Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27
Confined tr1rx pig, 4

George had said. | went next morning to the
Second National Bank and asked Mr.. Johns.
with as much gumption as could muster, for
the loan of forty thousand dollars on nothing
but my personal note.
And let me say right here that reputation
IS as much an asset as capital. and Young
men ought to take that to heart and realize
it more than many of them do. Some Of
those tricky little deals that seem 50 smart
at the time may queer man for the rest Of
his DAYS, and constantly rise up in Judgment
against him. The business world is run On
trust, and mo others need apply. My talk
with Mr.. Johns didn't last ten minutes: yet
| walked out of the Second National with
forty thousand dollars added to my account
1t was my record tina, did 1.-THE years and
years | had been building up my credit.
The venture, in spite 81 all that interest
to pay. was profitable from the start; and
as the automobile industry continued to rise
by leaps and bounds. Hurd & O'Donovan
1eaped and bounded too. We mounted with
the food, and were never bothered a minute
to meet our calls; and, being always har-
monious and in agreement, George and
stood shoulder to shoulder for the good Of
the business. with none Of the pickering and
faultfinding so common in many partner
ships
THIS brings me to my coming to New
York on visit and calling on Mrs
Livingstone. l was rugged out as a gentle
man and beginning to feel a bit like one: but
when the door opened and she entered the
sitting room of her splendid apartment
where | was waiting, and held out her hand
SO warm and cordial. l guess all the gentle
man oozed right out of my toes, and was
just plain Mike again, trembling at the
sound of my own voice, and with an awful
lumpy feeling in my throat. The years had
not changed her. If anything, she seemed
more beautiful than | remembered: yet
softened and more wornanly, with deeper
light in her eyes and something in her voice
that caught at my heart
After awhile she brought in her Oldest little
girl to show me,-a pretty little tot OF four
or five, very wondering and silent at the
sight Of stranger, after some coaxing
| was allowed to take her on my lap, and put
my big arm round her. This seemed to
break the constraint | had felt 50 much at
first, and we fell to talking naturally. just as
we had in the old days at the hospital. and
to laugh and become the friends we were
before. l stayed quite time, and finally
when rose to go she said:
you've told me everything except the
most important thing OF all-her name,
Mike
"She hasn't any name," l answered IN
Nldl BIC iIiCdlll ftD)lt WHO
don't exist don't have names"
And are you never going to marry" she
asked.
l shook my head. "You know why" |
blurted out hardly realizing what | was
saying. at was all true on the little silver
box
She looked at me as though undecided
whether to be offended Or not; while stood
there, reddening to the ears, and wishing the
floor would open and swallow me up. Then
she smiled.
Shadows are poor things to hold to, she
said Shadows won't take care Of you when
YOU are sick, or keep you warm and COM
Portable as a good man ought to be. Get a
good little wife Mike, and leave it to her 10
chase them away. She'll do it,
That's good advice" | said. give tried
to follow it; but | can't
At that she paused, holding to the lapel
Of my overcoat with her little white hand,
and looking up in my face as a sister might
to a brother who was going away for a long.
long time.
"Just an old Dobbin," she said al last
very soft and quivering. @Just a faithful
foolish, single-hcarted old Dobbin God
bless you. Dobbin, There are none too
many like you in this bitter world
All the way back to my hotel | kept won
Il. l@1A Il. MI