Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-12-22
MRS. HAROLD stage.
Copyright ooandi by Bonners Sons
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Aht VI nlN ut'thoth
sister Eleanor, who had died a dozen
years before, at the time her young
est child was born, leaving beside that
baby boy. another son, and daughter
with the same name as her own.
These children had continued to live
IN Illinois with their father. a civil
engineer in the employ of a large man
ufacturing concern. Harold had not
seen them since his sisters funeral,
though he had never failed to re
member his nephews and niece at
Christmas time, and he had duly re-
ceived in acknowledgment of his
gifts-which were invariably liberal
remittances-three carefully penned
epistles the handwriting of which had
steadily improved from year to year.
An attack of pneumonia had carried
off Silas Baldwin; Harold had not
known that he was Ill until he re-
ceived the telegram. which was signed
by Eleanor, announcing that her
father had died the day before.
Harold knew enough of his brother
in-laws affairs to feel confident that
Slas had left very little If anything
in the way of property. To begin
WITH Silas had been handicapped at
the the time of his marriage by GER
tain debts contracted by his father
who had died Suddenly, leaving his
affairs in confusion, which debts he
felt in honor bound TO pay. Then
too. he had been in the habit of sink
ing whatever he could save from his
salary in the development of various
patents, for he was an inventor of
diverse mechanical appliances, no one
Of which had proved profitable. Har
old had on more than one occasion,
both since and previous to his sisters
death advanced him money for this
purpose. He liked and respected his
brother-in-law, although they were but
slightly acquainted, and there was lit
tie in common between them in point
Of tastes But Harold's strict sense
OF rectitude had been early attracted
by the resolute stand which Silas had
taken as to the necessity of repaying
what his father owed, and he had
teen willing to believe that some day
his sisters husband would devise a
machine that would be worth a mint
of money. Harold had himself found
1t an easy matter to make money, or
rather. his efforts to do so had been
early crowned with success, which
was chiefly due to his own sagacity
and strict attention to business. In
the year of his sisters marriage he
had organized a banking house which
today was one of the most prominent
and prosperous firms in New York
city.
BY a little computation. he had
figured that Eleanor must by this time
&c about eighteen, little Silas fourteen,
and Harold, his namesake, twelve. No
photographs of them had been re-
Cetved for several years so that they
must have grown beyond recognition.
His own two children were mere in
fants, and the introduction into his
household of his nephews and niece
would confront him with all sorts of
educational problems that he had not
expected to face for another decade.
But Harold Stagg was not the sort of
man to balk when a resolution had
been taken, or to let himself be wor-
ried by apprehensions of future diifi-
culties. Moreover, he knew that here
again he would be able to rely upon
his wife. She was sure to have de.
! Cided views on the various questions
that would present themselves. Al
ready, in Mr. Simpsons boarding
school, she had suggested a happy
! method of dealing with the boys
doubtless she would be able to settle
other points as they arose, with equa
facility
Accordingly, he ensconced himself
| comfortably in the smoking compart
nent of the train, and lit his cigar
with a tranquil mind, thinking with
lf-congratulatory fondness OF his
Gear Emma, from whom he had no
been parted more than half dozeI
days in the seven years they had beer
| married. What a fortunate fellow ht
was to have such wife! She was 81
energetic, so kind, so wrapped up II
| him; and then so clever, too, and sucl
Il delightful hostess. sprightly, viva
Cious, amusing. When he had Offered
himself to her. although he admired
her ability and believed her to be af
1ectionate, he had not expected to be
come so happy, She was not exact
ly the style of woman he had pictured
to himself his betterhalf would be il
his more youthful days. ere he hat
made money, and when he was living
in modest lodging a quiet and some
what sentimentahy disposed bachelor
He had been great deal of a reade
then-of poetry, especially in
tcrested in pictures and music, an,
it had delighted him to dream of
snug domestic hearth sancitfied an,
cheered by the presence of one VIII,
would sympathize with and encourag
him in artistic tastes. The memoir
Of this, If he ever thought of it. di,
not disturb him; he was contentedl
happy, his business ran smoothly an,
rrosperously, Re enjoyed his fine es
Adjustments and the consideration
they gave him in the social world