The record-union., 1895-11-09
AN AFFECTIONATE SON.

but at the first sound of his voice rec
ognized the man shown into the office
as Sydney Carstairs. He didn't notice
me- he was so eager to get audience Of
Mr. Maciver, who managed the firms
advertising.
THE Lamp of Truth" he said, 'is
publication which is Of almost unique
value to such a firm as yours. We have
only just begun, but we have great
future before US We spare no expense
TO make our paper attractive to readers
in all parts of the country. We nave d
weekly sermon by the Rev. I. Baggs
Calshott the famous preacher of the
Balls Pond Tabernacle; Lucy Markham,
the well-known novelist, writes serial
story for us, and we have each week
poetical contribution rrom Catherine
Herbert, the talented authoress Of the
Rainbow of Hope With these attrac-
tions we shall go in hundreds of thou
sands Of Christian households through
out the land, and shall form simply
unriValed medium for such high-claSS
advertisers as yourselves"
Our Mr.. Maciver turned an amused
face toward me. l knew very well that
Mr. Maddox had been admitted in order
that I might have an object lesson. l
was new to the business, and had to be
taught all branches of it. So he stopped
the full tide of Mr.. Maddox's eloquence
by the remorseless question:
what present circulation do you
guarantee"
While poor Sydney was delivering
himself of an entirely evasive reply, L
had time to observe him closely. He
was the last man 1 should ever have eX-
pected to see figuring as an advertising
canvasser, and knew already enough
of these people to see that my old friend
belonged distinctly to the lower varieties
of that interesting genius. His hat
alone was enough to show the hardest
pinch of poverty. He had been such a
dandy at Oxford!
But our Mr.. Maciver had amused
himself enough, and signified pretty
plainly that there was no bust
ness to be done, and that Sydney might
retire. The poor mans briskness van
ished. He seemed, as it were, to re-
sumo a look of settled disappointment
as he slowly turned to the door.
''Dormy," 1 called out, dear me.
Dormy-'A liquando bonus dormitat
Homerus.'
Sydney Carstairs had once made
this particularly false quantity, and SO
earned himself more than one nick
name.
He looked round at the sound of the
old appellation and saw me. He turned
very red and let fall the papers he was
carrying.
''Mr. Maciver," said, this is an old
friend of mine; we must do something
for him. Something good. A whole
page and a series, you know"
Mr.. Maciver looked rather disguised
at this unbusinesslike procedure, but
commenced an examination of the two
journals.
Sydney, meanwhile, seemed very awk-
ward and i'll at ease, and assured me
several times that he had not expected
to see me; that he did not know that L
took an active interest in the business,
and SO on.
He approved family Of the choice Mr.
Maciver had made, which preferred the
FOotlights to the Lamp of Truth.
Neither is a really good medium, !"
Sydney said, with sudden frankness,
t'but you are doing it to oblige me, and
The Lamp of Truth expects the heaviest
lying; and he departed, looking several
degrees less unhappy, but not before /
had arranged TO meet him again.
A day or two later Sydney dined with
me, and we talked for a long time over
old days and old friends. 1t was at my
place in the country. and we sat out of
doors after dinner and smoked. As the
twilight deepened Sydney became more
confidential and a little more cheerful
Il dare say" he said, you were sur
prised enough to see me trOtttng round
to tout for advertisements. 1t is not
grand position for a bankers son. But
/ dare say you know the bank failed
and my father died suddenly, and there
was nothing left for me. l had been
called to the bar, but had never seen a
brief, and did not even expect TO see
one. tried journalism-tried very hard,
very hard indeed-but l suppose l
oil ann1IOh
could not make il pay, and so / drifted
into what I'm doing now. Sometimes
don't do so badly" Sydney was silent,
and I quite understood that those times
did not come very often.
I'm awfully obliged to you" he
hurst out again, for helping me. An
order from a firm like yours is worth
something. I've shown it all round and
I've got Condensed Cocoa on the
strength of it, and I've half a promise
from Blacks, the soap people. Why,
when / went back to Footlights office
with your order in my hand they
nearly fell on my neck for joy" To
change the subject, / turned back to
the old days and reminded Carstairs of
a school holiday 1 had spent at his
fathers house.
II had a very jolly time of it." said.
st used to ride races across your
fathers park with your sister Mabel,
and once her horse ran away, and your
mother was terribly frightened"
Carstairs sighed. poor Nab is dead,
and the park was sold for building
sites" Then he added, as an after
thought: But wouldn't you like TO go
down and see my mother some time
She is living at Kew When the crash
came and all our furniture was sold we
saved enough to furnish a tiny cottage.
There was a little money settled on her.
and she manages on that. There's a
Young lady who lives with her. The
dining-room will just seat four, and my
mother has often asked me to bring a
friend. and. as rule, 1 haven't anyone.
The friends / have now are not exactly
salonfahig, as they say in Germany.
NV mother would be sure to recognize
you"
Sydney's prediction was completely
fulfilled when 1 went down with him a
week later to the tiny cottage he had
spoken Of Mrs Carstairs recognized
me at once. and reminded me of several
things which had happened during my
stay at her house. But I certainly
should not have known her again.
though ] had a clear mental image Of
the lady / had known before But time
had not dealt gently with Mrs. Car
stairs; the comely, cheerful matron of
my remembrance had become an old
lady with furTowed cheeks. bent Shout
ders and white hair. The only other
guest was young lady whom Mrs. Car
stairs called Lucy, and Sydney, Miss
Hilton. She was quite pretty young
lady, not in her first youth, and I di-
vined at once that Mrs. Carstairs had
formed plans in which her son and Miss
Hilton were greatly interested. Sydney
looked very different from the shabby
being who had been so exceedingly def
erential to our clerk. His dress clothes
We're faultless. and he had an orchid in
his button-hOle He expressed himself
1,-ith cnnsidara bic decision ON many,