Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-01-19

| There were protests. of course. but
these Brewster had grown to expect,
and he was learning to carry things
with high hand. The travellers had
been preceded by Bertier and the
! greeting they received from the stew
ard of the estate and his innumerabe
! assistants was very Italian ana full of
color. a break in their. monotony was
welcome.
The loveliness of the villa and its
grounds. which sloped Gown to the
gentle lake. silenced criticism. For Il
time it was supremacy satisfying to do
nothing. Pettngll wandered about
as though he could not believe it was
real. He was lost in a kind of at
mosphere of ecstasy. To the others.
who took it more calmly, it was still
sort of paradise. Those who were
happy found in it an intensifcation of
happiness, and to those who were sad
it offered the tenderest opportunities
for melancholy. Mrs. Dan told Brew
ster that only poet could have had
this inspiration. And Peggy added:
Anything after this would be an an
ticlimaX. Really, Monty, you would
better take us home"
81 feel like the boy who was shut in
closet for punishment and found it
the place where they kept the jam"
said Subway. 1T is almost as good
as owning Central park"
The stables were well equipped. and
the days wore on in wonderful
peace. 1t was on radiant afternoon.
when twelve of the crowd had started
out after tea for a long ride toward
Lugano, that Monty determined to call
Peggy Gray to account. He was GER
tain that she had deliberately avoided
him for days and weeks. and he could
find no reason for it. Hour after hour
he had lain awake wondering where
he had failed her, but the conclusion
of one moment was rejected the next.
The Monte Carlo episode seemed the
most plausible cause. vet even before
that he had noticed that whenever he
approached her she managed to be
talking with some one else Two or
hree times he was sure she had seen
his intention before she took refuge
with Mrs. Dan or Mary Valentine or
name gave Monty sudden thrill.
What if it were he who had come be-
tween them? 1t troubled him. but
there were moments when the idea
seemed impossible AS they mounted
and started off the eXhilaraton of the
ride made him hopeful They were to
have dinner in the open air in the
shadow of an abbey ruin some miles
away and the servants had been sent
ahead to prepare it, 1t went well. and
with Mrs. Dams help the dinner was
made gay. On the return Monty, who
was off last. spurred up his horse to
join Peggy. She seemed eager to be
with the rest and he lost no time with
a preamble.
do YOU know, Peggy" he began,
something seems to bc wrong, ana |
am wondering what it is"
"Why, what do you mean. Monty"
as he paused
Every time | come near YOU. child.
you seem to have something else to do. |
If join the group you are in it is the |
signal for You to break away"
Nonsense, Monty. Why should I |
avoid YOU: We have known one an
other much too long for that" But he /
thought he detected some contradiction |
in her eyes. and he was right. The girl |
was afraid of him. afraid of the sensa-
tons he awoke, afraid desperately of |
betrayal
"Pcttingill may appeal TO YOU" he
said, and his voice was serious. but
you might mt least be courteous to me-" |
How absurd YOU are Monty Brew
ster.' The girl grew hot You needn't |
think that your million gives YOU the
privilege Of dictation to all of Your
guests"
Peggy: How can you?" he inter
3ected
She went on ruthlessly. IF my con
duct interferes with your highness'
pleasure l can easily join the Prestons
in Paris"
Suddenly Brewster remembered that
Pettingill had spoken of the Prestons
and expressed a fleeing wish that he
might be with them in the Latin quar-
ter. with Pettingill to follow. SUD-
pose" he said Jelly. 1T would certain
" give you more privacy"
And Mrs. Dan more opportunities"
she retorted as he dropped back toward
the others.
The artist instantly took his place.
The next moment he had challenged
her to race and they were flying
DOWN the road in the moonlight. Brew
'ter, not to be outdone was after them.
but 1t was only a moment before his
horse SHE'D violently at something