The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-02-10
LOYE AND BUSINESS.

day and son. Halliday was bluff, heavy
old fellow of 80 or thereabouts, with q
pair of keen. bright eyes, which twinkled
necessarily, and was seated In his chair
with heels upon his desk. Son was q
young man of IS, tall, dark, and hand
some, 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 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. ssShe Is widow double
widow will say for she has been married
twice, and isl 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 feathers weight in
the scales. She is actually 36, but looks
: tea years younger, and is as pretty as a
picture. She has one child, daughter,
who is ct school at Paris, but as she is
heiress to . cool 800, 900, she is not an
incumbrRnce by any means.
''Dick Halliday, you're fooll' ex-
claimed the old gentleman. "The wo-.
man is almost old enough to be your
mother"
'sNot quite as bad as that
s'I say sir she's almost old enough to
be your mother! Have you committed
yourself-has she has ensnared your"
'Dont you remember our old agree
ment, father, that when I thought of
marrying would consult with you be-
fore taking the step? will therefore in
troduce 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"
"Ahl" said the old gentleman, ''that's
better. That's decidedly better. You
may introduce me, Dick, and promise
you my unbiasing opinion of the be-
witching creature"
''All right When will you go?"
Tonight, to-morrow, any time you
please; but see here, Dick, to change the
subject, now about this London business?
It's going to ruin"
well, suppose we will have to send
man to look after it,
''Sendl" cried the old man, s'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 Ell do. IF you will go
to London and straighten things up, I'll
give you my answer concerning 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?"
eff you desire it, father, I'll go, cer-
tainly."
Then that's settled. Where are you
off to now?"
ST was going to the Astor, but LII wait
until 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 Astor 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 gem
tleman was amazed. He did not wonder
st his sons infatuation, and afterward
acknowledged her to be the most beauti-
ful woman he had ever seen. 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 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 a
good woman-as good as beautiful. A
tri6e too old for you is my only objec-
tion."
Another week went by and another let
ter came, in which, speaking of the widow
the old man said:
ST am astonished at your extraordinary
good Judgment in such matter. The
more see the lady the better I am
pleased. She is most excellent lady in
every respect. A trifie too old for. you is
my only objection"
''Goodp' said Dick to himself. 81 guess
will stay week on my own account,
now that the business is cleared up, and
to be we'll pleased, and guess by the
time get home his only objection will
have been overcome. Not that care
straw for lis opinion one way or the
the other, but peace is preferable to war
at any time"
And taking picture of the widow
from his pocket, he embraced it most af-
fectioDately.
So Dick remained another week, and
did London thoroughly. On the day be-
fore be was to have sailed for home he
received another letter from his father.
saying:
MY Dear Boy never was more
pleased with woman in all my life. She
is an angel. don't wonder at your low
ing her. She is pure, honest, everything
yOu imagine her to be, but she can never
marry you. It is impossible, I don't like
to be severe; but it can never be-. The
truth is, Dick, she has become my wife.
Don't be fool now, but come home
ct once. IA trife too old was my only
objection.
Your affectionate father,
RICHARD HALLIDAY"
To say that Dick was enraged would
but family describe his feelings; he fairly
boiled. He wrote Immediately to his
father, telling him:
s'In the future your foreign business
m.y go to the d-l, and your home IN.
q rests, too.
Then, after drawing good sum OF
N ,ney, he started for the continent.
For two years he wandered from place