The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-12
The Man Who
Worried
And In One Case There
Was Something to
Worry About.
By JOHN 7. HARMED


began my business career at seven.
teen as office boy with an importing
house. My father, who was a friend
OF the proprietor. Mr.. John Edsall, Sc
cured me the position. and l was en-
social terms with the Edsall family.
| was interested in my work, whatever
1t was, and that is an important ele-
ment of success. was connected with
different departments at different
times, and in this way gained gen
eral knowledge Of the business.
Mr.. Edsall's only child was a daugh-
ter. who when came Of age was If
teen years old. Some girls Of fifteen
are like six-weeks-old colt, all limbs
) and very awkward. Lucia Edsall was
the reverse OF this. She was very
pretty and graceful as a fawn. fan
cied her from the first moment l saw
her and had evidence that she fancied
me. But girl of that age will usually
cling to any young fellow with whom
she associates.
Nevertheless, after she had been at
boarding school for year, on her re-
turn, although she was more careful
in showing her feelings for me, l had
reason to believe that they had not
changed. was not in receipt of an
income to marry my wealthy employ
er'S daughter. Nevertheless there was
sparring between Lucia and me that
was dangerously near to love making.
Another years separation occurred
a trip abroad Lucia made with her
mother-and on her return, while
saw no change in my sweetheart, had
become impressed with the risk to me
In appearing as sutton for the hand
of my employers daughter. Should he
have other plans for her he might as
sumo that l had clandestinely won her
and be proportionately indignant. 1
was in high favor with him in busi-
ness way, and my prospects were very
bright 1t would be a terrible misfor-
tune to me IL such an accusation were
brought against me. / would lose not
only the girl I loved, but my position,
and would have to begin again at the
foot of the ladder
Being year older ON Lucia's return
than l was when she went abroad,
this view Of the case seemed OF great
er importance to me. There is no one
more prone to worry, to take pessi-
mistic view Of his affairs than lover.
l dreaded to have Lucia show a parti-
atty for me, and when she did re-.
pressed its expression. This naturally
caused her to treat me coolly, and 1
was more miserable than before.
l had been spending months In this
condition of uncertainty, making my
self and Lucia miserable, when Mr.. Ed
sail was taken IN. He sent for me to
come to his house and told me that he
wished me to run the business, report
ing to him every day until he had re-
covered. / was astonished at this, be-
cause there were men much older than
/ who had been In his employ for
many years. OF course / was much
fattered. l was also rejoiced because
1t indicated that some day l might be
promoted to position next to the pro-
prietor Of the business.
But the higher l was lifted In a
business way the more anxious / be-
came lest something should bring
about more open love affair between
Lucia and me, and my prospects would
be brought to a sudden collapse. had
not definitely made love to her. The
matter was drifting. II told her that
loved her should be In position to
offer myself to her. That would neces-
state my going to her father, and
had not the faintest knowledge what
ground he would take. But l feared
the worst.
When he recovered and resumed his
place as manager Of his business he
made me his financial man, placing me
In charge of not only the moneys he
used in the business, but his securities.
This showed great confidence In my
integrity, but was all the more panic
stricken at the prospect Of his coming
to a knowledge Of what was going on
between me and his daughter.
l worried, too, about the affairs OF
my department. The cashier, Samuel
Gregory. was under my orders, and
the only person besides myself and
Mr. Edsall who had the key Of the
safe. Gregory had been with the con-
Germ twice as long as had, but wor-
ried lest he would involve me In some
misfortune. He was not as careful !
with his personal expenditures as
thought man entrusted with funds
should be, but that was not sufficient |
cause for my pessimism.
One afternoon after bank hours a Gus
toner from another city came into the
Office and insisted on paying bis ac- /
count, very large amount, in bank |
bills / was obliged to receive 1t, and ,
1t was placed In the safe. That night
/ lay awake, not only thinking Of the
equivocal position occupied with re-
spect to having a love affair with the
daughter Of a man who trusted me i'm
plicitly, but who could wreck my pros
poets If he considered that / had been
treating him dishonorably. Worry Is a
habit, and IL a man permits himself to
worry about one thing he win worry /
about everything.
What made me worry about the
money In the safe was that when 1
had reported the fact Of the payment
to Mr.. Edsall he said that I should