The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-07-04

cheeks were flushed as with a fever.
She had caught from him the mad ex-
citement of tie occasion.
Come, Peggy"~he exclaimed eager
ly. This is our last holiday. Let's be
perry. We can forget it tomorrow If
YOU like when we begin all over again,
but maybe it will be worth remember
inc. ..e assisted her to the seat and
then leaped up beside her. We're OFF,
he cried, his voice quivering.
1T is absolute madness, DEAR" she
said, but her eyes were sparkling with
the 10y of recklessness. Away Went
the trap and tie two light hearts. Mrs.
GRAY turned from window in the
house with tears in her eyes. To her
troubled mind they were driving off
into utter darkness.
1.-The queerest looking man came to
the house to see you this afternoon,
Monty" said Peggy. "He wore q
beard, and he made me think Of Rem
ington's cowboys
"What was bis name:"
"He told the maid it did not matter.
I saw him as he walked away, and he
looked very much man. He said he
would come tomorrow if he did not
find you downtown tonight. Don't you
recognize him from the description"
s.Not at all. Can't imagine who he
is"
"Monty," she said after a moments
painful reflection. ''He-he couldn't
have been az
81 know what you mean, an officer
sent up to attach my belongings or
something Of the sort No, dearest; I
give you my word Of honor I do not
owe a dollar in the world" Then he
recalled his peculiar Indebtedness to
Bragdon and Gardner Except one or
two very small personal obligations"
be added hastily. "Don't worry about
it. dear; we are out for good time,
and we must make the most OF it.
First we drive through the park, then
we dine at Merry's."
''But we must dress for that, dear"
she cried. "And the chaperon?
He turned very red when she spoke
Of dressing. 'T'm ashamed to confess
1t, Peggy, but have no other clothes
than these I'm wearing now. Don't
.ook so hurt, dear. I'm going to leave
an order for new evening clothes to-
morrow if I have the time. And about
She chaperon. People won't be talking
before tomorrow, and by that time
'No, Monty, Merry's is out of the
question. We can't go there, She said
ssecisively.
.tOh, Peggy! That spoils everything"
he cried in deep disappointment.
.'It isn't fair to me, Monty. Every
body would know us, and every
tongue would wag. They would say:
There are Monty Brewster and Mar
s;aret Gray. Spending his last few dol
lars on her. You wouldn't have them
think that?"
He saw the justice in her protest.
"a quiet little dinner in some out Of
the way place would be joyous - she
added persuasiyely.
You're right, Peggy, you're always
right. You see. I'm 80 used to spend
ing money by the handful that I don't
know how to do it any other way. I
believe I'll let you carry the pocket
book after tomorrow. Let me think.
know a nice little restaurant down
town. Well go there and then to the
tleater. Dan DeAlille and his wife are
to be in my box, and we're all going
up to Pettingill's studio afterward.
I'm to give the Little Sons farewell
slpper If my calculations don't go
wrong that will be the end Of the jaunt
and We'll so home happy
At II o'clock Pettingill's studio open
ell its doors to the Little Sons and
their guests, and the last Dutch
lunch" was soon under way. Brewster
had paid for it early in the evening,
and when he sat down at the head Of
the table there was not penny in his
pockets. A year ago at the same place
and at the same hour he and the Lit
tie Sons were having birthdayjfeast.
A million dollars came to MIN on that
night. Tonight ne was poorer by far
than on the other occasion, but he ex-
pected little gift on the new ami
yerSary.
Around the board besides the nine
Little Sons sat SIX guests, among them
the DeMilles, Peggy Gray and Mary
Valentine. Hopper Harrison was the
OILY absent Little Son. and his health
was proposed by Brewster almost be-
fore the echoes Of the toast to the bride
ard groom died away.
interruption came earlier on this oc-
casion than it did that night year
ago. Ellis did not deliver his messages
+o Proy-Stor- until 9 O'clock in t1a morn