Oxford Democrat., 1916-08-22

& lie Was Very Practical !
Is In Making a Se- (
& lection !
& By ELIN0R MARSH !
6ss>s>s~~s>~~s>~>s
Shortly after / had been Introduced
to the social world as q bud noticed
that my father looked worried. This
increased till he took to bis bed BE
never left It After his death his at.
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 a small annuity my father
had settled on my mother when they
were first married and were beginning
to climb the golden ladder. But this
barely suf1ced for my mother.
1t was surprising to me how soon
lost all my friends In society. For
awhile l was invited as before and,
having a wardrobe, accepted some Of
the invitations l received. But within
half q year those men who control the
sale of women's garments had 30
changed the fashions that my clothes
were no longer In vogue. From this
time dropped out Of the social swim
and was soon forgotten.
had met certain Mrs. Abercrom-
bic. the widow Of a capitalist who had
herself become a philanthropist One
day when mother and were wonder
ing how we would make ends meet
received q note from Mrs. Abercrombie
saying that she needed 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 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 q kind hearted wo-
man, but very conscientious, and had
been converted by her husband to be-
ueve that money given indiscriminate-
ly did harm instead Of good. With her
the distribution of charity needed man.
agement just as her husbands bust
ness needed management
Mrs. Abercrombie gave me a very
small salary to begin with. Indeed, !
was not at first worth much to her,
but l was very attentive to my work
and as fast as l learned 1t she increas-
ed my pay. But at its best It was not
much.
Mrs. Abercrombie dispensed q good
deal Of money In connection with other
philanthropic capitalists. II half mil
lion dollars was needed to found 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 ! was COM
missioned to talk over plans for mu-
tual expenditure Of money for charity.
I had heard Of certain Edgar Van
Arsdale, an old gentleman who Joined
Mrs. Abercrombie In various gifts. but
had never met him. One day letter
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 to
him and be would join her in It with
pleasure. There was also a statement
that he was grateful to her for con.
senting to help him In the matter OF
a partnership and he would talk the
matter over with her. supposed that
the writer was getting old and wished
some one to take upon himself part
Of his affairs
It was not long after fling this let
ter that Mrs. Abercrombie sent me to
Mr.. Van Arsdale to state her reasons
for declining to give a certain sum Of
money. She explained the matter to
me thoroughly so that would be able
to make it clear to Mr.. Van Arsdale.
I was driven to his home and on reach
ing 1t and giving my name and the
object Of my call to maid was ush-
cred into q room used by the phtlan-
thropist as an Office. It was empty.
and took a seat while I waited.
It was not long before young man
some twepty-seven or twenty-eight
years old entered, bowed to me as def
erentially as If I were a social belle
and placed a chair for me near desk
at which he seated himself. Then he
waited for me to state my business.
"Pardorf me-" I said. I have come
from Mrs. Abercrombie to make a
statement to Mr.. Van Arsdale. pre-
sume It win be the same II make It
to you as II made It TO him direct"
Exactly"
Perhaps you are Mr.. Van Arsdale's
partner"
"His partnerT
Eyes. I have charge Of Mrs. Aber-
crombie's correspondence, and recently
In fling letter from him notice that
he was thinking Of taking partner"
''Oh, you did. That gives me a new
Idea. Persons writing letters to other
persons having secretaries should have
a care what they say"
mot at all. In such q matter Mn.
Abercrombie and I are one and the
same person"
II see," he replied "Just as Mr.. Van
Arsdale and I are one and the same
person"
"As to the matter In hand" began,
"Mrs. Abercrombie regrets deeply that
she does not see her way clear to join
you In the erection Of laboratory for
- college" I proceeded to give tho
reasons for her refusal, and when I
had finished the gentleman, who had
listened attentively, said:
.If can repeat this statement -