Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-02-09
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CHAPTER XIV.
RY GEORGE BARR M'cUTCHEoN
RICHARD GREAvESl

A typographical error in one Of the
papers caused no end Of amusement TO
every one except Monty and Miss
Drew. The headlines had announced
MAGNIFICENT Ball to Be Given Miss
Drew by Her Finance" and the Little
Sons of the Rich wondered why Monty
did not see the humor OF 1t.
"He has too bad an attack to see
anything but the lady," said Harrison
one evening when the Sons were gath
cred for an old time supper party.
Its always the way" commented
the philosophical Bragdon. when you
lose your heart your sense Of humor
goes too Engaged couples couldn't do
such ridiculous stunts If they had the
least particle of it left"
"Wen, If Monty Brewster is still In
love with Miss Drew he takes mighty
poor way of showing it." Subway
Smiths remark fell like a bombshell.
The thought had come to every one,
but no one had been given the courage
to utter 1t. For them Brewster's ST.
lence on the subject since the DeMille
dinner seemed to have something ON
inous behind 1t.
IT'S probably only lovers quar-
rel" said Bragdon. But further COM
ment was cut short by the entrance Of
Monty himself, and they took their
places at the table.
Before the evening came to an end
they were in possession Of many aston
ishing details in connection with the
coming ball. Monty did not say that 1t
was to be given for Miss Drew, and
her name was conspicuously absent
from his descriptions. AS he unfolded
his plans even the Little Sons, who
were imaginative by instinct and reck-
less on principle, could not be quite
acquiescent.
Hopper Harrison solemnly expressed
the opinion that the ball would cost
Brewster at least s125.oO0. The Little
Sons looked at one another in con-
sternation, while Brewster's indiffer-
ence expressed itself in an unfiatter-
ing comment upon his friends vulgar
ity. Good Lord, hopper" he added,
you would speculate about the price
Of gloves for your wedding!">
Harrison resented the taunt. 1T
would be much less vulgar to do that,
Monty, saving your presence, than to
force your millions down every ones
throat"
well, they swallow them, I've no.
ticed," retorted Brewster, "as though
they were chocolates"
Pettingill interrupted grandiloquent-
ly, my friends and gentlemen!"
which is which," asked Van Win
kle casually.
But the artist was in the saddle.
Permit me to present you to the boy
Croesus-the only one extant His mar
bles are plunks, and his kites are made
Of fifty dollar notes. He feeds upon
coupons la Newburg, and his cham
pagne is liquid golden eagles. Look at
him, gentlemen, while you can and
watch him while he spends $4,000 for
fiowers!"
ty-nine thousand" added Bragdon.
And yet they maintain that silence
is golden"
"And three singers to divide twelve
thousand among themselves! That's
absolutely criminal!" cried Van Win
kle. "Over in Germany they'd sing a
month for half that amount"
six hundred guests to feed-total
cost of not less than $4,000" groaned
hopper dolefully.
And there aren't 900 in town." Ia
mented Subway Smith. "All that glory
wasted on 200 rank outsiders"
You men are borrowing a lot of
trouble" yawned Brewster, with gal
liant effort to seem bored. "All ask
Of you is to come to the party and put
up a good imitation of having the time
Of your life. Between you and me,
I'd rather be caught drinking ice cream
soda than giving this thing. But
That's what We want to know-but
what? and Subway leaned forward
eagerly.
But" continued Monty, Il am in for
1t now, and it is going to be ball that
is a ball."
Nevertheless the optimistic Brewster
could not find the courage to tell Peg
gy of these picturesque extravagances
To satisfy her curiosity he blandly in
formed her that he was getting on
much more cheaply than he had expect
ed. He laughingly denounced as un-
true the stories that had come to heI
from outside sources, and before his
convincing assertions that reports were
ridiculously exaggerated the troubled
expression in the girls eyes disap-
peared.
'I must seem a fool" groaned Mon
ty as he left the house after one Of
these explanatory trials, but what
will she think of me toward the end Of
the year when I am really in harness?'
He found 1t hard to control the desire
to be straight with Peggy and tell hel
the story of his mad race in pursuit o.
poverty.
Preparations for the ball went OF
steadily, and in a dull winter 1t hat
it's color value for society. 1t was u
be a Spanish costume ball, and at man!
tea tables the talk of it was god
send. Sarcastic as it frequently wa
on the question of Monty's eXtrav
agance, there was a splendor about TIT
Aladdin-like entertainment which hat
a charm Beneath the outward disap
proval there was a secret admiration
of the superb nerve Of the man. An(
there was little reluctance to help hin
in the wild career he had chosen. 1
was so easy to go with him to the edg'
of the precipice and let him take th'
plunge alone. Only the echo of th'
criticism reached Brewster, for he hat
silenced Harrison with work and Pet
tingil with opportunities. 1t troubled
him little, as he was engaged in jottint
down items that swelled the profit sid'
of his ledger account enormously. Th'
ball was bound to give him a good leaC
1ocnifa tho haoV,