The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-02-22
LOVE- AND BUSINESS.

uay and son. Halliday was bluff, heavy
old fellow of so or thereabouts, with {
pair OF keen. bright eyes, which twinkle6
necessarily, and was seated in his chail
with heels upon his desk Son was 6
young man of %, tall, dark, and hand
SOME. clad in suit of navy blue flannel
AID was seated on corner of the desk
looking down upon his father.
WHO is the object Of your all devour
ing passion, Ell, Dick, my boy?' the old
gentleman asked, Some chit of a school
grip"
''Her name is Wilkins" replied the
young man. "She Is widow-a double
widow Twill say for she has been married
twice, and is-come don't let your chin
drop to such an alarming extent. for out.
side of all she is worth $50 900, although
that, in my case, is a 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, daughter,
who is Mt school at Paris, but as she is
heiress to a cool 500, 900, she is not an
incumbrance by any means
Dick Halliday, yon're foolr' ex-
claimed the old gentleman. 1.-The wo.
man is almost old enough to be your
mother"
mot quite as bad as that"
Il say sir she's almost old enough to
be your mother! Have you committed
yourself-has she has ensnared you?"
Don't you remember our old agree
ment, father, that when I thought of
marrying would consult with you be-
fore taking the step? l will therefore in
troduce you to Mrs. Wilkins, let you
study her character, and then abide BY
6our decision; for have no doubt as 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 unbiasing opinion of the be-
witching creature"
''All right. When will you go?"
'To. night, to morrow, 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're trusted entirely too
much of late, and home interests are al
most as bad as our foreign. Now, Dick,
I'll tell you what I'll do. If you will go
to London and straighten things up, I'll
give yon my answer concerning your
fame the moment you return. I've
been over 80 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?"
81 was going to the Aston, but I'll wait
<unti evening and then you can accom-
pany me-"
"All right, Dick, all right; only don't
commit yourself. Beware of widows.
you know"
That evening Halliday and son re-
paired to the Aston house and were con-
Quoted to one of the private parlors. In
few minutes Mrs. wilkins entered, and
it was plain to be seen that the old gen.
tleman was amazed. He did not wonder
at his sons infatuation, and afterward
acknowledged 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 fail, the pas
sage prosperous one, and he reached
his destination safe and sound. he
found the business in terrible state,
and had his hands and mind fully occu-
pied and week slipped by. One morn
ing he received letter from his father, "a
portion of which ran as follows:
Concerning the widow, am we'll
pleased with your choice. She is
Good woman-as good as beautiful. A
trife too old for you is my only ob]ec-
: tion."
; Another week went by and another let
ter came, in which, speaking OF the widow
the old man said:
Il am astonished at your extraordinary
good Judgment in such a matter. lhe
more l see the lady the better l am
pleased She is most excellent lady In
every respect. A tritls too old for,you Is
my only objection"
GOOD r. said Dick to himself. Il guess
l 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 l get home his only objection will
have been overcome. Not that l care 9
straw for lis opinion one way or the
the other, but peace is preferable to wal
at any time"
And taking n picture OF the widow
from his pocket, he embraced it most at
deliberately.