The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-29

whether no came To sell something or merely
10 ask for \ subscription. However, the fact
that he was keeping a hanson waiting at the
gate told in his favor, so she broke the silence
Any message. sirs"
He ignored this question. which rnised him
S vent TtsH the perfectly accurate opinion! anu
He will not be home for hours, j supposc?"
Barney pondcrcd for a while. and suddenly
delivered himself OF n resolution that did
credit TO his good sense.
Then ] won't wait" he said.
What name. sirt'' asked the maid.
""Oh, it's of no Importance. ] will call again:
still. hero Is my card. | am the son OF Mr..
Tne maid took the card. and Mrs. Sartwrll
appeared in the nall. almost rs IL she had been
listening TO the words.ot.the speaker, which, of
course. she had a perfect right to do. as one
generally wishes TO know who calls ut ones
front door.
Hopei" she asked.
II am his son. madam" said Barney, mod
estly. and with that politeness he had learned
Won't you come inl / am sorry my .hps.
band is not at home. Is it on account OF the
strike you conner | feel very anxious. Your
mother called yesterday, and we had II long con-
versatlon abous it,"
Yes. the mater takes n great interest In the
workinGman, although | can't say | do nv
self: merely wishe,i . have an informal
chat with Mr.. Sartwell on the situation. and
that Is why l called nj the house rather than
the Office"
Barney stepped into the hall and kept his
nat IN Ii manu- ~ tUOW ~ u u llVllSDIn w Ill
ing. He had no intention of staying more
than a moment or two. He had thought II
best to have ,omcthinG to tell his mother ABOUT
his visit to Wimbledon. for she was "A relent-
less :ross-Questioner. and If he could have a
conversation to report she might take the will
for the deed and give him the check.
The door OF tho drawing room was thrown
open and when the two entered they found
Edna sartwell sitting there in n deep chair,
reading a book with such interest that she evil
IDENTITY had not heard a word Of the c~olloquy ut
tie door. She rose in some contu sion. color
t-yl aADl- = a a ntr IN & trn ~ rnr snFn.. In Ill
her stepmother. The latter said nothing to the
girl, but directed a glance CT her that. spcaking
as plainly AS words. told her To leave the room.
Barney's first thought on seeing Edna was
that she was about TO escape from, the room.
and tina, this desertion must be automatically
prevented. Barney's great burden in life. so
he often told his friends. was that the young
ladies of England were in the habit of throw
Ing themselves at his head, which remark
caused Haldiman once to say that they had a
quick eye for his weakest point OF defence.
about TO walk out OF the room without casting
a second glance at him. a young man always
nc your daughter. Mrs. Sartwell2" said
Barney. in his most winning manner,
Al. I thought You could not have a grown
IN daughter" murmuretl Barney. delicately.
He ALWAYS found this particular kind Of com
middle age. and In this case his confidence was
not misplaced.
he added, seeing that Mrs Sartwell did not In
tend TO introduce rod ,e,l him. ,,;,h end Sq9 l called 10 see
So. you know. it Is n matter that interests us all.
and | beg of you, TO join in the conference"
The moment he mentioned her father and
the strike. he saw he held the attention OF the
girl. who paused and looked Mt her stepmother.
did dGHi not IeE Wish to '" otien M1S Mrs In u f Hofeg'f SON. and
she did not want her granddaughter TO remain
in the room. She hesita;ed. and was lost.
drawing ROOM" said Barney, With that gal
lnntry which he always found irresistible. and
Portable informal chat. which | know will he
Of immense assistance in my. talk with Mr..
Sartwell. for | confess I am afraid OF him."
Edna opened her eyes: she had several times
heard people say they stood in awe of her a
thsr. and she never could understand Why;
hands on her lap. frowning at her stepdauCh-
ter when she got the chance unseen by Bar
Reg. , she did Inn not su at all nd i wSy t af TURN ,n, sysnts
You see. ehirrupea Barney: the mater
DO l." He thouaht This noble sentiment, would
appeal to Edna sa-twsli; i think we ali
1 mean. Mrs. Sartwel?''
CERTAINLY. i does You great credit, Mr..
Hope" replied the lady appealed to. although
she uttered the phrase with some severity. as
II It we're an nspersion.
me. think 1t natural for all rightly brought
up persons To take n deep interest IN their fell
low creatures. Don't you think so. Miss
YES said Edna family. no, looking up.
For workmen are our ( low creatures. you
know" cried BarneS. with all the enthusiasm
Am i my ny brother Keeper" said Mrs, sart-
we'll. in gloomy tones.
"Quite 50, quite So assen;el Barney. who
took the remark ms orisinal. Il couldn't have
stated the case better II | had thought all day
about II. Now. the mater imagined that per
Laps Mr.. SIrtwell would consent 10 meet the
men and talk /. over, making. perhaps. some
tritiinE concessions. and then everything would
DO lovely. You see What | mean?'
1t seems q most REASONABLE nroposal.% sad
On. don't say that. Mrs. sart~ell. l am
sure every one must value your opinion most
h~iEalv-eyery one Who has the privilege OF
You think. Miss Sar0vcll;"
The young mar framed on the Girl in his
most fascinating minner, but his facial ex-
preston was lost, fer Edna was looking at the
carpet. apparently p'rplexed.
Il think, she saia Mt Inst, that father. who
spends nearly alt lis time dealing with the
men. must understand the situation better
pcrience with them, and. ms I know. has given
much thought to tie difficulty. so IL seems TO
me our advice nay ~ nave any value 10 nm
So This was how the land lay. This dcnurc
miss actually had IN opinion OF her own. an.
was plainly guinGtn stand with her father
against the field. Heretofore everybody had
always agreed with Barney. excepting. of
course. those rascdly students. who were no
respecters OF persois,. and more especially had
all women agreed With him. therefore, this lit
tie bit of opposition. so decnrouSly expressed.
had anow and refreshing flavor. The wind
had shifted: he must trim his sails to suit.
There, Mss san well, You have touched the
weak spot In our case. Just what ] said 10
the mater. Mr.. S~irtwell's on the spot said
/. and he ought 10 know Almost your very
words. Miss Sartwtll."
A cloud rested On Mrs. S~nrtwell's brow.
surely" she said severely. The owners OF
n business should have something 10 say about
the way II Is to he conducted"
THE tendency of modern times cried
Barney. airilv, wiving his hand. appears to
be entirely in the opposite direction, my dear
madam. II is geTing to be that whoever has
n say in n business, tho owners shall have the
least And l nm not sure hut this is. TO n ser
tain extent. Logical. ! have often heard nv
father say that Mr.. Sartwell was the real max
err OF the businesL Why, then, should he he
intcr,cred withy''
Edna looked up gratefully at the rnthusi-
astic young man TO she not only liked the
sentiments he wHs beginning 70 express, but
she liked the Inanlv ring in his voice. Bar
ney bad Frequently found this tone To be very
taking. especially With the young and mex
perienced, and he knew that he appeared at his
best when assuming IL, II none Of his carpinG
comrades were present. He could even work
himself NJ into / sturdy state OF Indignation.
II his audiens &c were sympathetic. and he were
free from the bliGht!ng i%ntiuence OF pessimis-