Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-09-25

H0 tive, 50 he had nc
quaintnnces who were the envy of every
one that knew him. Although he was
only n salesman on salary-quite IL
good salary, it must be said-for p
large firm of iron manufacturers, he
was frequently accosted familiarly by
bank Presidents and other business
magnates, and could slap any of these
gentlemen on the shoulder without
giving oaense. As he was bachelor,
and old enough to have outgrown the
habit of lounging through successive
evenings in houses where there were
pretty daughters, he was available for
dinner parties given by men who knew
no better way OF spending an evening.
Everybody among his acquaintance
wished him well, and wished they
could do something for him, but they
respected him all the more because he
never tried to borrow money nor asked
for any other fayors.
1t seemed one day to old Budder,
President of the Forty Ma
tional Bank and hearty admirer of
Brixton, that he was just tho man to
throw fortune i'll Brixton's way. The
plan came to Budder's mind suddenly,
but sudden inspirations and quick ac-
ton thereon are part of the daily life
of the most stolid OF Presidents of big
banks, Brixton had promised to lunch
with the bank magnate at midday, and
he appeared at the bank just in time to
see the old man bowing out o lady
with more courtesy and ceremony than
he imagined Budder capable of.
As the old man caught sight of
Brixton he exclaimed:
"One moment, Miss Fewse. Allow
me to introduce you to my dear old
friend, Mr. John Brixton. Mr.. Brix-
ton, Miss Fewse, daughter of old Ben
Fewse, whom every one has heard of. ="
Brixton bowed, and looked curious
ly at the lady. He had seen her
father occasionally, before increasing
years and doctors had sent Mr.. Fewse
to his final home, aud his eyes
searched the daughters's face for indi-
cations of her fathers distinguishing
traits. He found them too, although
the interview was short Miss Fewse
was richly yet simply dressed; her
figure, like her fathers, was dumpy,
and her face, though not rude, was as
broad and heavy, and her forehead
was as low as that of old Ben himself.
Still, her manner was womanly, and
as she finally took her departure
BriXton, who had dear old mother,
as we'll as sister whom he regarded
as the best young woman alive, sor-
rowed to himself that man as rich as
old Ben Fewse could not have mar
ried some one whose blood could
have atoned for the rudeness of his
| own.
"Well, John, said the President,
after handing Miss Fewse into her
carriage, ''you owe me one. Any one
of thousand good fellows in New
York would give ten years of his life
for such an introduction to Miss Fewse
as gave you just now. Go right
ahead, now, and make use of it,"
You're always doing the friendly
thing, Budder, replied Brixton, sink
ing into an easy chair; "but l don't
quite understand it this time"
Don't, eh?" said the President,
hastily relighting ci gar which he had
laid on his desk when Miss Fewse was
announced. "Well, puff Miss Fewes
is joint heir with puff her brother
her only brother, mind you. Old
Ben's estate is estimated by his en-
ecutors at eight millions; l don't
know how close that comes to the
truth don't take much stock in
what | can't see with my own eyes
but this much | know" Then the
President clopped two pudgy hands
upon Brlxton's knees, looked squarely
into BrlXton's eyes and said in low,
measured monotone: "John Brixton,
l know Of my own knowledge that Ada
Fewse has over one-million-- dollars
lin good railroad bonds right in my
safe here. 'Nough said, eh?"
Enough money, | should say, for
an unmarried woman who doesn't look
as if her tastes were expensive. But
what have ] to do with it? You said---'
"Do with it?" echoed the President
''Why, you donkey, make it your
own. Marry the girl. She isn't n
beauty, must admit; but she's re-
spectacle and honest, and she'd accept
you in minute"
Upon my word, Budder," laughed
Brixton, you've been in business so
long that even women seem property
to you, Miss Fewse never saw me un-
til five minutes ago.