Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-03
THE EVENING STORY.
LOVE AND AN UP-To-DATE COT.
TAGE.
BY G. 9. HAHN.

Copyright, 1910, by Associated Liter
ary Press)
When ] came of age stepped into
as nice little fortune as any young
man need wish for, and said to myself:
Il have enough of an income to live
a life Of leisure. shall enter into no
business now and lose the best years
of my life for enjoyment. When tired
of amusing myself shall take up some
q pastime.
''Why should not man make business
a pleasure, just as he does travel, mu-
sic or yachting?"
At the end Of my first year / found
that not only had used up my income
but had also cut of generous slice
from my principal. At the end OF three
years-and l never was dissipated-I
had come to my last IS bill, and when
I spent it, wrote across its face, "Good
by Bill. You are my last" Then be-
gan to look about me for the business
that was to be pastime.
I had always been firmly convinced
that if man really wanted to work,
he could find it. But, strange to say,
when started out In search Of a posi-
ton. found none waiting for me to
step into MY friends all gave me good
advice. They did not know that my
fortune was gone and took particular
pains not to enlighten them. / had that
much worldly wisdom. did not want
either their sympathy or their cold
shoulders. Their advice was always to
the effect that no one could really en-
gage in congenial business without in
vesting money and they advised me to
do so. They even went further and
brought forward schemes in which to
invest.
l had also held peculiar ideas with
regard to the business and the men
with whom 1 would associate, and in
my search for employment neither
business nor men came up to these
ideals. Consequently, for the first year
my efforts at earning living were
extremely varied and not marked with
the brilliant success I had expected. /,
At last I settled down as real es-
tate agent. That, l thought, would
bring me among none but pleasant peo-
pie, oraif it did I could easily get rid OF
them. Il took out license, rented an
Office and actually found myself en-
gagged in business entirely my own
and without investing money. MY
friends. as usual, were kind. They all
listed their property with me. whether
they wanted to sell it or not. But even
here there were some uncongenial
things which did not suit me. There
was Jones, for instance. He had de-
lightful piece of property, but MS
lowest price was $4,000, while my
friend Brown, who wanted to buy It,
would not nay more than $4,000
When grew wiser, learned that the
was worth only $500
At the end of my first month
pawned my gold watch to pay once
rent and my boys wages. At the END
Of the second began to dispose OF my
wardrobe and speedily reduced It to
one suit. Then requ ested my landlady
to allow me to occupy one corner OF
her garnet and began living on two
meals day. also let out half my Of
Ace to a man who could afford to pay
rent. At the end of his second month
he failed with the requisite. rental and
offered to take the place Of my office
boy as payment So my once boy
went.
IN the course OF time got down to
extremities, slept in my once and ate
when and where could. l also learned
far as keeping my soil
tary suit in repair.
One great and happy day consum-,
mated sale and built air castles as to
how would spend my commission. 1t
never came Later learned that com
missions from that particular man
never did come. 1t was hard. but IT
taukht me caution. After this / saw to
it that my commission was In sight be-
fore closed deal.
But things took turn at last. had
a beautiful cottage on my list and one
day handsome carriage stopped be-
fore my door and in came widow
whom had slightly known in my
moneyed days. She wanted that cot
tage-wanted it badly-but after look,
ing over the terms, said:
"Mr. Saville, must have this place.
But cannot pay cash unless you car
find purchaser for my brown stone
house on Madison avenue. If could
make an exchange with the owner Of,
the cottage would pay you almost
anything you might ask.
Was there ever anything young,
real estate agent would wish for more
than a chance to become salesman Of
a brown stone mansion on the most
fashionable avenue in the city. prom
ised her buyer within a week, and
kept my word.
Next day Mrs. Kent called for me
and we went out to inspect the cot
tage incidentally, her daughter. a
vision Of lace. loneliness, sunny hair
and sunny smiles, was in the carriage
with us-a vision which had known
and dreamed about in the days of my
In wrestling with one of the win
dows which had stuck fast, managed
to split my only coat soon after reach
ing the cottage and the mirrors in the
room showed seedy vest and shirt,
whichever way turned. But no thanks
to me, the house was so delightful that
the only question was If the owner
would agree to an exchange. He did,
and won my first commission Of i'm
portance.
Next day sat in my Office deeply
in meditation upon the ex--
IRENE foolishness Of squandering a
fortune which would have enabled me
l.. d,oo,,, with rooc0p ~ H,1fPv. h airod