The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-10-06

| the coffee
Leslie took a cup from the tray,
dropped in lump of sugar, stirred it,
and offered a spoonful to Mr.. Harlan.
Go on, sir Tell me the rest of the
news" she commanded.
Il don't think there's anything else
to tell. Yes, there is" he added, as
Perkins handed him a bunch of pa
pers; here's an announcement of
Granville Phelps marriage, and a card
for the opening day at the Water Color
xhibition-and-Mar Is, that's the
date for, the concert BY the way,
Leslie, before forget it, just sign this,
please"
The girl glanced at the paper with
evident surprise Then she slipped
from the arm of the chair, and sitting
down at the library. table, turned up
the lamp and read the document
through carefully. 1t was a printed
form, headed Proxy for Stock" and
worded with legal phraseology.
Proxy for Stock
Know All Men by These Presents, that
[, Leslie Harlan, do hereby constitu {
and appoint to be my lawful
attorney. substitute and proxy fer me
md in my name, place, and stead TO vote
upon all the s'-c'- held by ne in The
CunreueraIeo Machine Companies at the
annual meeting of stockholders Of The
Confederated Machine Companies, to be
held on the day of or at any
adjourned meeting thereof, according to
the number OF votes l should be entitled
to vote If then personally present.
In, NuyhA 1IYNfn Gnt
my hand and seal this day of
one thousand nine hundred
and
Sealed and delivered
in the presence of
The first glance at the paper re-
called to Leslie every word of the con-
versation with Mrs. Parsons. She had
been waiting for the proper moment
to speak to her father about the Ma
chine Companies, but now the oppor-
tunity had come, she shrank from TAX
ing advantage of it. She could ask
herself why; she would not allow her
self to answer. She wanted time to
think it over. But Mrs. Parsons had
said that whatever was done would
have to be done promptly. II she let
this chance go by, it might never come
again. But she could not let 1t pass.
The paper conferred authority to vote
for her in the very company in which
she had been asked to influence her
fathers vote. This was a new sitaa-
ton, and one which she had never be-
fore contemplated However the oc-
casion introduced the subject natural
ly, and that was perhaps more impor-
tant than time for reflection.
rs all that legal verbiage too much
for your"
1t must have been the third or fourth
reading which Mr.. Harlan's question
interrupted.
Il never saw paper like this be-
FORE" she answered. ''It gives the
right to vote at meeting of stock
holders, doesn't it?"
yes"
But how can give any such right?
I'm not stakeholder"
Yes, you are. At least hold stock
IN your name, which is the same
why did you put it in my name?"
ooh, because-welI, just for G
change"
Wasn't that a strange reason?"
mo, everything | have is yours. So
name is used. In this instance it was
more convenient to use yours"
"Why?"
For goodness sake Leslie" he
laughed, you're worse than a cross
a~amining lawyer!"
Bur I don't see how it could be
more convenient to use my name when
I'm so seldom down town"
81 can't explain all that now, my
lear"
Mr. Harlan's tone indicated weari-
less, and Leslie did not press the in
Jury.
Tell me, what are you going to vote
or, Mr. Proxy" she demanded, jest
ngly.
Merely for some new directors It's
what they call the annual meeting"
Leslie dipped her pen in the ink and
ouched a blurred letter before she
spoke again.
Isn't this the company where
here's a strike going on?"
yes"
"Will this election stop the striker"
II hope So"
Whom are you going to vote for?'
Nov, don't you think we've dis
,ussed this long enough, my dear?''
Nr. Harlan replied, with a shade of an
1oyance in his voice The whole
Kings merely formality. Just sign
opposite the seal"
But isn't my proxy going to tell me
low he will vote?"
Nonsense, Leslie!"
Mr.. Harlan's exclamation was SHARP
md irritated. Leslie made no reply,
Ind Mr.. Harlan picked up magazine
md began reading it.
"Mr Vice President"
Mr.. Harlan continued reading.
Mr. Vice President"
Harlan looked up, and his lips re-
axed into smile as he noted the
mock solemnity of her eyes.
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