Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-29
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
one morning not long after the IN
cidents just related Brewster lay in
bed staring at the ccilng, deep IN
thought. There was 4 worried pucker
on mis- forehead, half hidden by the
rumpled hair, and his eyes were wide
and sleepless. He had dined at the
Drews the evening before and had had
an awakening. AS he thought OF the
matter ne could recall no special oc-
currence that he could really use as
evidence. Colonel and Mrs. Drew had
been as kind as ever, and Barbara
could not have been more charming.
But something had gone wrong, and
he had endured a wretched evening.
That little English Johnnie was to
blame" he argued. "Of course Bar
bara had a right to put any one she
liked next to her. but why she should
have chosen that silly ass is more
than l know. BY Jove! If had been
On the other side I'll warrant his grace
would have been lost in the dust"
His brain was whirling, and for the
first time he was beginning to feel the
unpleasant pangs Of jealousy. The
Duke of Beauchamp he especially dis
liked, although the poor man had hard
ly spoken during the dinner But
Monty could not be reconciled. He
knew, Of course, that Barbara had
suitors by the dozen, but it had never
occurred to him that they were even
seriously considered. Notwithstanding
the fact that his encounter with The
Censor had brought her into unde-
sirable notice, she forgave him every
thing after a moments consideration
The first few wrenches of resentment
were overbalanced by her American
appreciation Of chivalry, however in
spired. The Censor had gone for
years unpunished, his coarse wit be-
ing aimed at every one who had come
into social prominence. So pungent
and vindictive was his pen that other
men feared him, and there were many
who lived in glass houses in terror OF
a fusilade. Brewsters prompt and
sufficient action had checked the per-
nicious attacks, and he became hero
among men and women. After that
night there was no point to The Cen
sors pen. Monty's first qualms of
apprehension were swept away when
Colonel Drew himself hailed him the
morning after the encounter and in
no unmeasured terms congratulated
III. N
him that Barbara and Mrs. Drew ap-
proved, although they might lecture
him as matter Of form.
But on this morning as he lay in his
bed Monty was thinking deeply and
painfully. He was confronted by al
most embarrassing condition, and he
was discussing it soberly with himself.
I've never told her." he said to him
self, but If she doesn't know my feel
ing she is not as clever as think. Be-
sides, l haven't time to make love to
her now. If it were any other girl Il
suppose I'd have to. but Babs-why,
she must understand. And yet-hang
that duke"
In order to WOO her properly he
would be compelled to neglect finan-
cial duties that needed every particle
of brain energy at his command. He
found himself opposed at the outset
by a startling embarrassment, made
absolutely clear by the computations
of the night before. The last four
DAYS of indifference to finance on one
other had proved very costly. To use
his own expression, he had been "set
back" almost $4,000. An average like
that would be ruinous.
Why, think Of it," he continued.
For each day sacrificed to Barbara
l must deduct something like $4,000.
A long campaign would put me ire
trievably in the hole; I'd get so far
behind that a holocaust couldn't put
me even. She can't expect that Of me,
vet girls are such idiots about devo-
ton, and of course she doesn't know
what a heavy task am facing. And
there are the others-what will they
do while l am out of the running? |
cannot go to her and say: Please may
| have a years vacation? I'll come
back next September On the other
hand | shall surely neglect my busi-
ness If she expects me to compete.
What pleasure shall I get out Of the
seven millions if l lost her? l can't
afford TO take chances. That duke
won't have seven millions next Sep
tember it's true, but he'll have pro-
digious argument against me about
the 21st or 22d."
Then a brilliant thought occurred
to him which caused him to ring for
a messenger boy with such show of
impatience that Rawles stood aghast.
The telegram which Monty wrote was
as follows:
Swearengen Jones, Butte, Mont:
Nav | marry and turn all property
over to wife, provided she Will have
me? Montgomery Brewster.
Why isn't that reasonable" he
asked himself after the boy had gone.
Making property over to ones wife
is neither a loan nor is it charity. Old
Jones might call it needless extrava-
gance, since he's a bachelor, but it's
generally done because it's good busi-
ness" Monty was hopeful.
Following his habit in trouble, he
sought Margaret Gray. to whom he
could always appeal for advice and
consolation. She was to come to his
next dinner party, and it was easy to
lead up to the subject in hand by men
tioning the other guests.
And Barbara Drew" he concluded
after naming all the others. They
were alone in the library, and she was
drinking in the details Of the dinner
as he related them.
Wasn't she at your first dinner"
she asked quickly.
He successfully affected mild embar-
rassment.
Yes"
she must be very attractive"
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