The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-10-18
MR. PUDsTER'S RETURN.
CHAPTER |.

s street, Bloomsbury Solomon entering upon the worlds stage al an early hour En the morning, at No. 6 and Gideos 1rst seeing the light aoout midday at No. g6 \, tue age Of ten the boys were sent xo Westminster school: al the age of seventeen they became fellow clerks in the great Wes, india warehouse O. Ruggleton, Malta < Co.,; ar the age of sour-and twenty they went iaio parner- ship as sugar merchants n Mincias Lane. At that period they were oache- Tors; and being already sinterely ai- tached one 10 the other; they decided 10 I've together in pleasant lIttle house ln the then fashionable neighborhood of Trrroy Sc iare For they were almos, znseparabie. Day arer cay they break sasted and dined together al nome, and worked and lunched together in the city and but for the fact that the firm pur- chased large sugar estate in DemerarA Solomoa pd1ster and Gideon Magsieas would probably never have been pared for more than a few hours al time until death decreed dissolution Of theif partnership The sugar estate, unfor- 1unately, required great deal Of looking 1fter and at regular intervals of two years one ot the partners was obliged h cross the Atlantic and to remain absent from his friend for i've or SIX months Solomon ana O.neon alternately took >nese troublesome expeditions, and braved the heat and mosqutoes of the tropics : and metn;in. the firm ot P1dster & Maggieoy prospered exceedingly; ana no shadow oi cloud came between the devoted friends-,he former of whom, on account of his being a few hours the older, was declared senior partner in the tirm.
 But in the year 1865 an important even, happened. Mir. pudsier and MT. Maggie by ran down by train one evening to see the fireworks at the Crystal Palace and on their return Jsr.ney they found them- selves h a compartment the only other occupant of which was a remarkably buxom and cheery-lookine widow of about forty years of age The two gentle men, with their accustomed gallantry, entered into conversation with her. They discovered that she and they had several friends in common, and that she was in fact, certain Mrs. Bnnier, whose many domestic virtues and abounding good. nature had often been spoken of in their hearing. They were charmed with her they begged, as fl with one accord, to be permitted to ill upon her at her house m Chelsea; and when, after putting her into cab al Victoria station, they started oa to walk home, they simultaneously exclaimed with enthusiasm: "What splendid womao.''
 An, Gideon v elacula,cd MT. Pudster sentimen,aiiy. few moments later.
 An, Solomon :" responded Mir. Maggleby with equal passion.
 !" If only we had such an angel al home to welcome us. continued the senior partner.
 dst what was thinking" assented MT. Maggieby, who thereupon looked up at the moon and sighed profoundly.
 .' No other woman ever affected us in this way, Gideon" said MT, Pudster; ~ and here we are at fifty"
 {. Fifty last May, Solomon"
 Well, we ought to know better Y ex- claimed Mir. Puds,er with warmth.
 50 we ought, Solomon"
 But upon my word and honor, Gideon Mrs. Bas:er's magnificent specimen of her sex"
 She is, Solomon and don't think we can conscient'ously deny that we are in love with her.
 We are" said Mir Pudster with much humility.
 Having thus ingenuously confessed their passion, the two gentlemen walked on in silence and it was not until they were near home that they az ain spoke.
 suppose that it will be necessary as a matter of formal business, suggested Mir. Pucster diffiden,ly, flor us to call upon Mrs. Bun,er and apprise her of the state ,,f our feelings. We mean. of course to follow the matter up!'
 osrtainly, certainly agreed Mir Maggleby; we mean to follow the matter up"
 Pxhaps the firm had better write to her and prepare her mind," pr. posed the senior partner, with kindly forethought.
 The firm had better write tomorrow. Solomon: but, Solomon, il occurs to me that the firm cannot marry Mrs. Bun,er You or must be the happy man and then, Solomon. we sh .ll have te separate.'
 Never. v ejaoula,ed Mr Padsier, who stopped and seized his friend by the hand" never! You shall marry Mrs Bun,er, and we shall all live toge,herh.'
 Solomon, this magnanimity mur- Jmured Mir. Maggieby, who had tears in his eyes. No; wiil not accept such a sacrifice. You. as the senior partner shall marry Mrs. Bunter; and with her permission. will stay with you. The fsrm shall write to prepare her mind. Business IS business. The firm shall write tonight and myself will take the letter to the post"
 Halt an hour later MT. Magpleby handed to Mir. Pudster letter, ot which the following is copy:
 IT NiSciSc LANE. CIIY, August !. Is6s. To Ays. Feydfsssd BHniey, .Mssagsr Fila.
 EA<issa.
 MADAM Oar Mir. Pudster will do him -seifthe honor of calling upon you tc- morroH between tselve and one in order 10 lay be- fere you project which is very intimately connected with the comfort and weil-being of the undersigned. We beg you, therefore
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