Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-09-16

that she had indeed accomplished
much. She was quite satisfied with
herself.
Gorimly was equally satisfied with
himself. Then and there he deter
mined to marry Miss Haldane. 1t
takes the cool headed, prudent man OF
business to make the most extraordi-
nary plunges into Wild endeavors at
times. He felt as a man with the
Wall street germ in his blood might
feel who was suddenly. after quar-
ter Of a century Of restraint, launched
on the sea Of speculation. What CORN
ly determined was usually brought
about sooner or later. In this in
stance. however, there was no as
surance of success. Matrimony is the
oretically regarded as contract be-
tween two equals into which neither
enters upon constraint That was
Gormly's view of it He could buy
and sell merchandise. He would not
buy or sell woman.
Nor had George Gormly particular
knowledge to enable him to play the
game he had entered upon with such
impetuous indiscretion. He could hand
cut million dollars or so on occasion
without feeling it, but cynical though
he had become about womankind in
general, Gormly instinctively realized
that such means would be entirely in
adequate to do more than arrest tenn
porary attention and excite a passing
interest in such a woman as Miss Hal
dane. Indeed, too freely resorted to,
such. practise would inevitably dis
gust her.
Meanwhile he must keep in touch
with her. At intervals, therefore, he
won himself a sight of her and main
tanned a speaking acquaintance by
further remittances toward her pro-
ject; which had already started with
a tremendous flourish of trumpets and
great interest on the part of the pub
lie.
Miss Haldane. for all her other quail
files, was human and woman.
There was something rather alluring
in secret even to her. She enjoyed
being the means of disbursing for
remained
anonymous to the general public. She
was quite willing to call at Gormly's
business office on occasion for the
purpose of relieving him of further
donations. Naturally she confided
more and more of her plans and
sometimes her difficulties to the same
astute man. She found Gormly re-
markably intelligent on such matters
and able to give her the very best pos
sible advice. Sometimes she even
came to him of her own motion to re-
ceiYe something else than signed bits
OF paper good at the bank, and to dis
cuss veXing questions and problems
that arose from time to time. She
grew to respect him and then to like
him. Fortune as usual favored him.
Miss Haldane was twenty-five. Nat
urally she regarded a man of forty
four as a possible father, and she had
no hesitation in approaching Gormly
with much more familiarity than she
would have dreamed of allowing her
self had he been younger. And yet
Gormiy himself was young looking
man for forty-four. He was still as
tall and slender, not to say spare, as
he had been when a boy. He was
smooth shaven, and the flecks of gray
in his blond hair were scarcely notice
able. II Miss Haldane had ever given
thought Of his age. she would have
supposed him ten years younger than
he was; that is, on appearance. When
she thought of his business, she would
have considered him sixty. Ever since
she could remember, she had dealt
at the great shop, and Gormly himself
uneonsciously took on TO her the as
Eect Of ancient history.
So the little affair ran on; Gorrnly
consciously becoming more and more
deeply involved, Miss Haldane uncon-
sciouslY Interviewing herself in the
same tangled web.