The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-12-27

might be done outside of business hours; SO
he spent many evenings and occasional days
in endeavoring to forward the interests of his
employer, and of the Improvement company,
in which Mr. Tramiay was as largely inter
ested as himself.
He had more than business to absorb his
thoughts, for his stock Of knowledge regarding
human nature was at first entirely inadequate
to the demands made upon It, At Haynton it
was safe rule that man whose appearance
and manner were those of a gentleman could
be safely regarded as at least, an honest
man; in New York he found this assumption
caused some of his plans to be utterly shat
tered by Tramlay's more experienced hand.
The railroad men who wanted iron, to be
paid for partly by stock in their roads, he
learned to distrust If they were habitually
well dressed and wore kid gloves when visit
ing Tramlay's office, but he occasionally saw
his employer neglect an appointment, even
with his family, and devote his entire time to
some insignificant, badly dressed little fellow,
and even to an occasional awkward man who
seemed, as he really was, the farmer secre-
tary and treasurer of a lot Of fellow farmers
who had planned short road for their own
benefit. The amount of cash that such man
could pay was seldom large, but not so the
received ito boot"
A pleasing relief from the work of his two
offices was Pills occasional evenings at Tram
lays home, which he had been so heartily
urged to regard as his own that he no longer
waited for special invitations In spite of his
pressing duties he had devoted himself to
being mice" as Lucia had termed the con-
dition which made the family avail them
selves of the services of Mr. Tramlay clerks.
He improved upon his instructions so far as
always TO have in his pockets enough postage
stamps for the girls letters, and to see that
boxes of candies from 1.-The place somewhere
down town. reached the house without first
lying neglected for day or two upon his
employers desk When Margie and Lucia
were returning from short visit out of
town he was at station, wharf or ferry to
meet them, regardless of what railway mag
nate from out of town might be already ac-
cessible at hotel, and the pang of hurrying
away afterward was always sweetened by
the gentle protests that no subsequent con-
versation could Danish from his ear.
And yet, as he informed himself in occa-
sional moments of leisure, the interest that
lay closest to his heart was not being adj
vanced visibly. Lucia seemed always glad
to meet him, always sorry to part with him;
but was she not so to all mere acquaintance
whose society was not unpleasingl She never
made an excuse to cut short his conversation,
no matter if he talked on subjects of which
she evidently was ignorant; but had he not
always been accustomed to patient listenerst
She sometimes asked questions shat seemed
beyond her taste, as tho subjects certainly
were beyond her ken; but might not ordi-
nary human desire for knowledge prompt
any girl to do the samei
Sometimes he would bitterly inform him
self that of his hosts two daughters any
listener might imagine Marge, instead of her
sister, the object of his affection. Margie
whose feelings and manner and enthusiasm
lacked the restraint which year or two of
society will IMPOSE on an observing maiden,
was as artless and ELUSIVE and affectionate as
if Phil were an ideal older brother, if not
lover. OF course Margie was not in love with
him; for was she not continually sounding
Lucias praises2 To her the world seemed to
live and move and have its being solely for
Lucia. Phil had never before seen such af
lection between sisters and 1t seemed all the
more wonderful as he recalled some frequent
passages of words in which the two girls had
INDUCED at Hayn Farm not half year be-
FORE Margie seemed TO have adopted him as
a big brother, and it was quite delightful, as
well rs a new sensation, he having no sisters
Of his own but he did wish that the same
spirit-not exactly the same, either-might
be manifested by Lucia.
Another disquieting thought came from
the frequency with which Marge visited the
Tramlay abode. He had heard almost too
much of MTge before he ever saw him, but
now he sawfar more. 1t seemed that Phil
never could visit the Tramlays without either
finding Marge already there, or having him
come in just as pleasant tete-a-tete with
Lucia was fairly under way. That Marge
did not approve of the cordiality with which
Phil was received was quite evident, in spite
of his impassive demeancr, and Phil felt none
the easier that Marge showed him many
courtesies, and introduced him quite freely
among his club acquaintance. Marge ex-
r,laipo1 that ,,,opu Of thaca osntlan,af, hod