The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-07-06

"Hargreaves? ! don't know. did
not inquire. He understood that my
firm could not stand against the Syndi-
cate, and, so far as the members OF
Il are concerned, the dissolution will
not make much difference"
"You knew this, yet you were
friendly to me. Chavasse. could have
prevented what happened today"
''Yes, but why should you have pre-
vented 1t? You pursue one policy.
another. That we see from entirely
different standpoints need not make
us enemies"
"You seem to know all about my
policy" said Anothony Forrest drily.
would you mind defining it?"
"You are a born financier, Mr.. For
rest, and one in actual being likewise.
Surely that explains everything"
"And your own policy?"
Chavasse smiled again, and gave
his shoulders a small, good-natured
shrug.
mine is simple, too, though to
you 1t might seem complex, or even
incomprehensible. want peace to live.
have soul as well as a body, and
have too much respect for my soul
to throw myself absolutely into the
vortex"
But 1t is a mans duty to do his
utmost wherever he is placed. You
have family, l understand" said
Forrest quickly.
Three, all grown up and launched,
two of them married, the other going
to be next month. None of them are
rich, nor ever will be, but they are
contented with simple things. There
is only myself and my wife now to be
considered, and am certain this news
convey to her this evening will make
her very happy"
"Yet you step from a responsible to
a subordinate position! Will you tell
me how much Hargreaves offered you?
l don't put these questions out of vui-
! gar curiosity, but rather because you
! interest me. have never met anyone
! holding quite these views. They are
! little unusual"
Not so rare as you would think"
said Chavasse. "Hargreaves offered
me five hundred pounds a year, with
out any prospect of rise. He was
perfectly clear on that point. There
will be no speculation or possibility
about it; that is why it recommends
itself to me-"
"Five hundred a year! 1t is not
much. Can you live comfortably on
that? l spend in my family not much
short of five thousand, and do not
he hesitated a moment, and then add
ed with bitterness, "do not get very
much happiness, and certainly no
peace out of it,"
I'VE shall save on five hundred, and
have something to give away" re-
piled Chavasse. "It is all a matter of
individual taste, of what constitutes
ones ideas of the actual necessities
Of life"
Tomorrow is Sunday, Chavasse; {;
may ! take the liberty of inviting my.
self to your house, about four O'Clock
in the afternoon, to a cup of tea?"
"Most certainly. 1t will give us
the greatest pleasure, more especially
as none of the children will be with
us tomorrow, through an usual com
bination of circumstances. Sunday is
their day. They come early and leave
late; all of them and the in-laws
seem to find the old nest as accepta
Bile as our own children. Thank God
we are all very happy together. II
is my dear wife that has done that
She is the home-maker. l must &c
back to her now, and rejoice her sou,
with my news"
They stood still, neither noting
that they had arrived at the moment
of the imposing gateway of Tudor
Lodge, the residence of Anthony For
rest.
A carriage swept through the gates
in front of them, and a handsome
richly dressed woman gave slightly
supercilious bow, as both men raised
their hats.
THAT is my wife, Chavasse, and
she is, unfortunately for me, not 6
homemaker. l have had many ambi
tions in my life, and have realized 6
goodly share of them, but / realize
at this moment that as far as per
sonal happiness is concerned, the un
ambitious man Is miles ahead of me
! would give the half of my income
now for your quiet peace of mind"
Chavasse was at a loss what tC
say to this strange speech. He mere
ly looked sympathetic and shook very
warmly the hand offered to him.
Then he retraced his steps some
what slowly across the common. He
was not so absorbed but that simple
things on the way gave him particu
Lar Joy; little clump of golden bloom
on sheltered breadth of gorse, the
ambitious fern fronds bursting into
newness of life, the unblown daffo
dills in a neighbor's garden-wheI
he reached the little suburban terrace
all these things were observed, and
added to the sum of his content.
A sweet and still youthful face above
the window blind at the sitting-room
window frightened at his coming, and