Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-09-03
measures, you din. with me tomor

row."
Monty recognized defeat when he
met it and graciously accepted her
very kind invitation. The next mo-
ment they drew up at the opera house
and were ushered in with Difference
only accorded to wealth. The splendor
of the effect was overpowering to
Brewster as we'll as to his bewildered
guests. Aladdin, it seemed, had fairly
outdone himself The wonder of 1t
was so complete that 1t was some time
before they could settle down to the
opera, which was ".A,ti.l given with
an enthusiasm that only Italians can
compass.
During the last intermission Brew
ster and Peggy were walking in the
foyer. They had rarely spoken since
the day Of the ride, but Monty noticed
with happiness that she had on several
occasions avoided Pettingill.
Il thought we had given up fairy
land when we left the lakes, but be-
lieve you carry it with you" she said
THE trouble with this" Monty re
Piled "is that there are too many PEG
pie about. My fairyland is to be just
q little different"
''Your fairyland, Monty, will be built
Of gold and paved with silver. You
will sit all day cutting coupons in an
office Of alabaster."
Peggy. do you, too, think me vul-
gar? It's a beastly parade. I know,
but 1t can't stop now You don't real
lie the momentum OF the thing
you do it up to the handle" she put
In. And you are much too generous
ITO be vulgar. But 1t worries me, Mon
ty; it worries me desperately. It's the
future I'm thinkir of-your future,
which is bein. swallowed up. This
kind Of thing can't 60 ON. And what
is to follow 1t? You are wasting your
substance, and you are not making any
life for yourself that opens out"
Peggy" he answered very seriously.
"you have got to trust me. l can't
back out, but I'll tell you this-you
shall not be disappointed in me In the
end
There was o mist before the girls
eyes as she looked ut him. II believe
you, Monty she said simply. Il shall
not forget"
The curtain rose upon the next act,
and something in the opera toward the
end seemed to bring the two very close
together. As they were leaving the
theater there was note Of regret from
vorfonf ~ aHa
breathed, yet, Monty, isn't 1t waste
that no one else should have seen it?
Think Of these poverty stricken peas
ants who adore music and have never
heard an opera"
"Well, they shall hear one now"
Monty rose to it, but he felt like
hypocrite in concealing his chief mo-
tive. Wen repeat the performance
tomorrow night and All the house with
them"
He was as good as his word. Ber-
tier was given task the next day
which was not to his taste. But with
the assistance Of the city authorities he
carried it through. To them it was an
evidence Of insanity, but there was
something princely about 1t, and they
were tolerant. The manager of the OPP
era house was less complacent, and he
had an explanatory terror Of the dam
age to his upholstery. But Brewster
had discovered that in Italy gold Is
panacea for all ills, and his prescrip-
lions were liberal. To him the day
was short, for Peggy's interest in the
penance, as 1t came to be called, was
so keen that she insisted Oh having
hand in the prelimiharies. There was
something about the partnership that
appealed to Monty.
To her regret the DeMille dinner In
tsrfered with the opening Of the per-
Torrance. but Monty consoled her with
the promise that the opera and its
democratic audience should follow.
During the day Mrs. Dan had been
deep in preparations for her banquet,
but her plans were deliberately conceal
ed. They eliminated at 8 o'clock in the
Cova, not far from the Scala, and the
dinner was eaten in the garden to the
sound Of music. Yet it was an effect Of
simplicity with which Mrs. Dan sur
prised her guests. They were prepared
for anything but that, and when they
were served with consomme, spaghetti
"A concession to the chef-and chops
and peas, followed by salad and cef-
fee, the gratitude of the crowd was
quite beyond expression. In burst Of
enthusiasm Subway Smith suggested
testimonial.
Monty complained bitterly that he
himself had never received ghost Of
testimonial He protested that it was
not deserved.
why should you expect it?" exclaim
I'd Pettingiu. when have you risen
from terrapin and artichokes to chops
and chicory? When have you given US
nectar and ambrosia like this?"
Mosty was defeated by unanimous
vote, and Mrs. Dams testimonial was
assured. This matter settled, Peggy
and Mrs. Valentine, with Brewster and
Pettingill, walked over to the Scala
and heard again the last two acts Of
"Aida" But the audience was differ
ent, and the applause.
The next day at noon the chauffeurs
from Paris reported for duty, and five
cleaning French devil wagons steamed
of through the crowd in the direction
Of Venice. Through Pcescia and Verona
and vicenza they passed, scattering
largess Of silver in their wake and
leaving a trail of brea thless wonder.
Brewster found the pace too fast and
by the time they reached Venice he had