Middletown transcript., 1897-10-30

| 2AVA2 trusted these three
AyANNAS particles of infor-
z)1&aS #OMN& nation to any per-
MZgTTHYWNE son over the age
OF fve-and-twenty, be or she I'M
mediately made answer, either by the
opinion. "He ought to marry" or by
the questions, ''Why doesn't be marryY'
1t is true that one lady. on learning bis
chief points of social interest, had ex-
claimed, ''Dear mel He is wiser than
Solomon" but then she was eccentric,
had had three husbands.
John Green was not good-looking.
He was loose knit, and wore a heavy,
square brown beard; but there was a
kindly humor in his eye that told OF
charity within, and was vastly attrac-
tive to children and some others who
were shy In conversation.
He was stockbroker in very large
way OF business, being sole partner in
the firm of Green, Richards & Van
Schaacht. Richards had been dead for
ten years or more, and Van Schaacht,
an Americanized German Jew, had set
tied permanently in New York as a
banker and broker, to look after the
American interests of the English
firm.
Green, Richards & Van Sch aacht
were what is known as arbitrageurs,
which means that, with the aid of the
cable, they did business between Lon
don and New York or Amsterdam buy
ing on one market and selling on an.
other. 1t was responsible work, de-
manding great quickness and energy,
and necessitating, moreover, heavy
transactions at the end Of the day, ow-
ing to The difference in the time between
England and America.
John Green was man who liked to
do things himself, and he had no con :
fidential clerk to whom he cared to
leave important matters. Consequent
ly it was often or s O'Clock before he
got away from the city. Then he would
go to his club for dinner, and after
ward play pool or billiards until it was
sufficiently late to go to bed, One day
was very much like another, except
that on Saturday he was able to dine
earlier, andssc 4 se5Rhetimes went to a
theatre. On Sunday, if the weather
was fine he often walked out to see an
aunt who lived at Hendon. She had
educated him after bis parents death,
and he was very fond Of her. He did
not care for going much into society,
because, as he said, the men 81 emed to
think he could talk of nothing but
business, and the women seem to think
he could talk of nothing but nonsense.
81 dare say they are right" he would
remark, plaintiyely, "but l don't like to
be reminded Of it,"
One Sunday his aunt told hi % she
was expecting visitor.
"Oh, reallyl Who's thatP" he ask ed,
stirring bis tea slowly.
"Well. she's daughter Of very old
friend Of mine, who, poor soul, has
lately died. Mrs. Walters, John; I
daresay you have heard me speak ol
her. She left me little legacy by her
will, and asked me to look after Cicely
as far as | could don'i think It's right
for girl uf her age 10 live alone, so
have asked her to Come and stay here
1 until she has time to look round ant
make better arrangement. She is {
nice little thing, and shall be glad tt
have her."
"Yes, Aunt Jane, 1 think that viii
be capital plan; but suppose sham
be wanted any more on Sundays9"
"Now, John, don't be foolish, but
pass your cup for some fresh tea; tina
must be quite cold"
John smiled and gave her the cup. ,
The next Sunday was wet, and th
Sunday after that John was obliged tt
pay call which had been long owing
so it was three weeks bsfore he wen
to Heudon again.
1t was very hot day, and he walked
sith his waistcoat unbuttoned an d hi
straw hat far back on his head. A
the public-house in the village wa
closed, he thought he would approach
bis aunt's house by the back way ant
ask William, the butler, to find him
bottle of beer. He lounged at the doc
which opened on to the little red-tileC
| yard, while William placed a tumble
on the window-sill, and drew the cork
John watched the beer approvingly a
it frothed into the glass with velvet
fop-hop against the side.
: "Good beer, William" he said, holt
ing it up to the light. 81 suppose yo
drink it yourselfP"
es, sir; sometimes"
) AS the glass enptied and he locke
: through the bottom of it, he saw son
one in pink dress watching him fror
behind the hedge, where the chicken
were kept. 1t seemed to him that 81
looked different from other women, ar
he set down his tumbler sharpley, sa
> ing:" Who's that in the chicken-yardP
er "Miss Cicely, expect, sir.''
"Miss Cicelyl Who's Miss Cicely
te oh, remember -
. He buttoned his wais coat hasti
nd walked round to the other side
the hedge. Cicely Walters looked |
as he came towards her. II beg 20
pardon,'' he began, shut think "
must be Miss Walters, and as you q
likely to see great deal more Of .