Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-09-11
fingers. "rm back to where I left off

year ago. The million IS gone, ana my
wings are clipped" Her face was
white; her heart was in the clutch OF
ice. How could he be so calm about it
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.
st didn't want the million, Peggy"
he went on. you think as the rest
do, know, that was fool to act as
l 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 am fool, a dolt, almost a
criminal, but no one believes l am a
man. Peggy, will you feel better to-
ward me If tell you that am going
to begin life all over again? 1t will
be new Monty Brewster that starts
out again in a few days, or, IL you will,
it shall be the old one-the Monty you
once knew"
1.-THE old Monty?" she murmured
softly, dreamily. "It would be good
to see him-so much bettey than to SEE
the Monty of the last year"
"And in spite of all 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 meY'
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-"I-I wonder IL you care enough
for me toto But he could only
look the question.
..ro start all over again with you?"
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, want you-you! You
do love me. l can see it In your eyes;
can feel it in your presence"
GLOW long you have been ~ reallz-
ing ity' she said pensively as she
stretched out her arms to him. For
many minutes he held her close, lind
ing a beautiful peace in the world
again.
"How long have you really cared!'
he asked In whisper.
always, Monty; all my life"
"And 1, too, child; all my life. know
it now: I'VE known it for months. On
what a fool was to have wasted all
this love of yours and all this love OF
mine! But I'll not be profigate In
love, Peggy. I'll not squander an atom
Of it, dear, not as long as live"
"And we will build a greater love,
Monty, as we build the new life togeth-
er. We never can be poor while we
have love as treasure"
'You won't mind being poor with
me?" he asked.
"I can't be poor with you." she said
simply.
and might have let all this escape
me!' 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, dear!
Don't you see how good the start will
be-"
And he pleaded so ardently and so
earnestly that be 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 IL 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