The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-03-03
ONLY A BUSINESS MAN

honest, retiring. soft hearted natures
that never tell of their finer feelings
Discouraged by his small chances Of
success. for Edna. like most pretty
girls. was bit of fiirt. Peter accept
ed a profitable offer to go to Callfor-
mia and leave Port Raynor.
Peter was scarcely missed in the So
cial gatherings that made the sum-
mer houses pleasant at Port Raynor,
but Edna wondered what made them
all so suddenly dull to her.
She had plenty of attention from her
old friends and neighbOrs and from all
the visitors who saw her pretty face
and graceful movements. But her hero
did not appear, and Peter Jones was
in California.
He was growing rich in California,
Mr.. Fletcher said, being a good busi-
ness man, with fine opportunity
made for him by the firm which had
sent him out.
He would find some fair. gentle girl
who was not petulant and would give
the return he deserved for his love
and devotion. and he would marry
her, of course, and never come back
to Port Raynor. And here the sigh
would have its way.
Mrs. Fletcher was surprised that at
twenty-one Edna. the most attractive
girl at Port Raynor, was Edna Fletch-
er still. Tom and Will were both mar
ried and living in the city. where
Edna spent the winters with them and
had rejected several offers. She would
not acknowledge to her own heart that
all her love had been given to Peter.
Three years Peter Jones had been In
California and had been placed at the
head of the branch house there. work.
ing faithfully in the interest Of his
employers and slowly but surely max
ing his own fortune.
1t was dusk on a summer evening
when the train drew up at the Port
Raynor station and one gentleman
stepped out upon the platform.
mo baggage" he said to the waiting
porter, and he sauntered up the road
toward the Jones farm.
But the same road led him first to
the gate of Mr.. Fletcher's large. hand
some house. There was no group upon
the porch, as there had been always
in the old times. "Of course not" the
newcomer thought impatiently. "All
the young folks are married and
away"
He had hesitated at the gate, and he
thought he could spare time for a
short call. only to inquire for Mr.. and
Mrs. Fletcher, old friends, who de-
manded some courtesy from a neigh
Dor so long absent.
He went across the grass to the low
French window. This had been al
ways his path to the house, and he
smiled as he found himself on the
spot where he had left Edna three
years before.
'I'll go to the front door and ring"
he thought, but going a moment to
glance through the half closed blinds.
Two figures. dim in the gathering
darkness, were on the sofa. Both wore
light dresses, and they were close to-
gether, as if talking contdentially.
Peter did not think that he was being
an eavesdropper. He only fingered be-
cause he recognized voice whose
tones had always been the sweetest
music in his ears.
But why need marry anybody"
That was what Edna said. Not mar
ried-nOt married!
Peter did long to shout the words,
but a quiet, low voice answered:
You need not, Edna. But papa and
/ wonder sometimes If our little girls
heart is really so set against marriage
or If she is hiding some secret from
u.s."
Secret! l never had a secretw
You are not engaged, then, without
our knowledge"
mo. How could you think such a
thing?'
"And you really have never loved
any of your suitOrs?"
Silence. Peter Jones knew that he
was playing a very mean part, that
be had no right to wait for the unveiL-
ing of maiden's heart in this sly
fashion, and yet he could not stir.
Was there any one, Edna" Mrs.
Fletcher said very gently, who won
my daughters heart and did not know
the treasure was his?'
A choking voice answered:
Yes, mamma. but don't ask me
who it was. He-he was-nobody In
particular"
Peter Jones walked around to the
front door and rang the bell. Nobody
would have guessed by his quiet man
ner that his heart was throbbing to
suffOcatiOn, his hands cold. his head
dizzy with the sudden rush Of great
hope.
There was light in the wide draw
ing room where presently Mrs. Fletcher
and Edna came to greet him, and
Edna, prepared by his card, was self
possessed and gracious. She had
changed in those three years and lost
her petulance, was more womanly and
yet as pretty as ever. And Peter
Jones knew that the love in his heart
was not conquered. but strong as
death there still.
We'll, just to think of it"' Mrs.
Jones said when she came home from
the wedding. THAT Edna should re-
fuse such splendid offers as she has
and marry our Peter! She was al
ways talking about grand, heroic men.
and he has not even name-only the
one we gave him. Dear. dearr'
You'll be contented. Edna?" Peter
said when they stood on the steamers
deck. bound for California. "You
know. dear, I'm only a business man
there as here-nobody In PARTICULAR
Nam Vnrly Noxra