The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-06-27

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action on the night Of the storm. Some
how it brought small ray of light to
his clouded understanding, and he
found Joy in keeping the fame alive re-
Iiciously if somewhat doubtfully. His
eyes followed her constantly, search
ing for the encourag cement that the
very blindness Of love had hidden from
him, forever tormenting himself with
fears and hopes and fears again. Her
happiness and viyacity puzzled him.
He was often annoyed; he was now and
then seriously mystiied.
Four days out from New York, then
three days, then two days, and then
! Brewster began to feel the beginning
of the final whirlwind in profigacy
clouding him oppressively, ominously,
unkindly. Down in his stateroom he
drew new estimates, new calculations
and tried to balance the old ones so
that they appeared in the light most
/ favorable to his designs.
Going over the statistics carefully, he
estimated that the cruise, including the
repairs and the return Of the yacht to
New York, would cost him $4,000 in
round figures. One hundred and thirty
three days marked the length Of the
VOYAGE when reckoned by time, and,
as near as he could get at it, the ex-
pense had averaged $3.50 day. Ac-
cording to the contract, he was to pay
for the yacht, exclusive Of the cuisine
and personal service. And he had found
! it simple enough to spend the remain
ing s1,086. There were days, Of course,
when fully 5000 disappeared, and
there were others on which he spent
much less than $1,000, but the average
was secure. Taking everything into
consideration, Brewster found that his
fortune had dwindled to few paltry
thousands In addition to the proceeds
which would come to him from the sale
of his furniture. On the whole he was
satisfied.
| The landing in New York and the
separation which followed were not en-
tirely merry. Every discomfort was
forgotten, and the travellers only knew
! that the most wonderful cruise since
that Of the ark had come to an end.
There was not one who would not have
been glad to begin it again the next
day.
Immediately after the landing Brew
ster and Gardner were busy With the
details Of settlement. After clearing
| up all Of the obligations arising from
the cruise they felt the appropriate
| difficult moment-a moment when IN
delivered reproofs were in the air. Bur
|. Gardner seemed much the more melan-
choly Of the two.
| Piles of newspapers lay scattered
about the floor of the room in which
they sat. Every one Of them contained
sensational stories Of the prodigal's
trip. with pictures, incidents and pre-
dictions. Monty was pained. humill-
ated and resentful, but he Was honest
enough to admit the justification of
much that was said of him. He read
bits of it here and there and then threw
the papers aside hopelessly. In few
weeks they would tell another story
and quite as emphaticallys
The worst Of it, Monty, is that you
are the next thing to being poor
man. groaned Gardner. I've done
my best to economic for you here at
home, as you'll see by these figures,
/ but nothing could possibly balance the
extrava gances of this voyage. They
are simply appalling
With the condemnation of his friends
ringing in his troubled brain. with the
sneers of acquaintances to distress his
pride, with the gibes Of the comic pa
pers to torture him .remorselesSly,
Brewster was fast becoming the most
! miserable man ia New York. Friends
Of former days gave him the cut di-
rect, clubmen ignored him or scorhed
him openly, women chilled him with
the iciness Of unspoken reproof, and
all the world was hung with shad-
ows. The doggedness Of despair kept
him up, but the strain that pulled
down on him was SO relentless that
the struggle was losing it's equality.
He had not expected such home COM
ing.
Compared with his former self Mon
ty was now almost physical wreck,
haggard, thin and defiant, shadow
Of the once debonair young New York
er, an object Of pity and scorn. Asham-
ed and despairing, he had almost lack
ed the courage to face Mrs. Gray. The
consolation he once gained through her
he now denied himself, and his suffer
ing. peculiar as it was, was very READ.
In absolute reckiessness he gave din
ner after dinner. party after party, all
on most lavish scale, many Of his
guests laughing at him openly while
they enjoyed his hospitality. The real
friends demonstrated. pleaded, did
everything within their power to check
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