The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1906-02-23

gay, TOO that I would like immad,ato
possession" immaculate
he secured 1t, and Tho oron,,
n erred at once to %fairyland
anele We're protests, of course h,.
uese Brewster had grown to erna"4
anu ne was learning to carry thinss
WIN a high hand. The t~ravelers rs
Deen preceded by Bertier. and 4 +ho
Ereetlng they received from tho s+e-'
a.u VI tne estate and his innumerah,o
asslstants was very Italian and fnll ~
color. A break in their monotonv ~
welcome. ny was
Inc loneliness Of the villa and -.
grounds, which sloped down to ~
gentle lake. silenced criticism For -
ume II was supremely satisfying to do
nothing. Pettingill wandered above W.
as .nough ne could not believe r. was
real. He was lost in a kind ~ 49,.
mospnere Of ecstasy. To the others
VINO took it more calmly. 1t was sal.
= OFT OF paradise. Those who WOW,
happy found in 1t an intensi1cation ot
happiness, and to those who were sad
- onered the tenderest opportunities.
1or melancholy. Mrs. Dan told Brew.
ster that only a poet could have had,
LUIS inspiration. And Peggy added.
anything after this would be an On.
uclimax. Really, Monty. you would.
better take us home"
! feel like the boy who was shr+ =,
= closet for punishment and found -
tne place where they kept the lam
sald subway. 1T is almost as good
as owning Central park"
me stables were well equipped. and.
the days wore on in a wonderful
peace. 1t was on a radiant afternoon
when twelve of the crowd had startod
out after tea for a long ride toward
Lugano, that Monty determined tn col,
Peggy Gray to account. He was GOV.
ain tina she Cad deliberately avoided,
nun Q days and weeks, and he could
nnd no reason for it. Hour after bonr
ne q lain awake wondering where
he had failed her, but the conclusion
OF one moment was rejected the nert
Inc Monte Carlo episode seemed tho
most plausible cause, yet even before
that he had noticed that whenever bo
approached her she managed to ha
talking with some one else. Two M
three times he was sure she had Moor
his intention before she took REFUGE
with Mrs. Dan or Mary Valentine or
Pettingill. The thought Of the last
name gave Monty a sudden thrill
What II 1t were he who had come he.
tween them? It troubled him. hn+
there Were moments when the ,deo.
seemed impossible. AS they mounted
and started off the exhilaration of the
ride made him hopeful. They were to
have dinner in the open air In the
shadow OF an abbey ruin some miles.
away, and the servants had been sent,
ahead to prepare 1t. 1t went well. and
with Mrs. Dams help the dinner was,
made gay. On the return Monty, who
was on last, spurred up his horse to.
join Peggy. She seemed eager to be-.
with the rest, and he lost no time with,
q preamble.
Dc you know, Peggy" he begana
something seems to be wrong, and Z
am wondering what it is"
why, what do you mean, Monty?"
- he paused.
Every time I come near you, child
you seem to have something else to do.
Il I join the group you are in it is the
signal for YOU to break away"
Nonsense, Monty! Why should I
avoid your We have known one an
other much too long for that" But he
thought he detected some contradiction
In her eyes, and he was right. The girl
IVES afraid Of him, afraid Of the sensa-
lions he awoke. afraid desperately of
betrayal.
"Pettingili may appeal to you," he
said. and his voice was serious, "but
Jon might at least be courteous to me-"
"How absurd you are, Monty Brew
bter." The girl grew hot. "You needn't
think that your million gives you the
privilege OF dlctatlon to all Of your
guests"
Peggy How can you?" he inter.
jected.
She went on r%uthlessly. III my con-
duct in~terferes with your hlghness'
pleasure I easily Join the Prestons
In Paris"
Suddenly. Brewster remembered that
Pettingill had spoken Of the Prestons
and expressed a fieeting wish that be
might be with them In the Latin quar-,
ter. with Pettingill to follow, l sup.
pose" he said icily. ut would certain
" give You more privacy"
And Mrs. Dan more opportunities
abe retorted as he dropped back TOWARD
the others.
The artist instantly took his place
The next moment he had challenged
her to q race and they were flying
down the road In the moonlight. Brew
stef, NOT to be outdone, was after them
hut Il was only a moment before his
horss shed violently at something
black 81 the road. Then he saw Peg
U;s horse galloping riderless. Instant
II, with fear at his throat. he had dis
mounted and was at the girls SID
She VA not hurt, they found; onl!