Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-03-02

| but l don't see how he can decide
against me. He insisted on making a
pauper of me, and he can't have the
heart to throw me down now. But
what if he should take it into his head
! to be ugly. | wonder if could break
the WILL wonder If l could beat him
out in court
Peggy was waiting for him. Her
cheeks were flushed as with u fever.
She had caught from him the mad ex-
element of the occasion.
Come, Peggy" he exclaimed eager
| ly. This is our last holiday. Let's be
merry. We can forget it tomorrow If
you like when we begin all over again,
but maybe it will be worth remember
ing" He assisted her to the seat and
then leaped up beside her. We're off,"
he cried. his voice qulvering.
1T is absolute madness, dear" she
said, but her eyes were sparkling with
the JOY of recklessness. Away went
the trap and the two light hearts. Mrs.
Gray turned from window in the
house with tears in her eyes. To her
troubled mind they were driving or
into utter darkness.
THE queerest looking man came to
the house to see you this afternoon,
Monty" said Peggy. He wore a
beard, and he made me think Of Rem
ington's cowboys"
What was his name?"
He told the maid it did not matter
saw him as he walked away, and he
oil
would come tomorrow if he did not
find you downtown tonight. Don't you
recognize him from the description"
Not at all. Can't imagine who he
Is"
Monty" she said after a moments
painful reflection. "He-he couldn't
have been "a
Il know what YOU mean, an officer
sent up to attach my belongings or
something of the sort No, dearest; l
give you my word of honor | do not
owe Il dollar in the world" Then he
recalled his peculiar Indebtedness to
Bragdon and Gardner. Except one or
two very small personal obligations"
he added hastily. Don't worry about
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. I'm ashamed to confess
t, Peggy, but l have no other clothes
than these I'm wearing now. Don't
look so hurt, dear. I'm going to leave
an order for new evening clothes to-
morrow if l have the time. And about
the chaperon. People won't be talking
before tomorrow. and by that time
"No, Monty, Merrys is out of the
question. We can't go there" she said
decisively
"Oh, Peggy. That spoils everything"
he cried in deep disappointment
1T 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
garet 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 persuasively
You're right, Peggy, you're always
right. You see. I'm so used to spend
ing money by the handful that | don't
know how to do 1t any other way. 1
believe I'll let you carry the pocket
book after tomorrow. Let me think.
I know a nice little restaurant down.
town. Wen go there and then to the
theater. Dan DeMille and his wife are
to be in my box, and we're all going
up to Pettingills studio afterward.
I'm to give the Little Sons a farewell
supper. If my calculations don't go
wrong that will be the end of the jaunt
and We'll go home happy"
At II O'clock Pettingill's studio open
ed 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 birthday feast.
A million dollars came to him on that
night. Tonight he was poorer by far
than on the other occasion, but he ex-
pected Il little gift on the new ami
versary
Around the board besides the nine
Little Sons sat six guests among them
the DeMilles, Peggy Gray and Mary
Valentine. hopper Harrison was the
only absent Little Son, and his health
was proposed by Brewster almost be-
fore the echoes of the toast to the bride
and groom died away.
Interruption came earlier on this oc-
casiOn than it did that night year
ago. Ellis did not deliver his messages
to Brewster until o'clock in the morn
ing, but the A. ID. +. boy who rang the
bell at Pettingill's year later handed
him telegram before IL O'clock
CONGRATULATIONS are coming in old