Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-01-04
LOVE AND BUSINESS.

In the cosy little private office APP
pertaining to their business boHse sat
Halliday and son. Halliday was a
bluff, heavy old fellow OF 30 or there
abouts, with a pair Of keen, bright
eyes, which twinkled necessarily, and
was seated in his chair with heels upon
his desk. Son was a young man Of 20,
TALL dark, and handsome, clad In a
suit of navy blue flannel, and was
seated on corner of the desk looking
down upon his father.
"Who is the object of your Aide
vouring passion, Ell, Dick, my boy?'
the old gentleman asked. Some chit
of school girl?'
"Her name is Wilkin," replied the
Young man. "She is a widow
| double widow, l will say-for she had
been married twice, and is-come,
don't let your chin drop to such an
alarming extent, fol outside of all she
is worth $4,000, although that, in my
case, is feathers weight in the scales.
She is actually &C. but looks ten years
younger, and is as pretty AZ picture,
| She has one child, daughter, who Is
at school in Paris, but as she is beir-
ess to q cool 100000, she is not an in
cumbrance by any means"
"Dick Halliday, you're fooll' ex-
claimed the old gentleman. The wo-
man is almost old enough to be your
mother"
"Not quite as bad as that"
Il say sir, she's almost old enough
TO be your mother Have you COM
mitted yourself-has she ensnared
your"
Don't you remember your old
agreement, father, that when l thought
of marrying ] would consult with you
before taking the step? | will there
fore introduce you to Mrs. Wilkins, let
you study her character, and then
abide by your decision; for l have no
doubt az to what it will be-"
"Ah!" said the old gentleman, chats
better. That's decidedly better. You
may introduce me Dick, and I promise
you my un6iasing opinion of the be-
witching creature"
Gan right. When will you goI"
"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.
swell, suppose we will have to send
a man to look after it,"
"Send' cried the old man, chat
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 rs bad as our foreign. Now,
Dick, III tell you what I'll do. If you
will go to London and straighten things
up, I'll give YOU my answer concern
ing your fame 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?'
If you desire it, father, I'll go, GER
tainly."
"Then that's settled. Where are
you off to now"
II was going up to the Astcr but I'll
wait till evening, and then you can ac-
company me-
can right, Dick, all right; only don't
commit yourself Beware of widows,
you know"
That evening Halliday and son re-
paired to the Astor house and were
conducted to one of the private
parlors. In a few minutes Mrs.
wilkins entered, aud it was plain to be
seen that the old gentleman was
amazed. He did not wonder at his
sons infatuation, and alterward, ac-
kn0wledged her to be the most beauti-
full woman he had ever seen. When
at length they took their departure
after spending a 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 destination safe and sound.
He fund the business in terrible
state and had his hands and mind fully
occupied, and week slipped by One
morning he received a letter from his
father, portion Of which ran as fol
lows:
concerning the widow, | am well
pleased at your choice. She is good
woman-as good as beautiful. trihe
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 eXtraordi-
nary good judgment in such d matter.
The more | see tie lady the better /
am pleased. She is a most excellent
lady in every respect. A trifle too old
for you is my only objection"
"Good !" said Dick to himself ~
guess ! viii stay a 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 over
come. Not that care a straw for his
opinion one way or the other, but
peace is preferable to war at any
time"
And taking R picture OF the widow
from his pocket, he embraced it most
aAectionately.
So Dick remained another week, and
did London thoroughly. On the day
before he was to have sailed for home
he received another letter from his