Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-07-14
CHAPTER I-Continued.

He actually gave her 5000, 900 to
start that great institution for young
working women which was the pride
of her heart, and he promised her
that as the work developed, as he
had no doubt 1t would develop or the
foundations she was planning, he
would follow up the first gift by others
ever larger. He told her that he was
willing to devote a million or perhaps
more to the enterprise, II 1t proved
worth while, especially as so many or
his own employees would be benefited
by It.
Miss Haldane did not intend to live
IN the social settlement herself. She
might perhaps have enjoyed such a
life; but her social duties at the other
end of society were of so exacting a
character, and her family were so Op-
posed to her undertaking such work,
that she cOntented herself with fur
thering from afar the efforts Of GER
tain of her college mates in that d1-
rectiOn.
One thing possibly that induced
Cormly to promise his great sum of
money, which he could very we'll
spare, was the knowledge impaired to
him by Miss Haldane that she herself,
through her father and friends, would
give d like amount.
GOrmly had exacted a pledge from
the young woman that she would not
betray him as a benefactOr in her In
stitution. He had actually made out
the check to her for the amount in
question and turned it over without
hesitation after an interview lasting
less than half an hour, in which Miss
Haldane had set forth her plans, her
hopes. and her ambitions with all her
charm of manner. He was not GER
tain that he could have refused her
the store If she had demanded it!
When Miss Haldane left his bust
ness office, check in hand, she felt
that she had indeed accomplished
much. She was quite satisfied with
herself.
Gormly was equally satisfied with
himself. Then and there he deter
mined to marry Miss Haldane. It
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
ICS1 Ia a NNS - - AoNA
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 a contract be-
tween two equals into which neither
enters upon constraint. That was
CCry,Iy'c vInu IF ~ Hn could hIv
and sell merchandise. He would not
buy or sell q woman
Nor had George Gormly a particular
knowledge to enable him to play the
game he had entered upon with such
impetuous ndiscretion. He could hand
cut a million dollars or so on occasion
without feeling 1t; but cynical though
he had become about ~wOmankind in
general. Gormly iLstinctively 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 escorted to,
such practise would inevitably dis
gust her.
Meanwhile he must keep IN touch
with her. AT intervals, therefore. he
WOn nlDnSelI a SlSnC OF n6r ana main
tanned a speaking acquaintance by
further remittances toward her pro
tect; which had already started with
q tremendous flourish of trumpetS and
great interest on the part of the pub
lie.
Miss Haldane, for all her other quail
flies, was human and a woman
There was something rather allurine
in a secret even to her. She enjoyed
being the means of diSbursing fol
good ends millions that remained
anonymous to the general public. ShC
was quite willing to call at Gormly's
business Office or occasion for the
purpose Of relieving him of further
donations. Naturally she conf1deC
more and more of her plans anC
sometimes her difficulties to the sam
astute man. She found Gormly re
markedly intelligent on such matter.
n able to give her the very best pos
sible advice. Sometimes she ever
came to him Of her own motion to re
ceive something else han signed bit
of paper good at the bank, and to dis
cuss veXing questions and problem'
that arose from time to time. Sh,
grew to respect him and then tc Xix
him. Fortune as usual favored him
Miss Haldane was twenty-five. Nat
1sRAly she regarded a man of forty