Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-02-23

Here Is the residue Of my estate"
he said opening his purse with steady
fingers. 'I'm back to where left Off a
year ago. The million is gone, and my
wings are clipped" Her face was
white; her heart was in the clutch Of
ice. How could he be so calm about 1t
when for him she was suffering such
agony? Twice she started to speak.
but her voice failed her. She turned
slowly and walked to the window,
keeping her back to the man who
smiled so sadly and yet so heartlessly.
81 didn't want the million, Peggy"
he went on. "You think as the rest
do, know. that was a fool to act as
I did. 1t would be rank idiocy on my
part to blame you any more than the
others for thinking as you do APP
pearances are against me: the proof is
overwhelming. A year ago was call
ed man; today they are stripping me
| of every claim to that distinction. The
world says l am fool. dolt, almost
criminal. but no one believes | am
man. Peggy, will you feel better to-
ward me If I tell you that I am going
|
be a new Monty Brewster that starts
out again in few days, or, If you will,
it shall be the old one-the Monty you
once knew"
1.-THE old Monty?" she murmured
softly. dreamily. 1T would be good
to see him-so much better than to see
the Monty of the last year
And in spite of all l have done,
Peggy, you will stand by me? You
won't desert me like the rest? You'll
be the same Peggy of the other days"
he cried, his calmness breaking down.
How can you ask? Why should
you doubt mew
For moment they stood silent. each
looking into the heart of the other, each
seeing the beginning of a new day.
"Child"-his voice trembled danger
ously-"I-I wonder If 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, l want you-you You
do love me. | can see it in your eyes;
can feel it in your presence"
Glow long you have been in realiz-
ing it, she said pensively as she
stretched out her arms to him. For
many minutes ne held her close. find
ing a beautiful peace in the world
again.
How long have you really cared"
he asked in a whisper.
always, Monty; all my life"
"And |, too, child; all my life. know
it now; I've known it for months. Oh,
what fool | was TO have wasted all
this love of yours and all this love of
mine. But I'll not be a prohigate in
love- Peggy. I'll not squander an atom
of it, dear, not as long ash live"
"And we will build a greater love,
Monty, as we build the new life togeth-
err We never can be poor while we
have love as treasure"
You won't mind being poor with
meT he asked.
81 can't be poor with you" she said
simply
And might have let all this escape
mer' 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. 1 want to begin
on that day. At In the morning, dear?
Don't you see how good the start will
be?"
And he pleaded so 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 90, two hours be-
fore the time set for the turning over
of the Sedgwick millions. If all went
we'll they would be Brewster's millions
before - o'clock, and Peggy's life of
poverty would cover no more than
three hours of time. She believed him
worth a lifetime Of poverty. So they
would start the new life with but one
possession-love.
Peggy rebelled against his desire to
oPChu tlC piO tiub otiii iCihoihcu, pbt
he was firm in his determination. They
would dine and drive together and see
all of the old life that was left-on $40.
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 II she became his wife be-
fore o 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 his 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