The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-10-29


ment that she was to marry some one
el+-why shonld your thoughts be
harder, now that you know ich1 has wor
herr" So voice seemed arguing with
them; but, below, the angry thoughts
s,lrged on.
For him to be the one 10 gain her.
he, paid servant in the bankm
CHAPTER w.
When Mr.. Dart reached the bank
next morning, worn and harassed after
his sleepless night, he found that Matt
land. contrary to his usual custom, had
arrived before him. Though the two
friends greeted each other as usual, a
most unusual silence settled presently
npon them both. Eventually the senior
partner. making an effort, remarked on
the coldness of the weather, and his
companion, putting down letter which
ne held, answering leisur+lv. Bat his
pleasant blue eyes were restless and
dim, and the moment the answer was
given, the silence wrapped them both
| once more.
For an hour the Office clock had tick
ed solo in the quietness, when Walter
Maitland rose slowly from his chair
with the Times" unfolding in his hand
letting the paper fall, came and stood
upon the rug beside his friend, who had
just re-entered from the bank. Very
gently he laid one hand upon his sen.
ior's shoulder.
"Dart, old friend, want to speak a
few words TO You, in great earnestness
Since we met yesterday morning, I have
grown 10 feel qnite certain of one thing
quite. The time has not in reality
been very long, but il seems SO, and gave
me plenty of opportunity for thought
and what have grown to feel so sure
of is this-I shall never marry now"
"Nor l." replied Maurice, meaning
it as men do not often mean the phrase
though they utter it as firmly.
"I-fancied not. Now, we are both
wealthy men, Dart" continued Walter
bravely and gently, "and this wealth We
offered day or two ago. to Isabel Cnnyn
CHAM. You guess what ! am going IL
say? Shall she benefit by our-love fol
her?r
The senior partner looked up, slowly
questioningly. A thonght, which haf
been haunting him all night, made full
meaning of these words quite plain tC
him.
"Yes, l see you have felt this re
snmed Walter, quietly, "jnst as | have
felt it. see that words only came al
an ending to your thought. ] under
stood how it put itself to you. Leslie
has invested all his fathers savings
all his patrimonony. as one may say
in our bank, and spends his whole day
here most conscientionsly, most trust
worthily. All he draws for this can
not keep house which we-yOu and
like to picture as Isabel's home. And
then his mother has to be provided for
You think, Dart, that il would not hur
us--and could not make any difference
to Captain Dart, who has no voice il
any. bank matters--if Leslie had power
TO draw what should keep them a little
more comfortably. In short--in short
old fellow, you would make him equa
partner with me-"
with ourselves" said Mr.. Dart
shortly, with ourselves, you mean.
we were all equal partners"
"Let us discuss it this evening ThinI
it over till evening. Maurice put il
Walter, feeling that the partner shoult
have time to make his decision; Eve viii
talk 1t over again."
The discussion was duly held that af
ternoon in the partners private room
then Tom was summoned to hear the re
suit of it. Though not long interview
how could any words show the ute
failure of Mr.. Darts effort to maintain
his grave reserve through Toms extrav
agance, boyish, humble, proud, ridicu
Ions gratitude2 Or describe Waite
Maitland's persistent Though alway
disregarded) assurance that "as Mr.
Dart had decided to make this arrange
ment, he was very glad to accede to it?'
And after that interview, who could re
peat the limitless promises Tom made e
his fellow-clerks when he told them o
his marriage? Or tell how he reached
home in half his usual time, and pu
his arms about his mother with his eyes
full of tears-just as if he had beel
thirteen instead of thirty?
But, above all, who could describ
IsabePs mute, wondering gratitude t
the two men to whom she had give
such pain? 81 am very, very grateful
Tom." she said, appealing to him will
tears thick upon her lashes; "but-
wonld rather not talk about it-yet. LIE
me have time to think of it."
Quick to understanding her wish, an
delicate in carrying it out, Tom lei
Isabel. delighted that his news ha
moved her so, yet wondering over it
little, too-because the secret of tn
partners was so safe in the keeping q
the girl whom they had-not unworth
loved.
, But hardest Of all would it be to de
!. scribe how brilliantly before Tom
eyes that night there came a vision {
\ a 4
met him face TO face when, after hi
holiday" he first reached the heav
familiar doors of the 'Highhoroug
r Bank-Dart, Maitland, Dart & Leslie
O Co. was no more.
, How the California Fields are PlON
ed.
- The fields are plowed with what al
n 81 ~