The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1906-02-02
CHAPTER XIV.
\ TYPOGRAPHICAL error in n
~ of the papers cause No end of

~ of the papers caused no end of
amusement to every one except
Monty and Miss Drew. The
headlines had announced, Magnificent
Ball to Be Given Miss Drew by Her
Finance" and the Little Sons Of the
Rich wondered why Monty did not see
the humor Of it.
He has too bad an attack to see any
thing but the lady," said Harrison one
evening when the Sons were gathered
for an old time supper party.
Its always the way" commented
the philosophical Bragdon. "When o
lose your heart your sense Of humor
goes too. Engaged couples couldn't do
such ridiculous stunts if they had he
least particle Of it left"
well, if Monty Brewster Is still in
love with Miss Drew he takes a mighty
poor way Of showing it." Subway
Smiths remark fell like a bombshell.
The thought had come to every one,
but no one had been given the courage
to utter it. For them Brewster's ST.
lence on the subject since the DeMille
dinner seemed to have something ON
nous behind it.
Its probably only a lovers quar-
REL" said Bragdon. But further COM
ment was cut short by the entrance of
Monty himself, and they took their
places at table.
Before the evening came to an end
they We're in possession of many aston
ishing details in connection with the
coming ball. Monty did not say that It
was to be given for Miss Drew, and
her name was conspicuously absent
from his descriptions. AS he unfolded
his plans ever the Little Sons, who
were imaginative by instinct and reck-
less on principle, could not be quite
acquiescent.
Hopper Harrison solemnly expressed
the opinion that the ball would cost
Brewster at least $125,OOO. The Little
Sons looked at M another in con-
sternation, while Brewster's indiffer-
ence expressed itself in an unfatter-
ing comment upon his friends vulgar
ity. Good Lord, Nopper," he added,
you would speculate about the price
OF gloves for your weddingr"
Harrison resented the taunt. 1T
would be much less vulgar to do that,
Monty, saving your presence, than to
force your millions down every ones
throat"
"Well, they swallow them, I've no.
ticed," %retorted Brewster, "as though
they We're chocolates"
Pettingill interrupted grandiloquent-
ly, "My friends and gentlemenw
(which is. whichT' asked Van Win
kle casually.
Permit me to present you to the boy
Croesus--the only one extant. His mar
bles are plunks, and his kites are made
of fifty dollar notes. He feeds upon
coupons a la Newburg, and his cham
payne is liquid golden eagles. Look at
him, gentlemen, while you can and
watch him while he spends $4,000 for
1owers!'
with a Viennese orchestra for twen-
thousands" added Bragdon.
"And yet they maintain that silence is
golden"
"And three singers to divide twelve
thousand among themselves! That's alb
solutely criminals" cried Van Wrinkle.
in Germany they'd sing a month
for half that amount"
six hundred guests to feed-total
cost of not less than $4,000" groaned
Hopper dolefully.
"And there aren't 900 in town." Ia
mented Subway Smith. "All that glory
wasted on 200 rank outsiders"
"You men are borrowing a lot Of trou-
ble," yawned Brewster, with a gallant
effort to e bored. "All 1 ask Of you
to come to the party and put up q
good imitation Of having the time Of
your life. Between you and me, I'd
be caught drinking ice cream so
la than giving this thing. But
That's what we want to know-but
and Subway leaned forward
"But," continued Monty, 81 am in for
t now, and it is going to be a ball that
8 q ball."
Nevertheless the optimistic Brewster
could not find the courage to tell Peg
y of these picturesque extravagances.
70 satisfy her curiosity he blandly in
'ormed her that he was getting of
much more cheaply than he had expect
ID. He laughingly denounced as untrue
he stories that had come to her from
outside sources, and before his con-
assertions that reports were RI.
[iculously exaggerated the troubled ex-
PRESTON in the girls eyes disappeared.
II must seem a fool,' groaned Mon
y as he left the house after one Of
hese explanatory trials, "but what
will she think Of me toward the end Of
he year when l am really in harness?'
lie found it hard to control the desire
o be straight with Peggy and tell her
he story Of his mad race in pursuit Of
poverty.
Preparations for the ball went on
'teadily, and in a dull winter it had
is color value for society. 1t was to
,e a Spanish costume ball, and at ,
many tea tables the talk Of 1t was a
Sarcastic as it frequently