Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-02-02
CHAPTER xxx (Continued).

And in spite Of all have done
Peggy. you will stand by me7 You
won't desert me like the rest7 You'll
be the same Peggy of the other days?"
he cried, his calmness breaking down.
How can you ask? Why should
you doubt met"
For a moment they stood silent, each
looking into the heart Of the other. each
seeing the beginning Of new day.
''Child"-his voice trembled Danger
Ously-"T-I wonder II you care enough
for me TOTO But he could only
look the question.
ITO start all over again with your
she whispered.
"Yes-to trust yourself to the prodi-
gal who has returned. Without you,
child, all the rest would be as the
husks. Peggy, I want you-you! You
do love me. I can see 1t In your eyes;
can feel it in your presence"
"How long you have been in really
ing itr' she said pensively as she
stretched out her arms to him. For
many minutes he held her close, find
ing a beautiful peace in the world
again.
How long have you really caredT
he asked In whisper.
always, Monty; all my life"
"And I. too, child; all my life. know
It now; I've known 1t for months. Oh,
what q fool was to have wasted all
this love Of yours and all this love Of
mine! But I'll not be q profligate In
love. Peggy. I'll not sQuander an atom
Of 1t, dear. not a. long as live"
= "And we will build q greater love.
Monty, as we build the new life togeth-
er. We never can be poor while we
have love rs q treasure"
You won't mind being poor with
meT he asked.
II can't be poor with you" she said
simply.
"And l might have let all this escape
mel" he cried fervently. Listen, Peg
gy; we will start together, you as my
wife and my fortune. You shall be all
that is left to me Of the past Will you
marry me the day after tomorrow
Don't say No. dearest. want to begin
on that day. At In the morning. dear1
Don't you see how good the start will
ber"
And he pleaded 80 ardently and so
earnestly that he won his point even
though it grew out Of whim that she
could not then understand. She was
not to learn until afterward his object
IN having the marriage take place on
the morning Of Sept. %, two hours be-
fore the time set for the turning over
Of the Sedgwick millions. II all went
well they would be Brewster's millions
before Ia O'Clock. and Peggy's life Of
poverty would cover no more than
three hours Of time. She believed him
worth lifetime Of poverty. 30 they
would start the new life with but one
possession-love.
Peggy rebelled against his desire to
spend the $40 that still remained. but
be was firm In his determination They
would dine and drive together and see
all Of the old life that was left-on SO.
Then on the next day they would start
all over again. There was one rude mo-
ment OF dismay when 1t occurred to
him that Peggy might be considered
an asset" If she became bis wife be-
fore o'clock. But he realized at once
that 1t was only demanded Of him that
he be penniless and that he possess no
object that had been acquired through
the medium Of Edwin Peter Brewster's
money. Surely this wife who was not
to come to him until bis last dollar was
gone could not be the product Of an old
mans legacy. But so careful was he in
regard to the transaction that he decid-
ed to borrow money Of Joe Bragdon to
buy the license and to pay the minis
ter's fee. Not only would he be penni-
less on the day Of settlement. but he
would be in debt So changed was the
color of the world to him now that even
the failure to win Sedgwick's millions
could not crush out the new life and
the new joy that had come to him with
the winning Of Peggy Gray.