Middletown transcript., 1906-02-10

were ringing. Half an hour
more, and the big import house
Of Jarman & Potter would be
empty. Even Alcot Robson
seemed in a hurry.
Is that oil, sir? be asked, as he
heaved the last batch Of private
letters on Mr.. Jarman's desk.
No, Robson; there's one more
to Lemaire of Lyons. It's about
the brocades and. MORNINGS.
You know what TO say, and pitch
in all the 'hautes sqtutations !
don't want anyone to get that
stuff.
The secretary weRt back to his
desk, looked at his watch, and
sighed. Bs was slim and meek
a. and big-eyed, with pur-
bps and mouse-like ways.
He glanced anxiously at Andrew
Jarman, as he fixed the sheet in
his machine and underlined the
aFEeurs ct PEatnes Soieset Ve-
lours," of the note paper, that
were intended as subtle sop to
Gallo vanity.
What's the matter with the
man? he thought. ! never saw
him so restless.
Sure enough, Andrew Jarman,
portly ard dignitied, was pacing
the room. cigar in hand. He
would stop, gaze out OF the win
dow and knock of imaginary
ashes. The cigar had gone out.
Click-clack, and then whir-r.r
for Robson was fast and accur.
ate. Lemaire's letter, sir, he
said. And his employer took a
pen and signed.
Robson, he said slowly, as he
added the flourish, don't go. !
want to talk to you.
There was a pause. The young
er man folded, addressed and
stamped the last letter.
Jarman relit his cigar, and be-
gan his walk again up and down
and around the private Office.
You've been with me. a long
time, Robson, and I trust you as
a man might trust his-well, hist
lawyer. He stood for a momen
in his walk and gazed curiously
at his companion. Somehow ]
can think aloud before you. /
don't knoRrwhy, but I seem to
regard you as-not as-weu,
hardly as a-human being. Mr..
Jarman could hardly express it.
Now, don't be offended, Robson,
and he pointed his cigar at him.
The secretary smiled. 1t was
an irradiation. The man S face
fairly lit with amusement and
fine intelligence. No, sir. he said
simply.
I'm not happy. Robson-not
happy. People think am. mind
you; but am not. I've got money
a town house and country places
and a fine business; but happy,
Robson, he shook his head, lam
not. And yet no ore knows. it.
His cigar was out again. He
tugged at it vainly.
What is it you lack, sir?
See here, Robson, and he drew
nearer, in spite OF all my troops
of supposed friends, I'm lonely
have been lonely for years.
Do you understand? He stopped;
his voice sank almost 10 a whis-
per. Robson, he almost whis-
pered, | want love in my life. He
fixed his keen, blue eyes on the
young man almost appealingly.
I've bee1 looked upon as mere
money-grubbing, ,old widower for
the last fifteen years; but now
do you know what I think Ill do'
Why, Ill marry some sweet girl,
if she'll have me.
Think what I could give her,
man: houses, .horses, frocks and
jewels, all that a woman Graves
for and more. And when the
SHOWS came, could take her to
Cairo by way of Italy, and we'd
drop down the Nile in a steam
dahabiyeh with minstrels and
things, as far as the Second Cat
aract at Wady-Halfa. Or there's
Nice and Monte Carlo, if she
preferred gaiety. And carriages
Robson, and motors and servants
-eh? And I am not so old,
either-not much over sixty,an
way. The big figure straight
ened up almost nnconsciously.
Alcot Robson's hurry to go
/ had left him. He seemed most
interested, and certainly sympa-
thetic. But the lady. sir have
you decided upon her. And he
smiled. It sounded like shop