The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-10-06

penny InaI you may announce your en-
gagement within week. Then you'll
be hand in glove with lot of us fellows
In a business way as well as socially,
and we want you've really do"
Builder" said John Brixton, rising
from his chair, you've got heart as
big as an OK, and I'm heartily obliged to
you for your interest in me. You must
give me time to think of it, though"
"Time to -r' calculated the presi-
dent, firing his cigar butt at the cuspi-
dor with such energy that he overshot
the mark and elected howl of anguish
from the banks cat as she mistook the
missive for a mouse when she opened
her eyes from a peaceful slumber.
"There're some things that fellow can't
afford to think about. Do you stop to
think when trout rises to your fy2
Come along to lunch and make up your
mind on the way"
But John Brixton wasn't able to give
q decisive answer over the coffee and
cigars. A million dollars in good secur-
titles seemed well worth the taking b.
man who had worked industriously
10 or go years only to reach SALARY
$4,000 or $4,000, and an appreciativeN
thrown in seemed like SO much ext.
luck, for Johns mother and sister had
for years warned him that wives who
hold good husbands in proper regard are
as scarce as model husbands.
On the other hand, old Ben Fewse's
daughter, who looked as much like her
father as woman could look like a
man, would be strange companion for
a man who, in spite of much attention
to material things in the way of bust
ness, had inherited many fine tastes and
sentiments which he had kept in good,
disable condition. Whoever he might
marry ought to be fairly companionable
to his mother and sister-two women
whom he could not imagine enjoying
Miss Fewse's society.
But while John Brixton went on think
ing and wondering and compromising
and rejecting his own compromises old
Builder took the case in hand as earnest
ly as if it were a promising investment
for his own bank. He was too good
business man to exceed his authority,
but he and his wife took Miss Fewse out
driving the very afternoon that he had
made his suggestion to Brixton, and they
took her home to dinner with them, and
the old man made opportunity to sound
the praise of John Brixton and to tell
what fine women Johns mother and sis
ter were. So before the evening was
over Miss Fewse was conscious of
mighty wish that some man like John
Brixton would ask her to change her
name and share her life and fortune
with her.
Brixton I'D been at his Office only half
an hour the next morning when one Of
the clerks shouted:
"Some one on the telephone for you,
sir"
"Who is it," John asked, raising his
eyes from Ietter he was reading.
'Forty-seventh National bapk-Presi-
dent Budder," the clerk replied.
"Wait a moment" said Brixton, drop
ping the lett T. seizing his hat and start
ing for the door. Pm out-you don't
know when I'll be in"
One of Il firm who had overheard
the conversation asked his partner
whether he supposed Brixton had been
specializing in Wall street and got more
accommodation from the Forty seven n
National than his collaterals would war
rant, and the partner replied that it
might not be bad thing to keep Brixt,,n
out of temptation by sending him to
South America to look after a railway
contract which they had been trying to
secure through correspondents.
AS for Brixton, he went straight home
md prowled about the house until he
found his sister.
"Ettie," said he, "you and l have al
ways been confidential friends, although
we're brother and sister want to ask
you an unusual question, and l W,
you to answer it without joking or rails.
ing your eyebrows or any other teas
ing. Suppose | should suddenly deter
mine that | wanted to marry. Whom
would you best like for sister,"
The young woman did not start or
laugh or do anything expressive of as
constituent, out answered promptly:
"Ive long for years to see you and
Agnes Ham ice make a match. You're
made for ca, other"
"'Longed for years, ell? Never changed
your mind?"
"Never. Isn't she my dearest friendP
1sI-T sng as gOou anu sweet ana HAND
some as-as she is poor?"
"What does mother think Of her"
Gust what think and whatevery one
must who knows her. The dear girl
would have been snapped up long ago if
she hadn't been too poor to appear prop
erly in the society for which she's best
fitted. AS it is, scarcely any young men
know her except those who are not fit to
tie her shoes"
what do you suppose she thinks of
mel"
"Well, ON general principles she can't
help liking you. For the rest, unless she
forgets everything 1 say to her, she must
think you're the one snpremely perfect
man on the face of the earth"
"H'ml What wonderful things you
must have said of me-behind my back.
Do you suppose you could arrange for
us-she, you and Ito take drive this
afternoon"
eyes, butt
Exactly. Then find some excuse aft