Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-03-05

of the town. Men tried to shun him,
but he persistently wasted some por-
ton of his fortune on his unwilling
subjects. When he gave $4,000 in cash
| to a home for newsboys even his
friends jumped to the conclusion that
he was mad. 1t was his only gift to
charity, and he excused his motive in
giving at this time by recalling Sedg-
wick's injunction to give sparingly to
charity" Everything was gone from
his thoughts but the overpowering
eagerness to get rid of few trouble
| some thousands. He felt like an out
cast. pariah, hated object that in
fected every one with whom he came
in contact Sleep was almost fmpos-
sible; eating was farce. He gave
elaborate suppers which he did not
touch. Already his best friends were
discussing the advisability Of putting
him in a sanitarium, where his mind
might be preserved. His case was
looked upon as peculiar in the histo-
ry of mankind. No writer could find
parallel; no one could imagine a
comparison.
Mrs. Gray met him in the hallway
Of her home as he was nervously pock-
citing the $50 he had received in pay
ment for his clothes. Her face was
like that of a ghost. He tried to an
swer her reproof, but the words would
not come, and he fed to his room, lock-
ing the door after him. He was at
work there on the transaction that was
to record the total disappearance Of
Edwin Brewster's million-his final re-
port to Swearengen Jones, executor OF
James Sedgwick's will. On the floor
were bundles Of packages carefully
wrapped and tied, and on the table
was the long sheet Of white paper on
which the report was being drawn
The packages contained receipts-thou-
sands upon thousands Of them-for the
dollars he had spent in less than a
year. They were there for the inspec-
ton of Swearengen Jones, faithfully
and honorably kept, as If the old west
erner would go over in detail the count
less documents.
He had the accounts balanced up to
the hour. On the long sheet lay the
record Of his ruthlessness, the epitaph
of a million. In his pocket was exact
ly s7s.0S. This was to last him for less
than forty-eight hours, and then 1t
would go to join the rest. 1t was his
plan to visit Grant & Ripley on the af-
ternoon Of the 22d and to read the re-
port to them in anticipation OF the
meeting with Jones on the day follow
ing.
Just before noon, after his encounter
with Mrs. Gray, he came downstairs
and boldly, for the first time In days,
sought out Peggy. There was the old
smile in his eyes and the old heartiness
in his voice when he came upon her
in the library. She was not reading.
Books, pleasures and all the joys OF
life had fled from her mind, and she
thought only Of the disaster that was
coming to the boy she had always
loved. His heart smote him as he
looked into the deep, somber, fright
ened eyes, running over with love and
fear for him.
Peggy, do you think I'm worth any
thing more from your mother? DO you
think she will ask me to live here any
longer?" he asked steadily, taking her
hand in his. Hers was cold, his as not
as fire. You know what you said
away off yonder somewhere, that shed
let me live here If deserved it.
am a pauper, Peggy. and I'm afraid
I'LL may have to get down to drudg-
cry again. Will she turn me out? You
know I must have somewhere to live.
Shall it be the poorhouse? Do you re-
member saying one day that I'd end
in the poorhouse?"
She was looking into his eyes, dread
ing what might be seen in them. But
there was no CLEAN Of insanity there;
there was no fever. Instead there was
the quiet smile Of the man who is sat-
isfied with himself and the world. His
voice bore traces of emotion, but 1t
was the voice Of one who has perfect
control Of his wits.
is it all-gone, Monty?" she asked,
almost in a whisper.
Here is the residue of my estate
he said, opening his purse with steady
fingers. I'm back to where I left of
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 1t
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 VINO
smiled so sadly and yet so heartlessly.
81 didn't want the million, Peggy"
he went on. You think as the rest
do, 1 know, that 1 was a fool to act as
I did. It 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 I was call
ed a man: today they are stripping me
of every claim to that distinction. The
world says am fool, dolt, almost
criminal, but no one believes I 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 a new Monty Brewster that starts
out again in few days, or II you WILL
it shall be the old one-the Monty you
once knew"
"The old Monty?" she murmured
softly, dreamily. ut would be good
to see him-so much better than to see
the Monty Of the last year."
And in spite of all 1 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?"
oh