The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-03-07

"Is it all gone. Monty?" she asked
almost in whisper.
Here is the residue of my estate"
he said opening his purse with steady
fingers. I'm back to where left off
year ago. The million is gone, and my
wings are clipped" Her face was
white; her heart was in the clutch of
Ice. How could he be so calm about it
when for him she was suffering such
agony? Twice she started to speak.
but her voice failed her. She turned
slowly and walked to the window,
keeping her back to the man who
smiled so sadly and yet so heartlessly.
II didn't want the million, Peggy"
he went on. you think as the rest
do. know, that l was fool to act as
I did. 1t would be rank idiocy on my
part to blame you any more than the
others for thinking as you do. APP
pearances are against me; the proof is
overwhelming. A year ago was call
ed man; today they are stripping me
Of every claim to that distinction. The
world says am fool, a dolt, almost q
criminal, but no one believes am a
man. Peggy. will you feel better to-
ward me If tell you that I am going
to begin life all over again? 1t will
be new Monty Brewster that starts
out again In few days, or, if you will.
It shall be the old one-the Monty you
once knew"
1.-The old Monty" she murmured
softly, dre.A4iiy 1T would be good
to see him $50 much better than to see
the Monty of the last year"
And in spite Of all l have done,
Peggy. YOU will stand by me? You
won't desert me like the rest? You'll
be the same Peggy of the other days"
he cried, his calmness breaking down.
How can you ask? Why should
you doubt me-"
For moment they stood silent, each
looking into the heart Of the other each
seeing the beginning Of new day.
"Child"-his voice trembled danger
ously-"I-I wonder il you care enough
for me toto But he could only
look the question.
ITO start all over again with you"
she whispered.
, ''Yes-to trust yourself to the prodi-
| gal who has returned. Without you,
child, all the rest would be as the
husks. Peggy, l want you-you! You
do love me. l can see 1t In your eyes; ]
can feel it in your presence"
How long you have been in realiz-
ing it," she said pensively as she
stretched ont her arms to him. For
many minutes ne held her close, find
ing beautiful peace in the world
again.
How long have you really caredr'
| he asked in a whisper.
Always Monty; all my life"
And l, too, child all my life. know
1t now; I've known 1t for months On,
what fool l was to have wasted all
this love Of yours and all this love of
mine. But I'll not be a prohigate In
love, Peggy. I'll not squander an atom
Of it, dear. not as long as l live"
"And we will build a greater love.
Monty, as we build the new life togeth-
/ er. We never can be poor while we
have love as treasure"
You won't mind being poor with
me?" he asked.
Il can't be poor with you." she said
simply
And l might have let all this escape
mel" he cried fervently. Listen, Peg
gy; we will start together, you as my
wife and my fortune. You shall be all
that Is left to me of the past. VIII you
marry me the day after tomorrow
Don't say No. dearest l want to begin
on that day. AT Z In the morning, dear
Don't you see how good the start will
be?"
And he pleaded so ardently and SO
earnestly that he won his point even
though it grew out Of a within that she
could not then understand. She was
not to learn until afterward his object
in having the marriage take place on
the morning Of Sept. %, two hours be-
fore the time set for the turning over
of the Sedgwick millions. II all went
we'll they would be Brewster's millions
before II o'clock, and Peggy's life OF
poverty would cover no more than
three hours OF time She believed him
worth a lifetime Of poverty. So they
would start the new life with but one
possession-love.
Peggy rebelled against his desire to
spend the $40 that still remained, blu,
he was firm In his determination. They
would dine and drive together and see
all OF the old life that was left-on $40
Then on the next day they would star,
all over again. There was one rude mo
ment Of dismay when It occurred te
him that Peggy might be considered
an asset" II she became his wife be
fore o'clock. But he realized at once
that it was only demanded of him thai
he be penniless and that he possess nc
object that had been acquired through
the medium of Edwin Peter Brewster't
money. Surely this wife who was moi
to come to him until his last dollar wal
gone could not be the product Of an ole
mans legacy. But 90 careful was he IL
regard to the transaction that he decid
ed to borrow money Of Joe BEaedon r