Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-19
from the sidewalk when Montgomery

| Hello f1eHuIlCh. was lHe SouhS
mans CHEEKY greeting. Nice lot of
|, ,aves you have there"
| "So?" ebbed from Hendrick, who did
not even so much as look up from his
work. Hendrck was a human clam.
Mrs. Gray in?"
A grunt that signified yes
| You're as loquacious as ever, Hen
drick."
A mere nod.
| Brewster let himself in with his own
latchkey, threw his hat on a chair and
] unceremoniously bolted into the libra
ry. Margaret was seated near WIN
dow, a book in her lap. The first evil
dence of unbiased friendship he had
seen in days shone in her smile. She
took his hand and said simply, I'VE
are glad to welcome the prodigal to
his home again"
Il remind myself more of the fatted
calf"
Her first self consciousness had gone.
Il thought of that, but didn't dare
say it," she laughed. "One must be
respectful to rich relatives"
Hang your rich relatives, Peggy!
| If l thought that this money would
make any difference would give it up
this minute.
Nonsense, Monty" she said. How
could it make a difference? But you
must admit it Is rather startling. The
friend of our youth leaves his humble
uweuing SATURDAY night with his sal
ary drawn for two weeks ahead. He
returns the following Thursday a daz-
zhng millionaire"
I'm glad I've begun to dazzle any
way. | thought it might be hard 10
look the part"
well, can't see that you are much
changed" There was a suggestion OF
quaver in her voice, and the shad-
Jws aid not prevent him from seeing
the quick mist that fitted across her
Leep eyes.
After all, It's easy work being a
millionaire" he explained, when
yuu've always had million dollar in
clinations."
And fifty cents possibilities, she
added.
Really, though, I'll never get as
much joy out of my abundant riches
as I did out of financial embarrass-
ments."
But think how fine it is, Monty, not
ever to wonder where your winters
overcoat Is to come from and how
long the coal will last and all that"
"Oh, l never wondered about my
overcoats. The tailor did the wonder
ing. But 1 wish 1 could go on living
here just as before. I'd heap rather
live here than at that gloomy place on
the avenue"
That sounded like the things you
used to say when we played in the
garret. You'd a heap sooner do this
than that, don't you remember"
That's just why I'd rather live here.
Peggy. Last night 1 fell to thinking
of that old garret, and hanged if some
thing didn't come up and stick in my
throat so tight that I wanted to cry.
How long has 1t been since we played
up there? Yes and how long has 1t
been since 1 read oliver Optic to you,
lying there in the garret window while
you sat with your back against the
wall, your blue eyes as big as dol
lars?"
"Oh, dear me, Monty, it was ages
ago-twelve or thirteen years, at
least" she cried, soft light in her
eyes.
I'm going up there this afternoon
to see what the place is like" he said
eagerly. And, Peggy, you must come
too. Maybe 1 can find one of those
Optic books, and we'll be young
again"
Just for old times sake" she said
impulsively. You'll stay for luncheon
too"
either Do you know, I was thinking
l had to be at the bank at 1880 to let
MI Perkins go out for something to
eat? The millionaire habit isn't so
Irmly fixed as l supposed" After a
moments pause, in which his growing
seriousness changed the atmosphere,
he went on haltingly, uncertain of his
position, The incest thing about hav-
ing all this money is that-that-we
won't have to deny ourselves anything
.l.., , of
full, now that it was out, and he was
compelled to scrutinize rather intently
familiar portrait in order to maintain
an air of careless assurance. She did
not respond to this venture, but he felt
that she was looking directly into his
sorely tried brain. We'll do any
mount of decorating about the house,
and-and you know that furnace has
been giving us lot of trouble for two
or three years. He was pouring out
ruthlessly when her hand fell gently
on his own, and she stood straight and
tall before him, an odd look in hel
eyes.
"Don't-please don't go on, Mon
ty," she said very gently, but without
wavering. Il know what you mean.
You are good and very thoughtful,
Monty, but you really must not"
why, what's mine is yours"-he
began.
Il know you are generous, Monty
and l know you have a heart. You
want us to-to take some of your
money" 1t was not easy to say 1t,
and as for Monty, he could only look
at the floor. I'VE cannot, Monty,
dear. You must never speak of it
again. Mamma and l had a feeling
that you would do it; but, don't you
see, even from you it is an offer to
help and it hurts
Don't talk like that, Peggy" he
| implored.
1T would break her heart If you
offered to give her money in that
way. She'd hate it, Monty. 1t Is fool
ish, perhaps, but you know we can't