The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-01-12
Miscellallen1ts.
Love and Business.

son. Halliday was bluff, heavy old fellow
of so or thereabouts, with q pair of keen
bright eyes, which twinkled necessarily, ant
was seated in his chair with heels upon hi
desk. Son was young man of2 %, tall, dark
and handsome, clad in suit of navy blu,
flannel, and was seated on a corner of the
desk looking down upon his father.
"Who is the object of your all-devourESc
passion, ell, Dick, my boy?" the old gentle
man asked. "Some chit of a school girl ?"
"Her name is Wilkins" replied the young
man. "She is widow-a double widow,
will say-for she has been married twice. and
is-come don't let your chin drop to such al
alarming extent, for outside ofall she is worth
$4,000, although that, in my case, is q
feathers weight in the scales. She is actually
So, but looks ten years younger, and is as
pretty as a picture. She has one child, q
daughter, who is at school in Paris, but as
she is heiress to cool 100000, she is not
an incumbrance by any means"
"Dck Halliday, you're q fool p exclaimed
the old gentleman. "The woman is almost
old enough to be your mother"
"Not quite as bad as that"
81 say sir, she's almost old enough to be
your mother Have you committed yourself
has she ensnared your
Don't you remember our old agreement,
father, that when l thought of marrying |
would consult with you before taking the
step l will therefore introduce you to Mrs.
| Wilkins, let you study her character, and
then abide by your decision, for | have no
doubt as to what it will be-"
| "Ah p said the old gentleman, chats bet
ter. That's decidedly better You may in
troduce me, Dick and promise you my I'M
biased opinion of the bewitching creature"
All right. When will you gow
ITO night, tomorrow, any timeyou 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
interests are almost as bad as our foreign
Now, Dick, I'll tell yok. what I'll do. Ifyou
will go to London and straighten things up,
I'll give you my answer concerning your
flame the moment you return I've been
over so often that the very thought of going
makes me sick. Come, what do you say,
Dick p
"If you desire it, father, I'll go, certainly"
"Thtn that's settled. Where are you off
to now!"
II was going up to the Astor, but I'll wait
until evening, and then you can accompany
me-"
Gall right, Dick, all right only don't COM
NIT yourself. Beware of widows, you know"
That evening Halliday and son repaired
to the Astor house and were conducted to
one of the private parlors In 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
and afterwards acknowledged her to be the
most beautiful woman he had ever SEEM
When at length they took their departure
after spending delightful evening, The son
said:
"What do you say, father?"
"Give me time, my boy, give me time" was
the reply.
The next day but one Dick started for
London. The weather was fair, the passage
prosperous one, and he reached his destina
ton safe and sound. He found the business
in terrible state and had his hands and mind
fully occupied and a week slipped by One
morning he received letter from his father,
portion of which ran as follows:
Concerning the widow, am well pleased
with your choice. She is good woman--as
good as beautiful. A tritle too old for you is
my 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
indgment in such matter. The more |
see Tic lady SIC 'ar ON pleased. She is
most eAt Hap a#g a every respect l.
trine too ,'1 far WON is INV. r,nlV 1fiartF.r.