The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-06-14

pats rings under the eyes, and some
times they're red the morning AFTER
"Oh, you dear sweet philosopher -
cried Peggy, chow wise you are! Do
you think need beauty sleep?''
Il don't want you to be a sleepy
beauty, that's ALL" retorted Mrs. Dan
Upon Monty's return from his trying
hour with the lawyers he had been be-
sieged with questions, but he was clev-
erly evasive. Peggy alone was insist
ent. She had curbed her curiosity until
they were on the way home, and then
she lmplored him to tell her what had
happened. The misery he had endured
was as nothing to this reckoning with
the woman who had the right to expect
fair treatment. His duty was clear,
but the strain had been heavy, and it
was not easy to meet it.
Peggy, something terrible has hap
pened," he faltered, uncertain Of his
course.
"Tell me everything, Monty. You can
trust Inc to be brave
when 1 asked you to marry me-" he
continued gravely, lit was with the
thought that I could give you every
thing tomorrow. looked for a for
tune. I never meant that you should
marry pauper.''
~ don't understand. You tried to
test my love for you?"
"No, child, not that. But 1 was
pledged not to speak of the money
expected, and 1 wanted you so much
before it came.''
"And it has failed you?" she answer
ed. II can't see that it changes things.
I expected to marry a pauper, as you
call it. Do you think this could make
a difference?'
|But you don't understand, Peggy.
haven't a penny in the world.''
"You hadn't a penny when accept
ed you," she replied. II am not afraid.
believe in you, and if you love me I
shall not give you up"
"Dearestv' And the carriage was at
the door before another word was ut
tered. But Monty called to the coach
man to drive just once around the
block
Good night, my darling" he said
when they reached home. "Sleep till
8 o'clock if you like There is nothing
now in the way of having the wedding
at 9 instead of at Z. In fact, I have
a reason for wanting my whole fortune
to come to me then. You will be all
that I have in the world, child, but I
am the happiest man alive"
| In his room the strain was relaxed,
| RrArcfors f1,n hi NV
Without undressing he threw himself
upon the lounge and wondered what
the world held for him. It held Peg
gy at least, he thought, and she was
enough. But had he been fair to her?
Was he right in exacting a sacrifice?
His tired brain Whirled in the effort
to decide. Only one thing was clear
that he could not give her up. The fu-
ture grew black at the very thought Of
it. With her he could make things
go, but alone it was another matter.
He would take the plunge, and he
would justify it. His mind went tray
cling back over the graceless year,
and he suddenly realized that he had
forfeited the confidence Of men who
were worth while. His course in
profigacy would not be considered the
best training for business. The thought
nerved him to action. He must make
good. Peggy had faith in him. She
came to him when everything was
against him, and he would slave for
her, he would starve, he would do any
thing to prove that she was not mis-
taken in him. She at least should
know him for a man.
| Looking toward the window, he saw
the black, uneasy night give way to the
coming day. Haggard and faint, he
arose from the couch to watch the ap-
proach of the sun that is Indifferent to
wealth and poverty, to gayety and de-
lection. From far off in the gray light
there came the sound Of a o'clock
bell. A little later the shrieks of fac
tory whistles were borne to his ears,
muf1led by distance, but pregnant with
the Importance Of a new day of toll.
They were calling him, with all poor
men, to the sweatshop and the forge, to
the great mill Of life. The new era
had begun, dawning bright and clear
to dispense the gloom in his soul. Lean
ling against the easement and wonder
ing where he could earn the first dollar
for the Peggy Brewster that was Peg
gy Gray, he rose to meet it with fine
unfinching fearlessness.
Before Z o'clock he was downstairs
and waiting. Joe Bragdon joined him
a bit later, followed by Gardner and
the minister. The DeMilles appeared
without an invitation, but they were
not denied. Mrs. Dan sagely shook her
head when told that Peggy was still
asleep and that the ceremony was off
till 9 o'clock.
monty, are you going away?' asked
Dan, drawing him into a corner.
'Just a week in the hills,'' answered
Monty, suddenly remembering the gen.
crosby Of his attorneys
"Come in and see me as soon as you
return, old man." said DeMille, and
Monty knew that position would be
bpen to him.