The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-01-24
whip. Peggy went on as II uncon-
Scious Of fho chm llouOo

whip. Peggy went on as IL uncon.
scious of the challenge.
HE has been bored to death, poor
fellow, In the house all this time, and
Miss Gray, please do not mention
Mr.. Brewster's name to me again." In.
terrupted Barbara, with contraction
of the eyebrows. But Peggy was seized
with u spirit Of defiance and plunged
recklessly on.
"what is the use, Miss Drew, Of TAX
ing IN attitude like that? know the
situa ton pretty well, and I can't be-
lieve that either Monty or you have lost
in week feeling that was so deep
sea. d. | know Monty much too well
to think that he would change SO cas-
ily." Peggy still lived largely in her
ideals. And you are too fine thing
not TO have suffered under this misun.
dcrstanding 1t seems as If very
small word would set you both
straight"
Barbara drew herself up and kept
her eyes on the road, which lay white
and cleaning in the sun. II have not
the least desire to be set straight. "
And she was never more serious.
But 1t was only few weeks ago
that you were engaged"
81 am sorry" answered Barbara,
"that it should have been talked about
so much. Mr.. Brewster did ask me to
marry him. but I never accepted. In
fact. it was only his persistence that
made me consider the matter at all.
did think about it. l confess that
rather liked him. But 1t was not long
before found him out"
"What do you mean?" And there was
a flash in Peggy's eyes. what has he
done?'
ITO my certain knowledge he has
spent more than 100000 since last
September That is something, is 1t
not:' Miss Drew said in her slow, cool
voice. and even Peggy's loyalty admit
ted some justification in the criticism.
Generosity has ceased to be a vir-
tue, then?" she asked coldly.
Generosity. exclaimed Barbara
sharply. Its sheer idiocy Haven't
you heard the things people are say
ing? They are calling him fool, and
in the clubs they are betting that he
will be pauper within year"
Yet they charitably help him to
spend his money, and l have noticed
that even worldly mammals find him
eligible" The comment was not with
out its caustic side.
THAT was months ago, my DEAR"
protested Barbara calmly. when he
spoke to me he told me it would be
impossible for him to marry within a
year. And don't you see that year
may make him an AFFECT beggar?'
Naturally anything Is preferable to
a beggar," came in Peggy's clear, soft
voice.
Barbara hesitated only a moment.
We'll, you must admit, Miss Gray,
that it shows shameful lack of char
acter. How could any girl be happy
with u man like that? And, after all,
one must look out for ones own fate"
Undoubtedly" replied Peggy, but
many thoughts were dashing through
her brain.
Shall we turn back to the cottage?"
she said after an awkward silence.
You certainly don't approve of Mr..
Brewster's conductY' Barbara did not
like to be placed in the wrong and felt
that she must endeavor to justify her.
self. He is the most reckless of
spendthrifts, we know, and he prob.
ably INDUCES in even less respectable
excitement"
Peggy was not tall, but she carried
her head at this moment as though she
were in the habit of looking down on
the world.
Aren't you going little too far.
Miss Drew" she asked placidly.
1T Is not only New York that laughs
over his Quixotic transactions" Bar
bara persisted. "Mr. Hampton, our
guest from Chicago, says the stories
are worse out there than they are In
the east"
1T is pity that Monty's illness
should have made him so weak" said
Peggy quietly as they turned in
through the great iron gates, and Bar
bara was not slow to see the point.