Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-08-10

cry Brewster had regarded her
4 i quiet, old fashioned home as
his own. The house had once been her
pioneers in that part of the town. 1t
was there she was born. In its quaint
old parlor she was married, and all her
girlhood, her brief welded life and her
widowhood were connected with 1t.
Mrs Gray and Montgomerys mother
had been schoolmates and playmates,
and their friendship endured. When
old Edwin Peter Brewster looked about
for place to house his orphaned grand
son, Mrs. Gray begged him to let her
care for the little fellow. He was three
children grew up as brother and sis
ter. Mr.. Brewster was generous IN
providing for the boy. While he was
away at college, spending money in
manner that caused the old gentleman
to marvel at his own liberality. Mrs.
Gray was well paid for the unused but
well kept apartments, and there never
was a murmur Of complaint from Ed
win Peter Brewster. He was hard. but
he was not niggardly.
1t had been something of a struggle
for Mrs. Gray to make both ends meet.
The property in Fortieth street was
her only possession. But little money
had come to her at her husbands
death. and an unfortunate speculation
of his had swept away all that had
fallen to her from her father, the late
Judge Merriweather. For years she
kept the old home unincumbered,
teaching French and English until
Margaret was well into her teens. The
girl was sent to one Of the good old
boarding schools on the Hudson and
came out well prepared to help her
mother in the battle to keep the wolf
down and appearances up. Margaret
was rich In friendships, and pride
alone stood between her and the adj
vantsges they offered. Good looking,
bright and cheerful, she knew no natu-
raj privations With heart as light
and joyous as May morning she
faced adversely as though 1t were q
pleasure, and no one would have sus-
pected that even for a moment her
courage wslvered.
Now that Brewster had come into
bis splendid fortune he could conceive
no greater delight than to share II
with them. To walk into the little
drawing room ana serenely lay large
sums before them as their own seemed
such natural proceeding that he re-
fused to sac an obstacle. But he knew
it was there. The prefer of such
gift to Mrs. Gray would mean a
wound to the pride inherited from
naughty generations Of men sufficient
unto themselves. There was small
but troublesome mortgage on the
house, matter of two or three thou
sand dollars, and Brewster tried to
evolve plan by which he could as
sumo the burden without giving deep
and lasting ofrense. A hundred wild
designs had come to him, but they
were quickly relagated to the growing
heap of gubterfuges and pretexts con-
demned by his tenderness for the pride
Of these two women who meant so
much to him.
Leaving the bank. he fastened by
electric car to Fortieth street and
Broadway and then walked eagerly off
into the street Of the mineral. He had
not yet come to the point where he felt
like scorning the cars even though
roll Of bank notes was tucked snugly
away in Il pocket that seemed to swell
with sudden afnuence. Old Hendrick,
faithful servitor through two genera
tons, was sweeping the autumn leaves
from the sidewalk when Montgomery
came up to the house.
Hello, Hendrick" was the young
mans CHEEKY greeting. Mice lot Of
leaves you have there"
'So?" ebbed from Hendrick, who did
not even SO much as look up from his
work. Hendrick was human clam.
"AIrs. Gray in?"
A grunt that signifled yes.
you're as loquacious as ever, Hen
drick."
A mere nod
DlcWSlSI lcL llIluSCll Ill Will OWN
latchkey, threw his hat on chair and
unceremoniously bolted into the libra
~. Margaret was seated near win
dow, a book in her lap. The first evil
dence of unbiased friendship he had
seen in days shone in her smile. She
took his hand and said simply, 1--WE are
glad to welcome the prodigal to his
home again."
II remind myself more Of the fatted
calf"
Her first self consciousness had gone.
Il thought of that, but didn't dare
say It," she laughed. Zone must be
respectful to rich relatives"
Hang your rich relatives. Peggy!
If l thought that this money would
make any difference l would give it up
this minute
Nonsense, Montyv she said "How
could it make difference? But you
must admit 1t is rather startling. The
friend Of our youth leaves his humble
dwelling Saturday night with his sal
airy drawn for two weeks ahead. He
returns the following Thursday daz-
zling millionaire"
I'm glad I've begun to dazzle any
way. l thought it might be hard to
look the part"