Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1911-09-13
CHANGING
THE SUM

Then I am to understand that you
are unwilling to give your consent to
my marriage to Rose?" demanded
Archer as he rose.
81 have told you that am deter
mined that my daughter shall marry
one who is able to support her in the
style to which she Is accustomed. You
have told me that you have an income
slightly less than my daughters dress
, allowance. presume you are capable
of making the simple arithmetical
computation that two and two mike
four"
81 suppose I could" assented Arch
er. "The trouble Is that there Is
another example on my mental slate.
That is that one taken from one leaves
nothing"
"I fail to see the application" vas
the cold response.
TITS this way" explained Archer.
taking his seat again. "If you take
Rose from me you leave me nothing
to hope for. Now do you get the
idea9"
Mere romantic nonsense" was the
impatient reply. "You will soon find
some young woman in your own sta
ton Of life who will occupy your
thoughts to the exclusion Of my daugh-
i ter"
Station in life," echoed Archer with
laugh. "It seems to me that your
father and my grandfather were In the
same station Of life. You happened, to
make money and my father didn't.
That's all. Rose is willing to get along
on what earn. We are not asking
you to support Us. Her happiness
should mean something to you"
"It does," agreed Sidney Wright Ut
Is for that reason that insist that she
shall not have to go through the in
ferno Of economy that was necessary
to my own younger days-"
81 think that she'd rather have me
than a red automobile and Paris
frocks," said Archer, rising agsin-
"Just think over that example. Mr..
Wright. One minus one equals naught.
You can't forget It."
Archer slipped out Of the office and
Wright turned once more to his desk.
He was doing what was best for his
daughter. Rose would thank him some
day, when she knew life better.
He picked up q paper but he could
not concentrate his attention upon 1t
be- use that absurd example kept
ringing through his brain. 1t was later
than usual when he left the Office. be-
cause the Jingle would cling to his
memory and keep him back in his
work. He thought the ride home in
the open air would drive it from his
brain, but the horses seemed to tread
out the sum with their hoof beats on
the macadam, 1t was like the old
Punch, brothers. punch with care. u
that he recalled back in the '70s.
Roses red eyes told that she had
seen or heard from Archer, but abe
said nothing and Wright did not open
the subject. More than ever the girl
reminded him Of her mother and he
remembered how happy they had
been in those early days before the
sudden growth Of the city had taken
within It's limits the Wright farm and
rendered building lots as valuable as
acres had been before. They had
been happy enough with each other.
but the times were changing Money
was necessary to comfort and he
would see that Rose married some one
who could support her in the style to
which she was accustomed. A four
room fat was the best Archer could
offer.
Stfll the example kept flashing
through his mind. "One minus one
equals naught." It danced before his
eyes as he read the evening paper and
the more he tried to put the memory
away the more insistent It became.
It was the last thing in his thoughts
that night and the hrst thing he re.
called the next morning. In his sleep
he had dreamed Of gigantic figures.
huge ones and monster ciphers.
He took trolley to the Office but
the fatted wheels ground out the
same monotonous refrain and when
he went to lunch he called first upon
his physician.
"Just a little tired feeling" ex.
planned the doctor when the trouble
was explained with no reference to
the origin Of the sum. III were you
I'd run out Of town for few days
and forget business worries for "a
| while"
He pocketed the fee and escorted
Wright to the door. watching him go
down the street with heavy tread
that was very unlike Sidney Wright
Some business worry" he said to
himself as he turned back to his own
neglected lunch. Wright needs to be
careful or he will have breakdown.
Wright hailed the idea Of trip
with pleasure. It would take him out
Of sight Of Roses reproachful eyes.
but that night In the sleeper the
grinding Of the wheels beat time to
the incessant repetition Of the one
minus one nor was 1t any better next
day at the winter resort
Wright was thoroughly scared.
Change Of scene brought him no relief
and rest was out Of the question. For
two days he grew worse and worse
and at last his tired nerves broke
under the strain. For months his
worry over certain pending deals had
weakened his nervous system. This
WAS the last straw, AS q last resort