The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-04-04
which benefcfaries might choose to
MANAGE their own affairs.

The house in Fifth avenue went to
sister, together with million or two,
and the residue Of the estate found
kindly disposed relatives who were
willing to keep it from going to the
Home For Friendless Fortunes. Old
Mr.. Brewster left his affairs in order.
The will nominated Jerome Buskirk as
executor, and he was instructed, in con-
clusion. to turn over to Montgomery.
Brewster the day after the will was
probated securities to the amount Of
S1,OOO,OUO, provided for in clause 4
of the instrument And so it was that
on the 26th Of September young Mr..
Brewster had an unconditional fortune
thrust upon him, weighted only with
the suggestion Of Grape that clung to it.
Since his grandfather's death he had
been staying at the gloomy old Brew
ster house in Fifth avenue, paying but
two or three hurried visits to the rooms
at Mrs. Gray's where he had made his
home. The gloom Of death still darken-
ed the Fifth avenue place, and there
was stiffness, a gentle stealthiness,
about the house that made him long
for more cheerful companionship. He
wondered dimly If fortune always
carried the suggestion Of tuberoses.
The richness and strangeness Of it all
hung about him unpleasantly. He had
had no extravagant affection for the
grim old dictator who was dead, yet
his grandfather was man and had
commanded his respect. 1t seemed
brutal to leave him out Of the reckoning
to dance on the grave of the mentor
who had treated him so well. The at
titude Of the friends who clapped him
on the back, Of the newspapers which
congratulated him, Of the crowd that
expected him to rejoice, repelled him.
It seemed a tragic comedy, haunted,
too, by memories and by sharp regret
for his own foolish thoughtlessness.
Even the fortune itself weighed upon
him at moments with a half defined
melancholy.
| Yet the situation was not without
its compensadons. For several days
! when Ellis called him at Z he would
answer him and thank fortune that
he was not required at the bank that
morning. The luxury Of another hour
of sleep seemed the greatest perquisite
Of wealth. His morning mail amused
him at first, for since the newspapers
had published his prosperity to the
world he was deluged with letters. Re
quests for public or private charity
| were abundant, but most Of his cor
Erespendents were generous and thought
only Of his own good.
For three days he was In a hopeless
state Of bewilderment. He was visit.
ed by reporters, photographers and In
genious strangers, who benevolently
| offered to invest his money in enter.
prises with certified futures. When he
was not engaged in declining gold
mine in Colorado, worth $5,000,000
marked down to $3.50, he was avoiding
! guileless inventor who offered to sac
!, rifce the secrets Of marvellous de
/, vice for $500 or denying the report that
he had been rendered the presidency
Of the First National bank.
| Oliver Harrison stirred him out early
one morning and, while the sleepy mil.
lionaire was rubbing lis eyes and still
dodging the bombshell thai a dream
anarchist had hurled from the pima
Gle Of bedpost, urged him in excited,
confidential tones to take time by the
forelock and prepare for possible
breach Of promise suits. Brewster sat
on the edge of the bed and listened to
diabolical stories of how conscienceless
females had feeced innocent and even
| godly men Of wealth. From the bath
room between splashes he retained
Harrison by the year, month, day and
hour to stand between him and black
mail.
The directors Of the bank met and
adopted resolutions lamenting the
death of. their late president, passed the
leadership on to the first vice president
and speedily adjourned. The question
Of admitting Monty to the directory
was brought up and discussed, but IL
was left for time to settle.
One of the directors was Colonel
Prentiss Drew, '.the railroad mag
nate" Of the newspapers. He had
shown fondness for young Mr.. Brew
ster, and Monty had been a frequent
visitor at his house. Colonel Drew
called him my dear boy" and Monty
called him "a bully old chap" though
not in his presence. But the existence
Of Miss Barbara Drew may have had
something to do with the feeling be-
tween the two men.
AS he left the directors room on the
afternoon of the meeting Colonel Drew
came up to Monty. who had notified
the officers Of the bank that he was
leaving.
"Ah, my dear boy" said the colonel
shaking the young mans hand warmly,
now you have chance to show what
you can do. You have fortune, and,
with judgment, you ought to be able
to triple it. If can help you in any
way, come and see me-