New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02

Of Streets came 10 ROOkcrV ROW 10 thank
him for his work and offer him encourage
mcnt: how the new shop thrivcd and was
written about in the big Sunday papers, -
would alone make a story, "a better one,
perhaps, than this II is enough for Us that
Mary Bcdon's Store, from the pride OF the
street, became a source and center OF IN
SEPARATION: that il prospcrcl amazingly; that
its fame travelled far and in due course
reached a secluded hamlet in the hills OF
Northern Jersey.
ATHERTON had been in Rookcry Row
n the better part Of year, in all Of which
time he had not Travelled ten blocks from
the street, when a noticeable change came
over him. He became nervous and AZ times
strangely distracted. At intervals he
seemed 10 forget the very existence Of the
street and It's problems and draw into HIM
self Ike one who has heard the rattle of the
dice and awaits the messenger. He had
many plans for the street and the store: but
they appeared to hang upon some unknown
thing, some contingent Had he, for any
reason been under the surveillance Of Head
quarters, the Gordon would have closed in.
81 can always tell when the boss gets one
Of them letters from New Jersey, the office
girl remarked. "Alaybc its the pale lady;
but | heard She was dead.
rs was inevitable. Rookery Row sur
missed that he was preparing for flight, and
a rumor spread that the pale lady was COM
ing back to claim her store and al the money
that he must have made out Of it. Athcr-
tons smile, when he heard. was full Of mys-
terry.
She came in June, all the bloom Of per-
feet health in her checks, the confidence of
boundlcsS strength to DO and endure in her
buoyant step. in her eyes the Softcncd lights
that come after grief. a beautiful. adorable
woman Athcrton. who had been out. came
in and found her in the dainty, white office
ne had built for her. She was staring
through tears at a framed picture Of the old
store bcwildcrcd. lost in a riot Of emotions.
81 read the whole story in a New York
paper, and couldn't endure il another day,
she told him by way of apology for SurpriS-
ing him. "Oh, it is splendid. What a won
dcrful thing you have donc,"
And your new storc-how do YOU ike it,"
he asked. leaning forward rs if to meet her
answer on the way.
"No-no- mo-" she cried. 1T is not
mine left nothing 1t is yours your
own. You made il. have only come back
toto thank YOU and"
"Oh, yes, it is yours, he broke in firmly.
I'm not square with Jimmy yet, and his
voice suddenly low and soft, 81 never will be
if-if-"
If"
By the quavcr in her voice and the great
light that Shone in her eyes, Athcrton knew
that he was not going away from Rookcry
Row. The ownership of the store was no
longer in dispute: it had already passed
into a partnership. With a cry he gathered
her into his arms, just as a noisy delegation
of youthful citizens broke in from the street.
They were married that afternoon in the
first parsonage they came to; and it hap
pencd to be on the same mean street that
boosted of Mary Bcldon's Store
ATHERTON had just come in from a
meeting of the Board of Aldermen"
(pcrhaps Alderboys would be BETTER when
his wife handed him a telegram. 1t was
from his New York lawyers, with whom he
had kept in touch, and read:
Normoil people must have coal lands. They
instruct us 70 find YOU and say will accept
original proposition if can be had Regard you
as only man who can unravel tangle in West.
We hold twenty thousand for your expenses.
Come TO New York Immediately.
"Comc back TO the office, Honey, while
answer this, said Atherton quietly. In the
office he took up pad of blanks and started
to write: