The Ordway new era., 1911-07-28

0OSWly. Inc 90S0&m frolgnt IroC-
ton company. for instance. had pooh.
poohod him at hrst and even now.
though the public press was hlled
with accounts Of him and his doings.
thsy still greatly undersstimatsd his
qualities. Haldans himself had Joined
IN this depreciation until he had mot
oormiy. He had - yet enjoyed no
opportunity Of conversation with him.
save In . general way. - has been
seen: but he was accustomed to deal
with mon. and he saw instantly that
hs was face "a. face with . personal.
ity at once able. courageous. deter.
mined. and strong.
Behold the two men seated on either
side Of the bright IRE in the library.
Haldans smoking ono Of Gormly's ex-
csllent Havanas: glasses. bottles. and
Ice on little table At hand. He had
disapprovsd Of Mrs. Haldane's man.
ner. not because he thought 1t insult.
I'd to the occasion. but on account Of
the peculiar qualities and characters.
tics Of Gormly and the relationship In
which he stood 70 certain matters Of
Importance. He had been inclined on
the f1rst entrance 10 follow his wife's
patronizinG. arrogant assumption Of
superiority: but now he strovs to In
fuse all the geniality and cordially
possible into his voice and manner.
On the other hand. Gormly natural.
ly had deep interest In HaldAne. As
the father OF the woman he loved. he
would necessarily be . great factor
In the battle he meant to wage for her
hand His consent and influence.
while not absolutely essential. would
naturally be of great value. II he
could by any means win the support
and countenance Of the great nnancier.
his dream would be by that much tho
more easy OF realization. He had an
idea. however. that this would be i'm
possible. That did not daunt him or
render him the less alert. To win
Haldane's consent possibly might be
NO more practicable than to win Miss
Haldans's consent. Yet Gormly was
accustomed to attempt the impossible.
and nine times out Of ten to achieve
It. That Haldane had any relation.
ship. or could have any relationship
to him other than that Of prospect
i've fathsr-in-law never entered his
head. That was suficient to render
the Interview memorable to him.
The conversation began with a re.
mark from the older man about the
weather. have long wondered why
the weather is the staple inaugural
topic.
81 have rarely experienced SO severe
. snowstorm." said Haldane blandly.
II have been coming down to Long
Island In winter OF and on ever since
I was a boy. and this surpasses any
thing within my knowledge"
ut Is bad enough for New York." re.
sponded Gormly. Hero when the
temperature gets down to the zero
mark and the wind blows thirty or
forty miles an hour. and 1t SHOWS hard
all day. we call It q blizzard
At that last remark, though Haldane
had no ostensible connection with the
street department. or any other de-
partment Of the municipal administra-
ton In fact, the man slightly lifted his
head and glanced for q momen, with
deeper interest at his companion
Il take It from your allusion that
you have experienced worse storms
than this."
Il have been In real billiards. Mr..
Haldane." answered Gormly quietly;
more than once where the winds
velocity was scarcely to be measured.
where the temperature was from
twenty to thirty below. where the sleet
needles cut like whips. and the storm
had full sweep unchecked and un.
broken BY any thing However. am
glad Of the storm in this instance.
since It has enabled me to extend to
you and your party the shelter Of my
roof. have been acQuainted-i have
mad the privilege Of knowing. that IL
your daughter for some time, and
Am honored in the acquaintance Of her
father and mother and your friends"
You say you have known my daugh-
ter for some time!"
Il have had that pleasure"
III I mistake not. she said that you
had been interested In her settlement
work. Quixotic imaginations Of an
enthusiastic girl. my dear sir; but
humor her."
You do WELL" returned the other.
And II you will give me leave to diff
fer with you. hardly call 1t Qui1otic.
have examined into the plan thor
oughly, and I must say 1t strikes me as
being altogether admirable as we'll az
entirely feasible. hope and believe
1t will succeed"
Quite so," returned Haldane. He
was not in the least interested in the
matter.
Il have assisted Miss Haldane in
every way possible" returned Gormly.
who did not propose to be questioned
as to the details Of his relation to the
scheme. "Of course" he went on,
your own reputation as a fnancier fs
known to me as 1t is to all Of New