The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-08-28


made such q stir !"
apparently Mrs. Ryder was not in an
lnquisitive mood, for she asked moth
ing further She only said:
II have a son, but l don't see much
of him. You must meet my Jefferson.
He is such a nice boy"
Shirley tried to look unconcerned as
she replied:
IL met him yesterday. Mr.. Ryder
introduced him to me-"
poor lad! He has his troubles, too"
went on Mrs. Ryder. Hes in love
with a girl, but his father wants him
to marry some one else. They're quar-
reling over it all the time"
Parents shouldn't interfere In mat
tiers of the heart" said Shirley de-
cisively. what is more serious than
the choosing Of life companion, and
who are better entitled to make a free
selection than they who are going to
spend the rest of their days together2
OF course it is a fathers duty to give
his son the benefit Of his ripper expert
ence, but to insist on a marriage based
only on business interests is little less
than a crime. There are considera-
tons more important If the union is to
be happy or a lasting one. The chief
thing is that the man should feel real
attachment for the woman he marries.
Two people who are to live together as
man and wife must be compatible In
tastes and temper. You cannot mix
oil and water. 1t is these selfish mar
riages which keep our divorce courts
busy. Money alone won't buy happl-
ness in marriage"
NO" sighed Mrs. Ryder. mo one
knows that better than l."
The financier's wife was already
most favorably impressed with her
guest, and she chatted on as If she had
known Shirley for years. 1t was rare
ly that she had heard so young wom-
an express such common sense views,
and the more she talked with her the
less surprised she was that she was
the author Of a much discussed book.
Finally, thinking that Shirley might
prefer to be alone, she rose to go, bid
ding her make herself thoroughly at
home and to ring for anything she
might wish. A maid had been assign
ed to look exclusively after her wants,
and she could have her meals served In
her room or else have them with the
family, as she liked. But Shirley, not
caring to encounter Mr.. Ryder's cold,
searching stare more often than neces-
sary, said she would prefer to take her
meals alone.
Left to herself, Shirley settled down
to work In earnest. Mr.. Ryder had
sent to her room all the material for
the biography, and soon she was COM
pletely absorbed In the task Of sorting
and arranging letters, making extracts
from records, compiling data, etc. lay
ing the foundations for the important
book she was to write. She wondered
what they would call 1t, and she smiled
as a peculiarly appropriate title fash
ed through her mind-"The History Of
a Crime" Yet she thought they could
hardly infringe on Victor Hugo Per
haps the best title was the simplest
'The History of the Empire Trading
Company" Every one would under
stand that 1t told the story or Jonn
Burkett Ryder's remarkable career
from his earliest beginnings to the
present time. She worked feverishly
all that evening getting the material
into shape, and the following day
found her early at her desk. No one
disturbed her, and she wrote steadily
on until noon, Mrs Ryder only once
putting her head in the door to wish
her good morning.
After luncheon Shirley decided that
the weather was too glorious to remain
indoors. Her health must not be jeop-
ardized even to advance the interests
Of the Colossus, so she put on her hat
and left the house to so for a walk.
The air smelled sweet to her after be-
ing confined so long indoors, and she
walked with a more elastic and buoy
ant step than she had since her return
home. Turning down Fifth avenue.
she entered the park at Seventy-second
street, following the pathway until she
came to the bend In the driveway OPP