The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-02-06


airy and, drawing his little balance
from the savings bank, hurried to
Wisconsin to DE present at the funer-
al. The attendance was larger than
he had expected; he was pleased to
see how many friends and neighbors
came to do honor to the dead. Chief
among the assembly was Judge
Steinberg, Of Oshkosh, who greeted
Albert cordially.
After the services were over, the
Judge accompanied Albert back to the
cabin and seated himself In Uncle
| Morris chair, with the air of host
rather than that of guest.
"Of course, Mr.. Whitney, you know
that you are your great-uncle's sole
heir. but I believe that you are not
aware that Morris Whitney was one
of the richest men in the county"
"No-was hep" gasped Albert.
Judge Steinberg smiled. Like most
men. he enjoyed telling good story.
II have known your uncle all his life;
we were friends in youth, and have al
ways enjoyed his confidence. Years
ago he had an experience which caused
him to lose faith in all women, and
most men, but which it is not for me
to repeat. He bought this farm, which
is larger than it appears, for much Of
it is leased, and retired to this out-of-
the-way spot. 1t was his delight that
you should love him for himself alone.
The annuity which your mother re-
ceived, after your fathers death, was
paid by him on the express condition
that she should not enlighten you in
regard to his affairs. ! have to con-
graduate you ON the inheritance of a
very considerable fortune, which is ex-
cellently we'll invested. I shall be
pleased to act an your agent, as was
your uncle's, but that is for you to de-
eide"
Albert listened with dazed attention,
that hardly left room for joy, to the
long list of stocks and bonds OF which
he was now the possessor. All Of them
were at par, and some of them far above
it.
II am utterly inexperienced" he
said, land know nothing of business,
except in the hardware trade. ] could
ask nothing better than to have such
an agent as yourself. II it is to your
advantage as well as mine that you
should manage the property, am only
too glad"
The family were at breakfast when
Mr.. Pennington's eye fell ON this para
graph in the Daily Conservative:
albert Whitney, clerk in the EN-.
ployment Of Jobson & Co., importers
and wholesale dealers in hardware, il
the sole heir to the estate of his great
uncle, Morris Whitney, of Door county
Wis, recently deceased. The estate, in
addition to lands, amounts to over $500,
COO, mostly invested in standard stocks
and bonds"
He read it aloud. "Albert Whitney
lie said, surely that is the excellent
young man whom we know. Unjust tel
ephone to DR.. Shepherd for confirma
ton.
"Hello-good morning, doctor. AL
bert Whitney, of Jobson & Co., is tn,
same Mr.. Whitney who belongs to oul
church, is he not?-I thought SO. Hav,
you read the paragraph about him il
the Conservative, this morning?-
! thought you would be.-So am l."
, Mr.. Pennington returned to the break
! fast table. 81 am sincerely rejoiced,
, he said. "It is providential that 8,
large fortune should come into tn,
hands of young man Of such piety ant
: rectitude."
Gladys looked up, pleased and inter
ested. She thought again what mic,
dark eyes Mr.. Whitney had.
my DEAR" said her father to hi
wife, 1--WE must invite him to Dime
again and introduce him to some of oul
prominent people. As we did not ig
more him in his obscurity, we can bet
ter afford to congratulate him on hi
prosperity"
At the select dinner party which fol
lowed Albert was the guest OF honor
and escorted Mrs. Pennington to tn
table. He bore himself with quiet dig
nifty, and Mr.. Pennington took pride il
the pearl which he had discovered.
The guests departed, the good maj
announced to. his family: "Mr. Whit
ney is gentleman Of intelligence, a
well as of integrity. 1t is rarely tina
we find so many good qualities unitet
: in the same young man."
Gladys smiled. II am glad papa like
: him SO much. I always thought he wa
nice" she said to herself.
And the gate to Albert's Happiness
stood wide open.