Oxford Democrat., 1916-08-22

gentleman saw by my looks that wa
embarrassed and added:
"Never mind that. Mr.. Van Arsdal,
can attend to It himself that Is, II 1
ID attended to at all"
| As rose TO 60 the young man too,
. rose out Of cut glass vase On hi
desk and offered Il to ma. I took Il
thanked him and after inhaling its de
ticious perfume for q moment left tn
room and &he house, he CALAMITY see
ing me to the door.
Soon after this visit was sent agaiI
10 Mr.. Van Arsdale's house ON another
matter. I was received BY the same
young man, and when mentioned
that I presumed his chief might be In
disposed he replied that Mr.. Van Ars
dale was very much indisposed and
probably would not attend to any mort
business.
"Is he very odr asked.
"very."
On this visit the gentleman led the
conversation to various topics not Of q
business nature, and was delighted
with his chat. We spent 30 much time
together IN this way that I feared
would receive q rebuke from Mrs
Abercrombie. But abe said not word
on the subject Of my delay. much to
my relief.
| One morning after the arrival Of the
mail Mrs. Abercrombie called me into
her boudoir and said to me:
my dear. I have an offer for your
services from one who needs a person
on whom to place much greater re,
sponsibilities than !, and the compen.
sation will be much greater. Mr.. Van
Arsdale writes me that II I will con.
sent to give you up he VIII take you"
"Mr. Van Arsdalel Indeed, Mrs.
Abercrombie. could not possibly take
his place. He Is very old and very Ill.
His secretary has told me that he Will
probably never again attend to bust.
ness. have understood that be need
ed a partner
"a partnerI Where did you hear
thatY'
II noticed It In a letter Of bis that
you gave me TO file"
"Ohr replied my employer. Il think
that by a partner he meant one to
whom he might intrnst matters that he
could not intrust to clerk or a sec
retary."
"What's the matter with the young
man who has been acting for himl
Can't MI. Van Arsdale keep himr
IF you consent I VIII write Mr.. Van
Arsdale to that effect and you can set
tie it with him"
"Do you think win be able to fll
the positionr'
Most assuredly.s
do you know what the salary will
ber
II do not"
After more inquiries on my part, to
which got no satisfaction, I consent.
cd to consider proposition from Mr..
Van Arsdale, and Mrs. Abercrombie
wrote him to that effect Twas surprised
the next morning to be Informed that
Mr.. Van Arsdale had called and was
waiting for me In the drawing room.
"Mr. Van Arsdaler' I exclaimed.
"Why, supposed he was bsdridden! ]
expected to go to him"
Hes waiting for you. By the by.
why not wear your new crepe De
chiner'
WHAT Dress to receive broken
down old manf He'll think I'm too
fine for business woman"
But Mrs. Abercrombie insisted and
superintended my toilet, and after she
was satisfied went downstairs to the
drawing room. There sat the young
man who had several times received
me at Mr. Van Arsdale's. I stopped a
moment on seeing him, then advanced.
saying:
IT thought that broken down old
man couldn't come to see me. but
would send for me to 60 and see him.
presume you come with a proposi-
ton for Mr.. Van Arsdale"
II do."
T believe he wants some one to-
"He wants partner"
"You mean one to-
"He wants a partner for life"
THAT doesn't mean much, since you
have said that he will never again.
IT Will explain. My father died re-
Gently and am his heir. have prac-
teal views. Expecting that some cold
blooded society woman would marry
me for my money, I asked Mrs. Aber-
crombie to recommend some girl who
had been brought up lady as have
been brought up gentleman. but who
had made good In taking care OF her
self. She recommended you. You got
hold of q letter of mine on the subject.
and after that was more careful"
What else he said to me on that
eventful evening Is too near my heart
to be repeated here. though my brain
was in such a whirl that ! only got Its
meaning. I need only say that ac-
cepted his proposition and became his
partner.
Psychology Of Laughter.