Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-30
LOVE AND BUSINESS.

their business house sat Halliday and son. Halli
day was bluff, heavy old fellow OF 50 or there
abOuts, with pair Of keen, bright eyes, which
twinkled necessarily, and was seated in his
chair with heels upon his desk. Son was
young man Of g. tall, dark and handsome
clad In suit Of navy blue flannel, and wa.
seated on a corner of the desk looking down up
on his father.
"Who IL the object Of your all-devouring pas
sion, eh, Dick, my boys" the old gentleman
asked. "Some chit of a school girl:'
"Her name Is Wilkins" replied the young
man. "She is a widow-a double widow, l will
say-for she had been married twice, and is
come, don't let your chin drop to such an alarm
Ing extent for outside Of all she Is worth $50 600
although that, in my case, is feathers weight
in the scales. She is actually rs, but looks ten
years younger, and is as prettya as picture. She
has one child. daughter who is at school in
Paris, but as she is heiress to a cool 800, OOO
she is not an incumbrance by any Means
"Dick Halliday. you're a fool" exclaimed the
old gentleman. "The woman is almost old
enough to be your mother"
''NOt quite as bad as that"
~ say. sir, she's almost old enough to be your
mother. Have you committed yoursef-has
she ensnared you?"
Don't you remember our old agreement.
father. that when thought Of marrying would
consult with you before taking the step? will
therefore introduce you to Mrs. wilkins let you
study her character. and then abide by your
decision; for l have no doubt as to what it will
be-"
"Ah!" said the old gentleman, 'that's better.
That's decidedly better. You may introduce
me. Dick, and l promise you my unbiasing opin-
ion of the bpWifchinp creature ;,
All right. When will you go!''
'TO-night, tomorrow, any time you please;
but see here, Dick. to change the subject how
about this London business? It's going to
ruin
well suppose we will have to send man to
look after it,
"Send!" cried the old man, '.that won't do at
all; one or the other of us must go. We've
trusted entirely too much of late and home in
terests are almost as bad as our foreign. Now
Dick I'll tell you what I'll do. If you will 90
to London and straghten things up, I'll give
you my answer concerning your fame the mo-
ment you return. I've been over so often that
what do you say, Dick?"
If you desire it, father. I'll go, certainly"
"Then that's settled. Where are you off to
now"
81 was going up to the Astor, but I'll wait
until evening, and then you can accompany
"All right. Dick, all right only don't commit
yourself. Beware of widows, you know
That evening Halliday and son repaired to the
Aston House and were conducted to one of the
private parlOrs. In a few minutes Mrs. wilkins
entered. and it was plain to be seen that the old
gentleman was amazed. He did not wonder at
his sons infatuatiOn and afterward acknOwl-
edged her to be the most beautiful woman he
had ever seen. When at length they took their
departure after spending delightful evening,
the son said
=. What do Won COW fothor
Give me time. my boy, give Inc time," was
the reply.
The next day but one Dick started for Lon
don. The weather was fair, the passage a
prosperous one, and he reached his destination
safe and sound. He found the business i'm a
terrible state and had his hands and mind fully
occupied. and week slipped by. One morning
he received letter from his father, portion of
which ran as follows:
Concerning the widow, I am well pleased
with your choice. She is a good woman-as
good as beautiful. A trihe too old for you is nv
only objection"
Another week went by and another letter
came, in which, speaking Of the widow, the old
man said
81 am astonished at your extraordinary good
lady the better am pleased. She is most ex-
celent lady in every respect. tritie too old
for you is my only objection"
Good" said Dick to himself. II guess
will stay week on my own account now that
the business is cleared up, and do London. The
Old gentleman seems to be well pleased, and
guess by the time get. home his only objection
will have been overcome. Not that / care a
straw Tor his opinion one way or the other, but
peace Is preferable to war at any time
And taking apicture of the widow from his
pocket he embraced 1t most affectiOnately
So Dick remained another week and did Lon
don thoroughly. On the day before he was to
have sailed for home he received another letter
from his father, saying:
IVY Dear Boy:-I never was more pleased
with woman in all my life. She is an angel
l don't wonder at you loving her. She is pure,
honest, everything you imagine her to be, but
she can never marry you. 1t is impossible.
don't like to be severe, but it can never be- The
truth u.s. Dick, she has become my WIFE Don't
be fool, now, but come home at once. A trife
too old was my only objection.
Your affectiOnate father
RICHARD HALLIDAY"
To say that Dick was enraged would but
family describe his feelings; he fairly boiled.
He wrote Immediately to his father, telling him:
I'm the future your foreign business may 90
to the ID. and your home interests, too"
Then, after drawing good sum Of money, he
started for the continent
For two years he wandered from place to
place. and at the end Of that time found himsel f
in Paris. Here he fortunately fell in with an ac-
quaintance he had made while in London; and
VINO had since married, and was then doing
business In Paris.
At his friends house, one evening, he was in
trOduced to an American young lady of whom
he became enamOred at first sight.
The young lady. Miss Julia Kentrdge by name,
was to start for New York in few days, and, on
hearing this, Dick engaged passage on the
steamer. The voyage was pleasant one, and
before they arrived at Sandy Hook, Miss Julia
had promised that, with her mothers consent.
she would become Dicks wife, When they
reached the city the young lady found a car
riage in waiting for her, and Dick. having de-
termined not to enter his fathers house, for the
present at least, went direct to an obscure
hotel
The next day he mounted the steps of the
Madison avenue mansion and rang the bell A
servant ushered him into the parlOr and shortly
afterward entered Miss Kentridge.
When they had greeted each other after the
usual manner of lovers. Julia said:
IF you will excuse me for moment Rich
ard. will go and inform my mother that you
have Gomez
Dick was seated under a window, looking out.
and did not notice her return till she said:
''Mr. Halliday, allow me TO-"
Dick had turned at the sound of her voice.
ready to appear at his best, but he staggered
back fairly thunderstruck. for there behind him
stood the late widOw-his fathers wife,
II really" he gasped, 'I-that is, 1 did