Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-08-25
CHAPTER XIV.


amusement to every one except
4 Monty and Miss Drew. The
headlines had announced. Magnificent
Ball to Be Given Miss Drew by Her
Finance" and the Little Sons Of the
Rich wondered why Monty did not see
the huinor Of 1t.
''He las too bad an attack to see any
thing hut the lady" said Harrison one
evening" when the Sons were gathered
for an old time supper party.
Its always the way" commented
the philosophical Bragdon. when you
lose your heart your sense of humor
goes too. Engaged couples couldn't do
such ridiculous stunts II they had the
least particle Of it left"
WELL If Monty Brewster is still In
love with Miss Drew he takes mighty
poor way of showing it, Subway
Smiths remark fell like a boIhbshell.
Tho thought had come to every one,
but no one had been given the courage
to utter It, For them Brewsters ST.
lence on the subject since the DeMille
dinner seemed to have something ON
nous behind it.
"Its probably only a lovers quar-
REL" said Bragdon. But further COM
ment was cut short by the entrance Of
Nor.ty himself, and they took their
places at table.
Before the evening came to an end
they were In possession Of many aston
ishing details in connection with the
COMING ball. Monty did not say that 1t
was to be given for Miss Drew, and
her name was conspicuously absent
from his descriptions. AS he unfolded
his plans even the Little Sons, who
were Imaginative BY instinct and reck-
less on principle. could not be quite
acquiescent.
Hopper Harrison solemnly expressed
the opinion that the ball would cost
Brewster at least $12b,00O. The Little
Sons looked at one another In con-
sternation, while Brewster's indiffer-
ence expressed itself in an unfiatter-
Ing comment upon his friends vulgar
ity. Good Lord, Hopper he added,
'.you would speculate about the price
OF gloves for your weddingw
Harrison resented the taunt. 1T
would be much less vulgar to do that,
Monty, saving your presence, than to
force your millions down every ones
throat"
well, they swallow them, I've no.
ticed," retorted Brewster, 'as though
they were chocolates"
Pettingill Interrupted grandiloquent-
~, my friends and gentlemen"
(which ID which, asked Van Win
kle casually.
But the artist was in the saddle.
Permit me to present you to the boy
Croesus-the only one extant. His mar
bles are plunks, and his kites are made
Of fifty dollar notes. He feeds upon
coupons la Newburg, and his cham
payne is liquid golden eagles. Look at
him, gentlemen, while you cam and
watch him while he spends $4,000 for
flowers
with viennese orchestra<for twen-
ty-nine thousand added Bragdon.
"And yet they maintain that silence is
golden"
"And three singers to divide twelve
thousand among themselves! That's abb
solutely criminalY' cried Van Wrinkle.
"Over in Germany they'd sing month
for half that amount
"Six hundred guests to feed-total
cost Of not less than $4,000" groaned
hopper dolsfuAy.
"And there aren't 600 In town." Ia
mentsd Subway Smith. "All that glory
wasted on 200 rank outsiders"
you men are borrowing lot Of trou-
ble," yawned Brewster, with gallant
effort to seem bored. ''All ask Of you
is to come to the party and put up a
good imitation of having the time Of
your life. Between you and me, I'd
rather be caught drinking Ice cream So
da than giving this thing. But
That's what we want to know-but
what?" and Subway leaned forward
eagerly.
But" continued Monty, II am in for
it now, and it is going to be ball that
is ball."
Nevertheless the optimistic Brewster
could not find the courage to tell Peg
gy of these picturesque extravagances.
To satisfy her curiosity he blandly in
formed her that he was getting OF
much more cheaply than he had expect
ed. He laughingly denounced as untrue
the stories that had come to her from
outside sources, and before his con
vincing assertions that reports were ri.
diculously exaggerated the troubled ex-
preston in the girls eyes disappeared.
II must seem fool" groaned Mon
ty as he left the house after one Of
these explanatory trials, Shut what
will she think Of me toward the end Of
the year when am really in harness"
He found it hard to control the desire
to be straight with Peggy and tell her
ethe story of his mad race in pursuit Of
poverty.
Preparations for the ball went on
steadily, and in dull winter it had
its color value for society. 1t was to
be Spanish costume ball, and at
many tea tables the talk Of 1t was
godsend. Sarcastic as it frequently
was on the question Of Monty's extrav
ngance, there was a'splendor about the
Aladdin-like entertainment which had
a charm Beneath the outward disap-
prevail there was secret admiration
of the superb nerve OF the man. And
there was little reluctance to help him
in the wild career he had chosen. It