The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-01-27
Love and Business.

Love and Business.
In the cosy little private Office con-
nected to their business house sat Halll-
day and son. Halliday was bluff. heavy
old fellow of fifty or thereabouts, with a
prirsof keen, bright eyes, which twinkled
necessarily, and was seated in his chair
with his heels upon his desk. The son
was q young man of twenty-five, tall,
dark and handsome, clad in a snit of
navy blue flannel, and was seated on
corner of the desk looking down apon
bis father.
"Who is the object of your all-devour-
ing passion, eh, Dick, my boy'' the old
gentleman asked. Some chit of school
girl?"
"Her name is wilkins replied the
young man. "She is widow-a double
widow,I will say for she has been married
twice, and is-come, don't letyour chin
drop to such an alarming extent, for out
side of all she is worth $50, 900, although
that. in my case, is feathers weight in
the scales. She is actually thirty-six, but
looks ten years younger, and is MS pretty
as picture. She has one child, q
daughter, who is at school in Paris, but
she is heiress to cool 100000, she is
not an incumberance by any means"
Dick Halliday, you're foolT' ex-
claimed the old gentleman. "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 ensnared you?"
"Don't You remember your old agree
ment, father, that when I thought OF
marrying 1 would consult with you oe-
fore taking the step2 1 will therefore IN
troduce yon 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!" satd the old gentlemae, 'that's
better. You may introduce me, Dick,
and promise you my unbiased opinion,
of the bewitchipg creature.
"All right. When will you go?"
Tonight, tomorrow, any time you
please; but see here, Dick, to change the
subject, how about this London bust
ness? It's going to ruin"
"WeIl suppose we will have to sene
a man to look after it."
"Sendr cried the old man. "Tha
won't do at all; one or the other of III
must go. We've trusted entirely to-
much of late, and our home interests ar
almost as bad as our foreign. Now
Dick, I'll tell you what I'll do, II yol
will go to London and straighten thing
up, I'll give You my answer concernin
your flame the moment you return. Nv
been over SO often that the very though
of going makes Inc sick Come, what d
you say. Dick?"
"If you desire it, father, I'll go, Gel
taInly."
Then that's settled. Where are yo
off to now?'
II was going mp to til" Astor. bnt T.
5 wait until evening, aud then You eau az
company me-"
"All right, Dick, al right; Only don
commit yourself. Boware of widows 30
know
That evening Halliday and son rep1ii
= ed to the As,or House and were COZ
Quoted to one OF the private Tarlors. l
few MINUTES Mrs. wilkins entered, an
it was plain to be seen that the old ger
tloman was amazed. H. did not wondt
at bis sons infstultion and afterward az
knowledged her to lie the most beautifU
WON IN he had ever seen. When {
length they took their departure, aftt
spending II delightful evening, the SO
. said:
what do you say, father?'
Give me time, my boy, give me time,
was the reply.
!, The next day but one Dick started fc
) london. The weather was fair, the pa
. sage n prosperous one, and be reOche
' his destination safe and sound. He foun
4 tho business in terrible state and ha
his hands aud mind fully occupied, an
!; a week slipped by. Oae morning he n
ceived letter from his father, a porto
}, Of which ran as follows:
20 Concerning the widow. 1 am We
# pleased with your choice, She is a goo
womln-as good as beautiful. A trif
too old for you is my only Objection
Another week went by, and anotht
/. letter came, in which, speaking OF Il
o widow, the old man said:
81 am astonished at your extraodinal
e good judgment in such matter. tt
more 1 see the lady the better l a
=. pleased. She is a most excellent lady
-, every respect. A trias too old for you
a my only objection"
"GoodF said Dick to himself
n, guess l will stay week on my own a
IS count, now that the business is clear
up, aud do London. The old gentlemi