The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-02-16
HALLIDAY AND SON.

bluff, heavy old fellow of fifty or
Whereabouts, with apair of keen, bright
eyes, which twinkled necessarily, and
was seated in his chair with heels upon
his desk. Son was a young man of
twenty-five, tall, dark and handsome,
clad in suit of navy blue flannel. and
was seated on a corner of the desk look
ing down upon his father.
"Who is the object Of your Aide
vouring passion, eh, Dick, my boyP"
The old gentleman asked. "Some chit
of school grip"
"Her name is Wilkins" replied the
young man. "She is widow-a
double widow, 1 will say-for she had
been married twice, and is-come don't
let your chin drop to such an alarming
extent, for outside of all she is worth
$4,000, although that, in my case, is a
feathers weight in the scales. She is
actually thirty-six but looks ten years
younger, and is pretty as a picture.
She has one child, daughter who is at
school in Paris, but as she is heiress to
a cool 100000, she is not an incum-
brance by any means"
"Dick Halliday, you're foolr' ex-
claimed 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 COM
mitted yourself-has she ensnared
youP'
Don't you remember the old agree
ment, father, that when thought OF
marrying would consult with you
before taking the step? l will there
fore introduce you to Mrs. wilkins, let
you study her character, and then
abide by your decision; for L have nc
doubt as to what it will be-
"Ahr' said the Old gentleman, that's
better. That's decidedly better. You
may introduce me, Dick, and 1 viii
promise you my unbasing opinion OF
the bewitching creature"
Cali right. When will you go!'
"To-night, tomorrow, any time you
please; but see here, Dick, to change
the subject, how about this LondoI
business? It's going to ruin
well suppose we will have t.
send man to look after it."
"Send y cried the old man, "tha
won't do at all; one or the other of III
must go. We've trusted entirely too
much of late. and home interests ar,
almost as bad as our foreign. Now
Dick. I'll tell you what I'll do. If you
Will go to London and straighten thing
up, I'll give you my answer concerning
your flame the moment you return
I've been over so often that the yer,
thought of going makes me sick
Come, what do you say, Dick?"
IF you desire it, father, I'll go, ceI
tainly."
"Then that's settled. Where are yor
off to now?"
81 was going up to the Aston, but II
wait until evening, and then you ca
accompany me-"
Cali right, Dick, all right; only don
commit yourself. Beware of widows
you know"
That evening Halliday and son r,
paired to the Astor House and wer
conducted to one of the private parlor
In few minutes Mrs. Wilkins entere,
and it was plain to be seen that the oil
gentleman was amazed. He did NJ
wonder at his sons infatuation, an
afterward acknowledged her to be I'll
most beautiful woman he had ev,
seeen. When at length they took the
departure after spending delight,
evening, the son said
"What DO you say, fathery
"Give me time, my boy. give Ii
time," was the reply.
The next day at o'clock Dick start,
for London. The weather was fa
the passage a prosperous one, and
reached his destination safe and SCUM
He found the business in terrih
state and had his hands and mind full
occupied, and week slipped by. o.
morning he received IA letter from h
father. IL portion of which ran as f'
lows:
concerning the widow, | am w
pleased with your choice She is
good woman-as good us beautiful.
trifle too old for you is my only obj,
ton"
Another week went by and anoth