Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-29

collars to start that great institution for young
working women which was the pride OF her
heart, and he promised her that as the work
developed, as he had no doubt it would develop
on the foundations she planning, he would
follow up the first gift by others even larger.
He was willing to devote million to the enter
prise, if it proved worth while, especially as so
many of his own employees would be benefited
by it.
Miss Haldane did not intend to live in the
social settlement herself She might perhaps
have enioved such life; but her social duties
were of so exacting character, and her family
were so opposed to her undertaking such work,
that she contented herself with furtherlng from
afar the efforts of certain of her college mates
N that direction
One thing possibly that induced Gormly to
promise this great sum of money which he
could very well spare, was the knowledge inn
parted to him by Miss Haldane that she her
self through her father and friends, would give
d like amount. Gormly had exacted pledge
from the Young woman that she would not be-
trav him as benefaCtOr in her institution
With fine appreciation OF the beauty OF the
ANONYMOUS in charity, she promised not to let
the right hand know what the lett had done.
This association with Miss Haldane in secret,
which seemed to bind them together In Pc
.uliarlv close and intimate way, was delight
to Gornlv- though not until he had examined
the situation carefully in cooler moments did
ne realize what its possibilities were. He had
actually made out the check to her tor the
amount in question and turned it over without
hesitation after an interview lasting less than
half an hour, in which Miss Haldane had set
forth her plans, her hopes, and her ambitions
with all her charm of manner. He was not Cer-
tain that he could have refused her the store
if she had demanded 1t.
vIHEN Miss Haldane left his business Office.
check in hand, she felt that she had in
deed accomplished much; done {" a good days
work." she would have phrased it if she had
ever descended to the vernacular. She was
quite satisfied with herself.
Gormlv was equally satisfied with himself.
Then and there he determined to marry Miss
Haldane. 1t takes the cool headed prudent
man of business to make the most eXtraord1-
nary plunges into wild endeavors at times.
The very audaclty, not to say lmpudence, OF
his desig n fascinated him.
His determination introduced him to a tram
Of thought and precipitated him into a series
Of actions entirely different from the steady, If
brilliant operations of his business career. He
felt as man with the Wall Street germ in his
blood might feel who suddenly, after
quarter of a century of restraint launched on
the sea of speculation. What Gormly deter
mined was usually brought about sooner or
later In this instance, however, there
assurance of success. Matrimony is popularity
regarded as a contract between two equals into
which neither enters upon constralnt. Miss
Halt!ane would have to be a party to any
alliance. Whether or not her views could be
brought to correspond with his as to the desira-
bilitv and propriety of such union, was a
question no one could solve
Nor had George Gornly any particular
knowledge to enable him to play the game he
had entered upon with such lmpetuous lnds-
cretion He could hand out a million dollars
or so on occasion without feeling it; but cynical
though he had become about wonankind,
G1crmlv instinctivelv realized that such means
would be entirely inadequate to do more than
arrest attention and excite interest IN such
woman as Miss Haldane. Indeed, too freely
resorted to, such d practice would inevitably