The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-10-14
MY PARTNER.

"Mrs. Stearn will allow her share Of
the property to continue in the business.
and would be pleased to have you cal" i"
This was one paragraph in a letter re-
ceived from the lawyer who was wind
ing up the estate Of the late Hiram Stearn
my deceased partner, and may also add
my warm friend for many years.
There had been q slight coolness be-
tween us for some two years before his
death, arising from the fact that felt
slighted and injured at the time Of his
marriage.
Not by his marriage-that was liter
ally and positively none of my business
but by the fact that was never invit-
ed to meet Mrs Stearn, and never again
admitted 10 the house upon the old
friendly terms. When / called was
formally received in the library, and
finding was put upon footing ofmer0
acqusintanceship, ceased my visits.
Nobody knew anything about Mrs.
Stearn, save that her maiden name was
Jones and she had lived in Stsunton, a
village near the wooden mills owned by
the firm of Stearn & Holloway.
may as well mention here that the
late Hiram Stearn was q man past seven
ty when he died, and l was just entering
nay thirtieth year. At twenty-one be-
came possessor of email patrimony, and
Mr.. Stearn having been an old friend Of
my fathers took me from a clerkship
under him into partnership. All own
ed was invested in the firm, but knew
If Mrs. Stearn took out her husbands
portion, my share was not sufficient to
carry on the bushes upon the old foot
ing.
So my relief was great upon reading
the letter from Mr.. Garland, our lawyer
A time was appointed, and punctually
stood upon the steps Of the house from
which, one month before, Hiram Stearn
had been carried to the last resting place.
Mr.. Garland had explained to me that
the widow would trust toIme the manage
ment of the business, but that the will of
Mr.. Stearn gave Mr.. Garland himself
right of general supervision of the Wild
ow's affairs.
This was perfectly satisfactory, but it
seemed advisable for me to see Mrs.
Stearn, and therefore 1 waited her ap-
pearance in a handsome parlor, newly
furnished since had last seen it, but
decorously darkened.
imagined to myself tall, determin-
ed, strong minded woman, who would
thrust herself into all the affairs of the
firm, and hesitated even then at the idea
of a female partner, wondering if it
would not be advisable, even at pecu-
mary loss, to wind up the business and
start once more upon a smaller scale.
While 1 pondered upon this heard
low, sweet voice say:
"Mr. Halloway?" and turned quickly
to face Mrs. Stearn.
Can describe her calmly, as think
Of her now? / will try.
She was very small, with face purely
oval, delicately featured, and having a
sensitive, beautiful mouth. Her eyes
were large, soft brown, matching wav-
ing chestnut hair, and her brow was low
and broad. "A creamy complexion that
was e1quisitely fair without tinge of
color, finished this poor catalogue of her
charms
But no words Of mine can describe the
atmosphere of purity, sweetness and
gentleness that surrounded Mable Stearn.
She was just nineteen when left the wild
ow of man of seventy three
must have shown my confusion and
surprise, for she said:
81 am Mrs. Stearn. viii you not be
seated? Mr.. Garland has probably eK-
planned to you my husbands wishes ?"
"He has" said, thinking more of the
exquisite beauty of the little hand rest
ing upon the heavy Grape of her dress,
than of her words.
You will find me inexperienced" she
said, gently; "but | have heard Mr..
Stearn talk great deal about his plans
and prospects, and think l understand
something of the business. Mr.. Gar
land tells me-
And then she spoke clearly and intelli-
gently of a heavy purchase of raw wool
that was waiting her decision about the
partnership.
Iexplsined in detail, making perfect
ly clear my own comparatively small
share Of the capital of the firm; and she
said:
"Mr. Stearn told me this. 1t is because
of his affection for you, and interest in
your welfare, that be wished me to con-
tinue the business"
But insensibly our conversation glided
from commercial matters into other
channels, and / was delighted at the
mixture Of simplicity and intelligence
my new partner manifested. Clearly
she was we'll educated with knowledge
ofbooks beyond her years, but also must
have lived like recluse, even in the city
She spoke of Mr.. Stearn as being dead
but without violent emotion.
Again and again made business my
excuse for calling, and prolonged my
visits to the utmost limit Of propriety
and each time felt more and more the
glow of pride and pleasure at the thought
that business intercourse must call me
frequently into the presence of Mable
Stearn. It was inevitable that We should
become confidential upon money matters
and soon personal ones were included in
the confidence
In one of our talks, Mabel said to me
=