The Elbert County tribune., 1903-04-23
MRS. HAROLD stage.
copyriss. 1890 and 1891 by Robert Bonner. Sons

4
| est child was born. leaving beside that
pauy ooy. another son. and a daughter
win the same name us her own.
.hese children had continued to live
an illinois with their father. a civil
engineer in the employ of a large man
uiacturing 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
ghts-which were invariably liberal
renilttances-three carefully ponned
epistes' 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 III until he re-
ceiVed the telegram. which was signed
Wy Eleanor. announcing that her
father had died the day before.
Harold knew enough OF his brother
i'-law's affairs to feel confident that
Silas had left very little II 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
snairs 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 tho development OF various
patents, for he was an inventor of
clverse mechanical appliances. no one
or 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
brotherin-law. although they were but
slightly acquainted, and there was lit.
tie in common between them In point
CT 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
II 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
to-day was one OF the most prominent
and prosperous firms in New York
city.
By little computation. he had
| hat ~
tc 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 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 dim
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 equal
facility.
Accordingly. he ensconced himself
] fah in. ha
rlent of the train, and lit his cigar
with a tranquil mind. thinking with
sclf-congratulatory fondness Of his
tear Emma. from whom he had not
been parted more than half dozen
days in the seven years they had been
married. What a fortunate fellow he
was to have such q wifel She was so
energetic. so kind. SO wrapped up In
him; and then so clever. too, and such
j delightful hostess. sprightiy, viva
cious, amusing. When he had offered
himself to her. although he admired
her ability and believed her to be af-
fectionate. he had not expected to be
come so happy. She was not exact
ly the style Of woman he had pictured
to himself his better-half would be in
/ MS more youthiul days, ere he had
made money. and when he was living
in modest lodging quiet and some
what sentimentaliy disposed bachelor.
lie had been a great deal Of reader
then-of poetry. especially-and in
tcrested in pictures and music, and
It had delighted him to dream Of a
snug domestic hearth sancitfied and
cheered by the presence OF one who
would sympathize with and encourage
him In artistic tastes. The memory
of this. II he ever thought of 1t. did
not disturb him he was contentedly
happy, his business ran smoothly and
I a 4.