The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-09-12

| IL Win tue grove ana OtNcf llllle lfS-tS-
ures into a. packet. which he put in his
breast pocket. Half an hour later he
stood in the iuXuriouSly appointed
room Of 4 great city bank. y meet
ing Of the directors had just ended.
His father was leaving.
whats up, Landor? You look,
queer,
"I'm all right, sir. I want word
with you, though. Now will do as
we'll as any time. Whom were you
thinking of sending down to establish
the branch of our house at Manila?"
81 did think of. Peterson, but I'm
afraid he has signed with the other
people?
"Will you trust me to go, father?"
"Youw The elder mans haggard
face lighted up-then fell. you're
not capable Of the task. my boy. It's
a tremendous one
Landor 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 Georgew he cried,
81 believe you've got it in you! I've
had doubts of you. Let that pass. You
tshali 60 withsfN Wit ,d fndL absolute au:
thority." 49,
And there was9a new elasticity in
the gait of the commercial magnate
las he took his sons arm and went
down to his cafrfaage
The following da a note came to
Landora formal, Mmugs little note:
Dear Mr.. AIdriefiS4I Ind 1 failed
to- send you yesterday my line of
thanks for those viejetss VIII you
take the belated gratitude now? There
was mistake somewhere. Always
s. .,t5 sKatherine Clermont."
But the sneTA That he was to as
sumo control Of lis father's business
in the Philippines had been made pub
lie ip tEa newspapers before he saw
sher again Then It was to say good
by, The hs1d silesgaye. him was cold
as icebdt she locked up at him with
steadys unfaItertng hazel eyes.
"You sare really going. then? 1t
WAS no Newspaper canard? How we
Eahall miss 'you"
81 hope you will. May I write to
yep, Katherine?y He had never called
her Katherine till now.
eyes, indeed. But I'm q laggard
Good-by."
There has not been since the open
ing up of fhe islands an affair which
so Interested the business men Of Chi
cago and other cities as did the sue
cess of tile great branch house of the
Aldrichs IN Manila.
"a boy of twenty-seven at the head!'
the wise ones commented. 1t seems
impossible that he should have shown
such acumen-such ability. BY the
time he returned for q brief vacation,
more than 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 con-
centration, deprivation, hard, consci-
entious work. Katherine Clermont
met him for the first time after his
return at n great social function. She
was all in rippllng gown that swirled
it's black waves about her feet with
poppics garland!ng her beautiful
shoulders. The room went round
when she caught sight Of him. How
changed. but
katherine! Come away! How
good you were 70 write-though so sell
dom!"
DO you know you are almost a
hero?" she cried, Quizzically. "All the
old men are talking about the way
you worked-and the results. I am
proud I know you!'
He had been ill and lonely, and Of
ten depressed! Now the gates Of
heaven stood open.
"You know why have come back"
he whispered. ITO think that If it
were not for letter 1 Glanced to
read. 1 might be incoming over verses
in an office still-a letter it was not
intended 1 should read
Her white lips lifted. "How do you
know it was not intended for you to
rcad:' Then she laughed softly and
long. He wondered why.-Butfalo En-
Quirer.