Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1909-01-01


color in the stands, and he thought Of
them only in the plural.
For the first time he now thought of
but one woman, and he mentally decid-
ed that Eleanor Pettis was the one wo-
man worth while thinking of ut all.
For her sake he took up his social
duties. Hypocritically he pretended 70
himself that it was merely for the sake
of being able to meet Pettis without
seeming to seek him.
So 1t came about that he held only
brief conversations with the old man
about the collection and extended chats
with Eleanor about themselves. She
had become interested in the matter
Of the loan, and with most unfilial but
feminine prejudice she sided with the
| younger man.
1t was she who told him of the pro-
jected trip abroad and suggested that
perhaps the interests of the bank re-
Quired that he follow. Dick was de-
lighted with the suggestion, and to his
I greater delight his father approved.
keep after that old swindler until
he pays up Peter Paulding growled.
II have made good to the bank myself,
and I'll keep after him and get it If
have to sue his executors. Follow him
to the north pole If he wants to go
there"
Dick nodded and withdrew, and when
the ocean liner carried Hiram Pettis to
Europe Dick was a fellow passenger.
AS in duty bound, he reminded Pettis
every morning of his just debt. The
rest of the day he spent on deck with
Eleanor, and each day he grew more
firmly convinced that breaking into
business was an entirely delightful
process.
During the return trip some three
months later he mustered up courage
to propose to Eleanor.
81 suppose that it will be hard to
persuade our fathers to be friends"
she said when they came back to earth
again. Il don't know how we ever
shall be able to do it, Dick"
Leave that to me-" he said conf
IDENTIFY. "You forget that I am bust
ness man now, and these little prob
lens in diplomacy are the things
have to meet. Do you think that we
want house or an apartment In some
hotel? We may have to take to fiat,
for that matter, in case dad proves
nasty"
"As long as it is with you, DEAR" was
the tender reply, and again earth fad
ed into visions Of paradise.
A week later Dick came into his IA
theirs bank and laid upon the desk
package of thousand dollar bills.
"Why didn't Pettis give you a
check?" demanded the elder Paulding.
'You said that might make some
slight concessions and left the amount
to my Judgment" reminded Dick. Il
told him that If he would pay you
would not gloat over the fact and that
you would not even mention the mat
ter again. He is paying In specie SO
that the check will not remind him of
his surrender
II see," was the grim comment.
Anything else?'
"Only that am to be married next
month";" was the calm response. You
see, Eleanor-Miss Pettis-and l came
to know each other very well and
well, you can't know Eleanor without
loving her. want you to meet her."
Apparently the prediction was q
truthful one, for Peter Paulding re-
garded his daughter-in-law elect with
approval, and the marriage was quick
ly arranged.
Dick wondered when among the pres.
ents he saw sealed envelope Oh which
was written the injunction that it was
not to be opened until after the we'd
ding.
Not until they were comfortably in
stalled in Pcttis' private car on their
wedding journey did Dick think Of the
letter.
AS he unfolded the sheet three slips
Of colored paper futtered to the floor
of the car. and Eleanor gave little
cry as she picked them up. Dick was
too deep In the letter to realize that
he had dropped anything. for he found
II interesting reading.
"Dear Dick" it ran, II am inclosing
you your own check for the money
that Pettis owed. Pettis and are
each adding a like amount to get you
young people started. We feel rather
proud of our matchmaking. If we had
been couple Of ambitious mothers we
might have made the error of trying
to force you two to marry.
"Instead we invented this debt Of
100000 and gave it to you to collect.
That brought you and Eleanor togeth-
er. and the trip abroad was for the
purpose of bringing things to head.
guess that we are able to beat out