The Holly chieftain., 1900-01-12


70. fear that he may have Inherited
the scholarly tastes and 6ne tefnpera-
ment Q; his father, together with his
lack Ct worldly push. II this we're so,
1t IS tine now to take him In hand and
make man Of him. II you thought
seriously of engineering. which you
mentioned, would say go ahead. But
have studied all the projects you
spoke Of. and cannot see that there is
any better one than am about to lay
down to you. And do not mind tell
ing you that there Is Il strain of selfish
ness in my plan, so you need not feel
that am doing anything by way OF
charity. This arrangement Will un-
doubtedly be as advantageous to me as
to him. AS you know. my interests are
vast. I have SO many investments that
require personal attention that am
busy every waking hour And besides
myself there is no one in whom can
place any confidence Now, my dear
sister. am getting old. need
younger head-a younger hand--to
take hold out here and help me. Rob
Is young-so much the better-he will
be the more easily trained to my meth
ods of business. You see my way of
looking at it-now to my proposition.
Bring Rob down here. Or, If your
health is not good. as you say. advise
You not to bring, but to send him.
There are times in the year when this
climate Is not good for weak lungs,
Notwithstanding the name. Go to your
friend in Brooklyn and let me have
Rob. l will put him at once in my Of
flee. or in the bank, and use him as
sort of private secretary. If he shows
| adaptability, this will enable him to
grasp the details of the large concern.
and by the time he is twenty he will
either be of incalculable value to me or
not worth his salt. will continue the
remittance of two thousand year to
you, or increase it If you wish. will
give Rob fair salary to star. on, and
he shall have every comfort a boy
needs. l will not spoil him. do not
believe in that sort of treatment But
| Will make man of him. Then to
look beyond the few years may have
left to me, this great business which
have built up will require some one af-
ter | am gone to keep it out of the
hands of strangers. There are plenty
here who are watching with envious
eyes. Wealth makes enemies here as
elsewhere. Elsie Is my only child. To
leave her this great industrial task
would be to have her lose it. So, II
nf, IN no Wh 7 aim
to be, he will not only become my
manager when am old, but he will
become heir to some of the interests
| have made so valuable. This, / think.
lie as good an opening as comes to the
average boy. Think it over, and let me
| know your decision. l must begin to
tratr. a manager soon. cannot stand
the strain much longer. Anita and
Elsie send love. They are speaking of
having their photographs taken, and
OF sending you some If they do. will
add mine. Send Rob's and yours
Rob's so that may know him when he
arrives. You see, l count on your ac-
ceptance.
1t will be lonely for you. but think
of Rob's future.
Your loving brother,
DAVID HORTON.
By the time Mrs. Cleverdale got
through reading her voice was trem-
bling. and Rob was staring at her with
his eyes wide open. in the greatest
amazement. What a wonderful vista
was here held out to him! He could
,,t,k tto
there. in that almost unknown country,
working hard to gain his uncles con-
f1dence, and trusted with the manage
ment of large affairs. But then--to
leave his mother! That dear mother.
whose prop he had been since his faith
er died. He could not think of that
There was silence for moment
II have thought this all over, Rob-"
said Mrs. Cleverdale. now speaking
calmly. ut is the grandest thing for
you! Just think what future Uncle
David offers!"
But you! l can't leave you!"
my dear boy, it is hard, but we
must bear 1t. And you will soon be
able to come and see me, you know,
and some day, perhaps, my health will
be better, and I can come to you. Yes,
you must go. Uncle David has set his
heart on it, and would not disappoint
him. We have no one else, you know,
to look to-"
Rob gulped down sob. and then aud
there resolved to do just as his mother
advised, and to show as little emotion
as possible-thus making the parting