The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-04-04

care Tor the EIlle IellOW. tie was Three
years older than her Margaret, and the
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 a
manner that caused the old gentleman
to marvel at his own liberality, Mrs.
Gray was well paid for the unused but
well kept apartments, a1d there never
was murmur Of complaint from Ed
win Peter Brewster. He was hard, but
he was not niggardlyA
It had been something Of 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
CT 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 r4ch in friendships, and pride
alone stood between her and the ad-
vantages 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 it were
pleasure, and no one would have sus-
pected that even for a moment her
courage wavered.
Now that Brewster had come into
his splendid fortune he could conceive
no greater delight than to share it
with them. To walk into the little
drawing room and serenely lay large
sums before them as their own seemed
such a natural proceeding that he re-
fused to see an obstacle. But he knew
it was there. The proffer Of such q
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, q 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 ofense. A hundred wild
designs had come to him, but they
were quickly relegated to the growing
heap Of subterfuges and pretexts con-
! demned by his tenderness for the pride
| of these two women who meant so
much to him.
Leaving the bank, he hastened by
electric car to Fortieth street and
Broadway and then walked eagerly OF
into the street Of the numeral. He had
not yet come to, the point where he felt
like scorning the cars even though a
roll of bank notes was tucked snugly
away in pocket that seemed to swell
| with sudden affluence Old Hendrick,
faithful servitor through two genera
tions, was sweeping the autumn leaves
from the sidewalk when Montgomery
came up to the house. ...
"Hello, Hendrick!" was the young
man's CHEEKY greeting. "Nice lot Of
leaves you have there"
'So?' ebbsd from Hendrick, who did
not even so niuea as look up from his
work. Hendrick Was human clam:
'.SIrs. Gray in:" =
a grunt that signifed yes.
you're as loquacious as ever; Hen,
drick."
A mere Esd.
Brewster Eet himself in with his own
latchkey, threw bis hat on a chair and
unceremoniously b0lted into the: libra
ry. Margaret was seated near a win
dow, book in her lap. The first evi-
dence of unbiased friendship he had
seen in days shone in her smile. She
took his hand and said simply, I'VE are
glad to welcome the prodigal to his
home again"
81 remind myself more Of the .fatted
calf.o -:
Her first self consciousness had gone.
81 thought Of that, but 1 didn't dare
say it, she laughed. Zone must be
respectful to rich relatives"
Hang your rich relatives, Peggy!
If / thought that this money would
make any difference 1 would give It up
this minute
Nonsense, Montyw she said. "How
could it make a difference? But you
must admit it is rather startling The
friend Of our youth leaves his humble
dwelling Saturday night with his sal
ary drawn for two weeks ahead. He
returns the following Thursday daz-
zling millionaire"
"I'm glad I've begun to dazzle any
way. I thought it might be hard to
look the part
"Well. fcan't see that you are much
changed" There was a:suggestion Of
quaver in her voice, and the shadows
did not prevent him from seeing the
quick mist that fitted across her deep
eyes.
"After all. it's easy work being mil