The Lamar register., 1903-04-22
MRS. HAROLD STAGG.
Copyright 1900 and 1891 by Sons
opyrisht, 1900 and 1891 by Robert Bonners Sons.


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 a daughter
with the same name as her own.
These children had continued to live
in Illinois with their father, civil
engineer in the employ of 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 Acknowledgement 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
on Silas Baldwin; Harold had not
| known that he was i'll 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
i1-law's 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
10 fOr ,,,pa -
diverse mechanical appliances, no one
CT 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
ceen willing to believe that some day
his sisters husband would devise
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 n banking house which
today was one OF the most prominent
and prosperous firms in New York
city.
By little computation. he had
figured that Eleanor must by this time
Eo about eighteen, little Silas fourteen,
and Harold, his namesake. twelve. No
photographs of them had been re.
ceived for several years so that they
must have grown beyond recognition.
His own two children were mere In
fants. and the introduction intD 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 resolution had
been taken, or to let himself be wor-
ried by apprehensions of future dim-
cultfes. Moreover, he knew that here
again he would be able to rely upon
his Eife. She was sure cto7 have de-
dded views the variop--,abhs- -'--'-e
that would present tlemseI Al. 81
ready. in Mr.. Simpsons ling won
school. she. had suggested opy edu,
method of dealing with TN vs.. wor
doubtless she "ouiu 'pe aple tle gel
other points as they arose. wits the
facility. how
Accordingly, heN ensconced hf bee
comfortably in the smoking coz. Tn,
nent of the train, and lit hislr one
with tranquil mind, thinkingh me
sc1f.congratulatory fondness off, wit
Gear Emma, from whom he had wv
bC m parted more than half d A
days in the,s seven years they had c.
married. What fortunate fellow
was to have such I wife, She wad an
energetic, SO kind, so wrapped up\ a
him; and then so clever, too, and su
i delightful hostess. sprightly, with
clous. amusing. When he had ofIerag
himself to her.. although he admire
her ability and believed her to be ate
fcctionate. he had not expected to bel
come so happy. She was not exact,
ly the style of woman he had pictured
to himself his better-half would be in
his more youthful days, ere he had
made, money, and when he was living
in modest lodging a quiet and some
what sentimeEtaIly disposed bachelor.