Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-12-14

stood In the luxuriously appointed
Room of great city bank. \ meeting
of the directors had just ended. His
father Was leaving.
What's up. Lander? You look
queer"
I'm all right. sir. | want word
with you, though. Now vii! do as well
as any time. Whom were you thinking
of sending down TO establish that
branch of our house at ManilaT'
Il did think of Peterson, but I'm
afraid he has signed with the other
people"
"Will you trust me to 90, father"
You" The elder mans haggard
face lighted up, then fell. You're not
capable of the task. my boy. It's a
tremendous one"
Lander smiled with pale lips, but the
smile was winning. You should have
more confidence in my fathers son"
he protested gently.
The words warmed the old mans
heart like wine. His eyes blinked up
at his boy. by George" he cried. Il
believe you've got il In you! I've had
doubts of you. Let that pass. You
shall so with full and absolute author
ity."
And there was new elasticity In the
gait of the commercial magnate as he
took his sons arm and went down to
his carriage.
The following day a note came TO
Landor-a formal, demure little note:
Dear Mr. Aldrich-I find failed to send you
yesterday my line OF thanks for those yiolets.
Will you take the belsted gratitude now? There
was mistake somewhere. Always sincerely
yours, KATHERINE CLERxosr.
But the news that he was to assume
control of his fathers business In the
Philippines had been made public in
the newspapers before he saw her
again. Then it was to say goodby.
The hand she gave him was cold as
ice, but she looked up at him with
steady. unfaltering hazel eyes.
You are really going, then? 1t was
no newspaper canard? How we shall
miss your
Il hope you will. May | write to
you, Katherine?' He had never called
her Katherine till now.
YES indeed! But Pm laggard cor
respondent. Goodby"
There has not been since the opening
up of the islands an affair which so in
terested the business men of Chicago
and other cities as did the success Of
the great branch house of the Aldriches
in Manila.
"A boy Of % at the head" the wise
ones commented. st seems impossi-
BILE that he should have shown such
acumen, such ability. BY the time he
returned for a brief vacation, more
than a year later, the business was
booming But the man who came back
was not the boy who had gone away.
He showed the strain of concentration,
deprivation and hard. conscientious
work. Katherine Clermont met him
for the first time after his return at a
great social function. She was in a
ripping gown that swirled its black
waves about her feet, with peoples
garlanding her beautiful shoulders.
The room went round when she caught
sight of him. How changed, but
katherine! Come away! How good
you were to write, though so seldom"
"Do you know you are almost he
ro" she cried quizzically. "All the old
men are talking about the way you
worked and the results. am proud
know you."
He had been Ill and lonely and often
depressed. Now the gates of heaven
stood open;
"You know why have come back"
he whispered. "To think that II 1t
were not for letter CHANGED to read
l might be incoming over verses in an
Office still-a letter it was not intended
should read
Her white lids lifted. "How do you
know it was not intended for you to
read" Then she laughed softly-soft-
ly and long. He wondered why.-Buf-
, falo Enquirer.