan, drawing him into a corner.
18th "Just a week in the hills" answer
my Monty, suddenly remembering the ge
va