The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-11-26
Donald Donaldson, Jr.

to have done him no good. The most
influential member Of the firm that en-
ployed him told me that Donaldson
vas q wonder in business way, and
yet, so far as could learn, nothing
,,.a5 been done for his advancement iii
two years except that few dollar;
had been added to his weekly wage
which WIS still disgracefully small.
At the age of twenty-foUr he had be-
come familiar with the dull pang OF
disccuraGement. lie knew that be was
serricvaEle in his place, and be had nc
fear Of the loss OF it; indeed he feared
much more the prospect of retaining i:
TO the end Of his days. He lacked aG'
cressiyc seiGshucsS and tie rude, obvi'
Gus sicas OF self esteem.
1t was ny intention to call on him
at - O'Clock and suggest that we take
luncheon together, but was somewhat
delaycd, and when entered the hall
Of the great building Donaldson was
lust stepping out OF one of the eleva-
tors. I knew him instantly by de-
scription.
There was the usual hurrying thronS.
Donaldson saw no one whom he knew,
and he gave no face second glance,
but almost eTery one who had the op-
portunity looked twice at him. 1t
would be hard to say why, for his ap-
pearance was, on the whole. conven-
tional. He was upward cf six feet in
height, yet had not the look Of tall
man. His countenance was agreeable
when one had come to know him, and
his brown eyes were capable Of much
variety Of expression; but, as rule
they seemed to be somewhat vacant.
Follow their glance, and it would lead
nowhere. Often the eyes Of the blind
deceive in the same way, and 1t may
have been this appearance Of focusing
his gaze upon a point where nothing
was visible to others that made Don
aldson's aspect notable.
When spoke his name, he turned
his glance upon me slowly and with a
slight, characteristic effort, as though
his attention were being Withdrawn
unwilingly from some other object.
"YesT said lie.
"You were going to luncheon, sup
pose" said I. evil you permit me to
offer you my card and to suggest that
we-lunch together?
81 was going to the Welleslea dairy"
returned Donaldson, with faint smile.
Suppose we try Berram's" sug-
gested, naming the best Of the down
town restaurants at that time. las
you are my guest, I must guarantee
the cooking, and I am not familiar
with the Welleslea."
81 congratulate you, sir" he replied.
Familiarity breeds both contempt and
dyspepsia; Bertram's, by all means"
His manner did not please me, though
it was courteous enough. 1t evidenced
that peculiar selfshness which is bred
of despondency, that general disre-
gard which springs from personal dis
satisfaction. Before we reached Ber-
trans had said to myself, ''This man
has been much overpraised."
We spoke Of the aspect Of business,
and what he said seemed common
place. Yet his words were like his
looks-slipping by, unobser7ed. Weeks
later I discovered with surprise that
Donaldson could look over the top Of
my hat without stretching himself, and
at about the same time certain re-
marks which he had made in that first
interview REQUIRED to my mind, and Z
saw how the foresight in them might
have been turned to my advantage.
At the moment however, I was dis.
appointed and felt disposed to abandon
my intention Of offering Donaldson all
excellent position. I could see that
Hackett, who was waiting for US at
Bertram's, was not favorably impress
ed at first. And altogether if Don
aldson had but known our minds he
would have had cause for great anS-
iety, for the proposal which we had
thought Of making to him meant no
less than q career if he should prove
worthy.
All this was, in sense, apart from
our interest in the young man as q
psychic. AS to that matter we were
determined upon an Investigation If it
could be made without too great an
Intrusion. During the past week we
had cleaned considerable information
about the story which DR.. Whiting Of
Boston had so steadfastly concealed,
and it seemed to Is to furnish by far
the best instance q so called supernat-
ural manifestation that we had yet en-
countered. Therefore when the time
seemed ripe for it I said to him:
''Are you not the Mr.. Donaldson who
had singular experience in regard to
his brother?"
He frowned slightly, and his hand,
lying upon the tablecloth. opened and
shut nervously.
''It is disa greeable subject for more
reasons than one," said he. "Yet as
sumo that yor are not asking from idle
curiosity"
Ear from t." I replied. 1--WE are
attempting a very serious and careful
Investigation Of this subject. It is
probable iEat we shall give the re-
maindcr OF our lives to it, and we hope
to leave an important work behind
u.s."
81 should not care to have the thing
published" said Donaldson, with a bit
ter smile.
Iassured him that the usual anonym-
ity would be preserved.
The Society For Psychical Research
got after me once" said he. 81 sue
ceeded in lodging it. You will under
stand that this is o subject one doesn't
like to speak about
81 don't know" remarked Hackett
"Since we took up this thing, we've