The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-09-29

] 0uI IL Liz 1C~ldIu XGlSuL xI6V
ton company, for instance, mad pooh
pcohed him at first, and even nov
though the public press was filed
with accounts Of him and hts doinGA,
they still greatly underestimate his
qualities. Haldane himself had Joined
in this depreciation until he had met
Gormly. He had as yet enjoyed NO
opportunity Of conversation with him,
save in a general way, rs has been
seen; but he was accustomed to deal
with men. and he saw instantly that
he was face to face with a personal
ity at once able. courageous, deter
mined. and strong.
Behold the two men seated on either
side Of the bright FIRE In the library,
Haldane smoking one Of Gormly's ex-
cellent Havanas; glasses, bottles, and
Ice on a little table at hand. He had
disapproved Of Mrs. Haldane's man.
ner, not because he thought it insult
ed to the occasion, but on account OF
the peculiar qualities and ~characteris-
tics OF Gormly and the relationship in
which he stood to certain matters Of
Importance. He had been inclined on
the first entrance TO follow his wife's
patronizlng, arrogant assumption Of
superiority; but now he strove to in
fuse all the geniality and cordially
possible into his voice and manner.
On the other hand, Gormly natural.
~ had a deep interest in Haldane. Al
the father OF the he loved, he
would necessarily be a 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 c~ountenance Of the great fnancier.
his dream would be by that much the
more easy of realization. He had an
Idea, however, that this would be i'm
possible. That did o daunt him VI
render him the less alert. To win
Haldane's consent possibly might be
no more practicable han to WIN Miss
Haldane's consent. Yet Gormly was
accustomed to attempt the impossible.
and nine times out of ten to achieve
1t. That Haldane had any relation
ship, or could have any relationship,
to him other than that Of a prospect
I've father-in-law never entered hts
head. That was sufficient to render
the interview memorable to him.
The conversation began with = re
mark from the older man about the
weather. l have long wondered why
the weather is the staple inaugural
topic.
Il have rarely experienced so severe
a sDowstorm." said Haldane blandly.
L have been coming down to Long
Island in winter off and on ever since
l was a boy, and this surpasses any
thing within my knowledge"
1T is bad enough for New York" re-
sponded Gornly. Here when the
temperature gets down to the zero
mark and the wind blows thirty or
forty miles an hour, and it SHOWS harot
all day, we call it q blizzard
At that last remark, though Haldane
had TO ostensible connection with the
street department, O any otheS de-
partment Of the municipal administra-
ton in fact, the man slightly lifted his
head and glanced for a moment with
deeper interest at his companion. /
II take it from your allusion that
you have experienced worse storms
than tits. |
4 have been in real billiards., Mrs
Haldane," answered Gormly quietly;
more than once where the winds.
velocity was scarcely to be measured,
where the temperature was rom.
twenty to thirty below, where the sleet
needles cut, like whips, and the storm.
had full sweep unchecked and I'M,
broken by any thing. However, ann
| glad of the storm in this instance
since it has enabled me to extend to
you and your party the shelter Of my.
roof. I have been acQuainted-I have
had the privilege of knowing, that is.
your daughter for some time, and Il
am honored in the acquaintance of hers
father and mother and gourl friends."t
You say you nave known my daughss
ter forfsome time3'.+f I
Il have had that pleasure" s
1 IF l mistake not, she said that you
mad been Interested in! her settlement
work. Quixotie imaginatiops ot an
enthusiastic girl my dear sir; hut I
humor her It1E1ll II 4
You do WELL" returned the otherI
E'Andfif you will give me hove to dit
fer with you, / hardly call II Quiyctic.
| have examined into the plan thor
roughly, and 7 must say It strikes me al
being altogether admirable as we'll az
entirely feasible. l hope and be 4ev4
it will succeed %%83& ! 8
Quite So" returned Haldane. HH'
was not In the least interested In the
matter. Z
II have assisted Miss Haldane ID
every way pos sihle." returned. Gormly
who did not propose to be duestioned
| as to the details Of his relation to the
scheme. |Ofi courseIt be went on,
| your own reputation as a fnancier -
| known to me as 1t il to all Of New
York. and II 4 may be permitted to say
| so l am Of the opinion that a lage
| part of your executive ability. MOI to
| say genius, has descended ito J,1u1