The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-18
Mr.Van Arsdale's|
Partner
lie Was Very Practical
;: In Making a Sc
lection
By ELINOR MARSH

" Tic soclal Worlu as bud l noticed
that my father looked worried. This
increased till he took to his bed. He
never left it. After his death his af-
FAIRS were settled and it was announc-
ed to my mother and me that he had
| died insolvent. We had nothing to live
On except small annuity my father
mad settled on my mother when they
were first married and were beginning
to climb the golden ladder But this
barely sufficed for my mother
1t was surprising to me how soon [
lost all my friends in society. For
| awhile | was invited as before and,
having wardrobe, accepted some of
| the invitations | received. But within
| half year those men who control the
sale of women's garments had so
changed the fashions that my clothes
were no longer in vogue. From this
time l dropped out of the social swim
and was soon forgotten.
| had met a certain Mrs. Abercrom.
bic, the widow of capitalist who had
herself become a philanthropist. One
| day when mother and | were wonder.
ing how we would make ends meet
received note from Mrs. Abercrombie
saying that she needed a secretary and
| offering me the position. OF course
jumped at the opportunity and accept
ed the offer at once.
My employer regarded the fortune
her husband had left her as a trust for
the benefit of those who needed help.
Indeed, her husband had left it to her
for this purpose Her personal ex.
penses were very small, and she never
gave anything away except in accord
ance with the principles that had been
laid down for her by her husband in
his will. She was kind hearted wo-
man, but very conscientious, and had
been converted by her husband to be-
lieve that money given indiscriminate-
~ did harm instead Of good. With her
the distribution Of charity needed man.
agement just as her husbands busi-
ness needed management
Mrs. Abercrombie gave me very
small salary to begin with Indeed, l
was not at first worth much to her.
but was very attentive to my work
and as fast as learned it she increas-
ed my pay. But at Its best 1t was not
much.
Mrs. Abercrombie dispensed good
deal Of money in connection with other
philanthropic capitalists. II half mil
lion dollars was needed to found a hos
pital she would be one of number of
persons to make up the amount. This
at times was the cause Of my meeting
these persons. They were old men
who had spent lifetime in accumulat.
Ing fortunes, or else their widows.
was quite frequently sent to them with
messages from Mrs. Abercrombie, and
there were cases In which l was com
missioned to talk over plans for mu
tual expenditure Of money for charity
had heard Of certain Edgar Var
Arsdale, an old gentleman who Joined
Mrs. Abercrombie in various gifts, but
had never met him. One day lettel
Of his to my employer came into my
! hands for fling 1t announced that
her plan with regard to "a day nursery
at Crockerville" was satisfactory tt
him and he would Join her in it will
pleasure. There was also statement
that he was grateful to her for con
senting to help him In the matter Of
partnership and he would talk thu
matter over with her. supposed tina
the writer was getting old and wishe<
some one to take upon himself par
of his affairs.
It was not long after filing this let
ter that Mrs. Abercrombie sent me t
Mr.. Van Arsdale to state her reasons
for declining to give certain sum o
money. She explained the matter t.
me thoroughly so that l would be abb
TO make 1t clear to Mr.. Van Arsdale
was driven to his home and on reach
ing it and giving my name and tn
object of my call to maid was ush
cred into a room used by the philan
thropist as an Office 1t was empty
and | took a seat while l waited.
1t was not long before young mai
some twenty-seyen or twenty-eigh
years old entered, bowed to me as DEF
L | prpntldIly us IL NClS u ooeANi 49,
and placed a chair for me near desl
at which he seated himself. Then b
\ waited for me to state my business.
Pardon me-" l said. Il have com
from Mrs. Abercrombie to make
statement to Mr.. Van Arsdale. | pre-
sumo 1t will be the same If | make
to you as If made it to him direct
Exactly"
l perhaps you are Mr.. Van Arsdale'
partner"
His partner?"
II Eyes. / have charge Of Mrs. Abel
crombie's correspondence, and recent
In fling a letter from him | notice tina
he was thinking of taking partner.
1 "Oh, you did. That gives me ne'
idea. Persons writing letters to othe
persons having secretaries should nav
a care what they say"
Il mot at all. In such matter MI
l Abercrombie and | are one and tn
same person"
/ 81 see" he replied. Just as Mr. va
Arsdale and I are one and the sam
person"
AS to the matter In hand | begaI