Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-09-17
CHAPTER xxx1v.

mOnStrated with her. "You must 60
home, Peggy. dear" she said. 1T is
disgraceful for you to stay up so late
Went to bed at s o'clock the night be,
fore was married"
And fell asleep at In the morning.
smiled Peggy.
You are quite mistaken my dear. J
did not fall asleep at all. But l won
allow you to stop minute longer.
puts rings uAder the eyes. and soms
times they're red the morning after
"Oh, you dear sweet philosopher,
cried Peggy, "how wise you are! q
you think l need q beauty sleep?'
81 don't want you to be a sleep
beauty, that's ALL" retorted Mrs. Dan.
Upon Monty's return from his tryin
hour with the lawyers he had been be
sieged with questions, but he was cleN
erly evasive. Peggy alone was insist
ent She had curbed her curiosity unit.
they were on the way home. and the
she implored him to tell her what ha
happened. The misery he had endure
was as nothing to this reckoning witt
the woman who had the right to expec
fair treatment. His duty was clear
but the strain had been heavy, and Ii
was not easy to meet it.
Peggy, something terrible has hap
pencil" he faltered, uncertain Of his
course.
"Tell me everything, Monty. You can
trust me to be brave"
when l asked you to marry me-" he
continued gravely. 1T was with the
thought that could give you every
thing tomorrow. l looked for for
tune. never meant that you should
marry q pauper"
II don't understand. You tried to
test my love for your"
mo, child, not that. But l was
pledged not to speak Of the money !
expected, and I wanted you so much
before 1t came"
'And it has failed you?" she answer
ed. II can't see that it changes things.
I expected to marry pauper, as you
call it. Do you think this could make
a difference?"
But you don't understand, Peggy.
haven't penny in the world"
"Y.ou hadn't penny when accept
ed you," she replied. II am not afraid.
believe in you. and if you love me /
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
when thsS reached home. "sleep till
8 o'clock Il you like. There is nothing
now in the way Of having the wedding
ut . instead Of at Z. In fact, have
reason for wanting my whole fortune
to come to me then. You will be all
that l have in the world, child. but I
am the happtest man alive"
In his room the strain was relaxed,
and Brewster faced the bitter reality.
Without undressing he threw himself
upon the lounge and wondered what
the world held for him. 1t held Peg
gy ut least, he thought, and she was
enough. But had he been fair to her?
Was he right in exacting a sacrifice?
His tired brain whirled in the effort
to decide. Only one thing was clear
that he could not give her up. The fu-
ture grew black at the very thought Of
it. With her he could make things
60, but alone it was another matter.
III 1rrDoA7 *ol,o +hn rlrnma ond no
would justify it. His mind went trav-
elfag back over the sraceless year,
ana he Suddenly realized that he had
forfeited the coatdnce Of men who
we're worth while. Els course in
profigacy wouflAno be considered the
best training for business. The thought
nerved him to'actien. He mast make
good Pegxy had faith in him. She
came to him when everything was
against him. and he would slave for
her, he would starve, he would Go any
thing to prove that she was not mis-
taken in him. She at least should
know him for man.
Looking toward the window, he saw
the black, uneasy night give way to the
coming day. Hassard and faint, he
arose from the couch to watch the ap-
proach Of the sun that is indifferent to
wealth and poverty, to gayety and de
lection. From far of In the gray light
there came tbs sound Of 5 o'clock
bell. A little later the shrieks of fac
tory whistles. were borne to his ears,
muff1ed by distance, but pregnant with
the Importance. Of new day Of toll.
They were calling him, with all poor
men, to the sweatshop and the forge, to
the great mill of life The new era
had begun, dawning bright and clear
to dispense the gloom in his soul. Lean
ing against the easement and wonder
ing where he could earn the first dollar
for the Peggy Brewster that was Peg
gy Gray, he rose to meet it with fine
unfinching fearlessness.
Before o'clock he was downstairs
and waiting. Joe Bragdon Joined him
g. bit later, followed by Gardner and
the minister The DeAlilles appeared
without an invitation. but they were
not denied. Mrs. Dan sagely shook her
head when told that Peggy was still
asleep and that the ceremony was of
till 9 o'clock.
Monty, are you going away?" asked
Dan, drawing him into & corner.
Just week in the hills answered
Monty, suddenly remembering the gen
crosby of his attorneys.
Come in and,see me IS soon Is you
return, old man." said DeMille, and