Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-02-16

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 a 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-
tlrely 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
ness Of q season Of reflection 1t was q
difficult mOment-a moment when un.
delivered reproofs were in the air. But
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 panied, humili-
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 emphatlcally
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
extravagances of this voyage. They
are simply appalling"
With the condemnation of his friends
ringing in his troubled brain, with the
sneers Of acquaintance to distress his
pride, with the gibes of the comic pa
perS to torture him remorselessly.
Brewster was fast becoming the most
miserable man in New York Friends
of former days gave him the cut di-
rect, clubmen ignored him or scorned
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 its equality.
He had not expected such a home COM
ing
| Compared with his former self Mon
ty was now almost a physical wreck,
haggard, thin and defiant, shadow
of the once debonair young New York
or, an object of pity and scorn. Asham.
ed and despairiug. 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 real
In absolute recklessness he gave din
ner after dinner, party after party. all
on a 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
his awful rush to poverty. but without
| success. He was not to be stopped.
At last the furniture began to go, then
the plate, then all the priceless brio
a-brac. Piece by piece it disappeared
until the apartments were empty and
| he had sQuandered almost all of the
$40,3 $50 arising from the sales. The
servants were paid off, the apartments
relinQuished, and he was beginning to
know what it meant to be ION his
uppers." At the banks he ascertained
that the interest on his moneys
amounted to $19,140.S6. A week be-
fore the Odd of September the whole
million was gone, including the
amounts won in Lumber and Fuel and
other luckless enterprises. He still
had about $1,000 of his interest
money in the banks. but he had II bill
lion pangs in his heart-the interest on
his improvidence.
He found some delight in the discov
cry that the servants had robbed him
of not less than $500 worth of his
belongings. including the Christmas
presents that he in honor could not
have sold. His only encouragement
came from Grant & Ripley, the law
yers. They inspired confidence in his
tagging brain by urging him on to the
end, promising brightness thereafter.
Swearengen Jones was as mute as the
mountains in which he lived. There
was no word from him. There was no
assurance that he would approve Of
what had been done to obliterate Ed
win Peter Brewsters legacy
Dan DeMille and his wife implored
Monty to come with them to the noun
tains before his substance was gone
completely The former offered him
money. employment, rest and security
If he would abandon the course he was
pursuing, Up in Fortieth street Peggy
Gray was grieving her heart out, and
he knew it. Two or three of those