Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-08-18

"a wit Ell? Then he'll appreciate an
answer from me- Have you telegraph
blank, Mr.. Grant?"
Two minutes later the following tele-
gram to Swearengen Jones was await
| ing the arrival Of messenger boy and
Brewster was blandly assuring Messrs.
| Grant & Ripley that he did not care
a rap for the consequences:
| New York. Oct q. l..
| Swearangen Jones, Butte, Mont:
| No doubt you could do 1t for less than
| six thousand. Montana is regarded as the
best grazing country IN the world, but we
| don't cat that sort OF stuff in New York.
| That's why 1t costs moro to live here
MONTGOMERY BREWSTER.
Just before leaving his apartments
| for Miss Drew's home he received this
response from faraway Montana:
| Butte. Mont. Oct q. l..
| MONTGOMERY Brewster. New York:
| We are 5000 feet above the level OF the
| sea- suppose that's why It costs US less
| to 1.-Two high =. JONES.
II was beginning to despair, Monty"
said Miss Drew reproachfully when
he had come down from the height OF
his evaporation and remembered that
| there were things Of more Importance.
| The light In his eyes brought the
| faintest tinge ofred to her cheeks, and
where a moment before there had been
| annoyance there was now feeling OF
serenity. For moment the silence
| was fraught with purpose. Monty
| glanced around the room, uncertain
how to begin. It was not SO easy as he
had imagined.
| "You are very good to see me-" he
said ut last. ut was absolutely neces-
sary for me to talk to you this evening.
| could not have endured the suspense
any longer. Barbara, I've spent three
| or four sleepless nights on your &C.
count. Will it spoil your evening 1t !
tell you in plain words what you al
ready. know? 1t won't bother you, will
it?" he floundered
"What do you mean, Monty?" she
begged, purposely dense and with won
derful control Of her eyes.
~ love you, Babs," he cried. Il
thought you knew about it all along
| or should have told you before. That's
why l haven't slept The fear that
you may not care for me has driven
me nearly to distraction. 1t couldn't
| 20 ON any longer. must know to-
day."
There was a CLEAN in his eyes that
| made her pose Of Indifference dif1cult.
The fervor Of his half whispered words
| took possession of her. She had ex-
pected sentiment Of such different
| character that his frank confession dis
armed her completely. Beneath his
ardent, abrupt plea there was assur-
| ance, the confidence of one who is not
/ to be denied. It was not what he had
| said, but the way he had said 1t. A
wave of exultation swept over her, tin
Cling through every nerve. Under the
| spell her resolution to daily lightly
with, his emotion suffered check that
almost brought ignominious surrender.
Both of her hands were clasped in his
when he exultinsly resumed the charge
against her heart, but she was rapidly
reaaining control of her emotions, and
| he did mot know that he was losing
| ground with each step he took for
ward. Barbara Drew loved Brewster,
but she was going to make him pay
dearly for the brief lapse her COM
posure had experienced. When next
she spoke she was again the Miss
Drew who had been trained in the
ways Of the world, and not the young
girl in love.
4 81 care for you great deal, Menty,"
she said, "but I'm wondering whether
I care enough toto marry you.'
1--WE haven't known each other very
long, Babs," he said tenderly, but
think we knsw each other well enough
| to be beyond wondering"
at is like you to manage the whole
thing" she said chidingly. Cant you
4 give me time to convince myself that I
love you sAyou would like and as /
must leve if 1 expect to be happy with
the man I marryw
IT forgot myself" he said humbly.
"You forgot me-" she protested gen
tly, touched by this sign Of contrition.
81 do care for you, Monty, but don't
you see it's no little thing you ask OF
me? must be sure-very sure-before
I-before'-
Don't be so distressed" he pleaded.
"You will love me, know, because
you love me now This means much
to me, but it means more to you. You
are the woman, and you are the one
whose happiness should be considered.
can live only in the hope that when
come to you again with this same
story and this same question you'll
not be afraid to trust yourself to me-"
"You deserve to be happy for that,
Monty" she said earnestly, and it
was with difficulty that she kept her
eyes from wavering as they looked into
his.
| you will let me try to make you
love me?" he asked eagerly.
II may not be worth the struggle"
"I'll take that chance" he replied.
She was conscious of disappointment
after he was gone He had not pleaded
as ardently as she had expected and
desired, and, try as she would, she
could not Danish the touch Of irritation
that had come to haunt her for the
night.
Brewster walked to the club, elated
that he had at least made beginning.
! n1o