Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-06-16

III TO be.
Having started ahead of time to
keep his appointment, he sauntered
leisurely and looked with an enjoya-
bic sense of separateness and conde-
scending pity upon the eager, anxious,
busting, jostling throng through
which he passed i'm Wall street.
Just before 3 o'clock each working
afternoon there is n notable access of
activity in and about the money mart.
Messengers and clerks are dashing to
and fro with orders and packages OF
securities, brokers darling here and
there, covering shorts and making de-
liveries. The days fever is at its eli
max. How little he had in common
with the participants in hat ignoble
strife for gain!
He had just entered the bank when
3 o'clock struck. The small windows
of the cashier and paying teller closed
suddenly with sharp little snaps, the
few late customers hurried out, and
the waiting porter, about to shut the
big doors, looked at Mr.. Sewall sus-
piciously until he inquired for MIR.
Willmarth.
The porter hesitated.
"By appointment" the young man
added.
The porter bowed low in Difference
and conducted him to the presidents
room.
Mr.. Willmarth was at the moment
standing by his desk with his back to-
ward the door engaged in a business
conversation With one of the bank Off
GERS. He was, as Chester had time to
note before he looked around, a man
of sturdy build and something more
than medium height. with a bull neck
and n round head thickly covered by
short, wiry grizled hair. When he had
finished giving orders, he turned, saw
his visitor and invited him TO be
seated, at the same time placing him
self in the big chair before his desk.
At sight Of him Chester Sewall felt
his confidence rapidly oozing away. A
more sternly practical looking man
than the banker, n less amenable
to sentimental considerations, he
thought, it would be difficult to find.
Mr.. Willmarth's face was square
rather than round, thanks TO his wide
forehead and his massive lower jaw,
which was increased in prominence by
its short cropped, iron gray beard.
Very big, bushy eyebrows that almost
met and o%yerhung his keen gray Eyes
gave him a fierce, aggressive look. And
his large nose was by no means one of
the kind in which solidity is sacri-
feed to magnitude, but was hard, OBJ
t%rusivc, one of those which nobody
would lightly think of putting out of
joint" The absence of a mustache eX-
posed n long upper lip and a straight
mouth, the expression of which In re-
pose was simply firmness, or perhaps
obstinacy, but the possibilities of
which the young man had yet to
learn.
Referring to a memorandum pad
upon his desk and looking up inquir-
ingly, the banker said:
"Mr. Chester Sewall, | presume"
Eyes, sir" assented Chester rather
meekly, feeling that his job was going
to be a difficult one, quite beyond his
present power OF anticipation.
you wish to see me upon "A matter
of the utmost personal Importance
to you, or to me?"
"Ah, Ito myself, principally, sir"
80 ] supposed. Well?"
The banker did not Intentionally
brusqueness of n practical, busy man,
which was enough to embarrass his
visitor, who stammeringly replied:
"Yes. Perhaps / should have been
more explicit in my note"
"Oh, well, no matter about that
now, since you are here. 1t is easier
TO talk than to write"
"Not always, | fear" responded
Chester, trying to force n smile,
when n has so delicate a mission as
mine.'
The old banker slightly raised his
big eyebrows, but remained silent, i'm
perturable, showing no curiosity and
offering no encouragement. Mr.. Sc
wall went on rather huskily:
"My object in seeking this interview
with you, sir, was to tell you that l
love your daughter, am so happy as
to have won her affection, and ask
your consent to make her my wife,"
Truly a personal matter of some
Importance" commented Mr.. Will
marth suavely, but with a d~elicately
sarcastic infection In his voice. "My
daughter is aware, ] presume, of your
intent to make this communication to
me?"
"oh, yes. We agreed that your CON
sent should be asked"
Il should doubtless appreciate the
consideration. How long have you
been acquainted with my daughter?'
Il first had the happiness of meet
ing her when she was visiting her
cousin in Boston in May last"
at is to be supposed that your
financial position is sufficiently well
assured to justify the step you con
template?"
"Oh, certainly. Yes, sir. / have no
fears of the future"
mo! You are fortunate. May l
ask the extent of your present re-
~sources?"
well / have just completed my col
legiate course at Harvard, and-I may
say without vanity, as a statement
simply of a fact-graduated with
honors."
II congratulate you"
81 have not yet felt called upon to
determine my future business or pro-
fession, but of course shall do so soon
after / am married, as / have no desire
to live al idle life. l do not question
my achievement of success in what
ever l may undertake. In fact, the
education / have received may be said
to preclude the possibility of failure"
TN addition to the education, what
amount of cash capital can you con
trol?"
About $4,000, sir"
The banker flashed at the young
man a glance of doubling astonish-
ment, which gave way to a look of
amusement. But that expression was
quickly suppressed, and with polite
gravity he replied:
THAT can hardly be characterized
as a large sum. Indeed, | have to pay
as much or more to each of half a
dozen or more Of nv emnloyes Still