Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-03-20
"A Business
Affair
L Was Also an Affair
Of the Heart
b. ANDREW b CARLISLE

When Chandler came home from
college his uncle told him that he had
a special plan for him Chandler was
an orphan who had inherited large
estate, and his uncle was his guard
ian and would be for few months,
when the heir would come Of age. A
widow Of the name Of Atherton had
bought some contiguous property that
Chandler had long desired. She was
forty years Of age. but Chandlers
guardian proposed that he should mar.
~ her. The benefit to his estate
would be considerable Chandler said
he would look into the matter and
about a week after his return strolled
over to pay his respects to his new
neighbor. 3
It was q hot morning, and Chandler.
in a thin white flannel suit and straw
hat, entered the gate Of the Atherton
grounds and strolled up the walk to-
ward the house, A young girl sat on
a rustic bench under a tree reading.
It occurred to the visitor that he would
go over to where she was sitting and
ask If Mrs. Atherton was at home Be-
sides, he might elicit some preliminary
information about the widow. Leav.
ing the walk, he approached the girl
She was pretty, but SO plainly dressed
that Chandler was In doubt as to her
position. However. he lifted his hat
politely and asked:
BEG pardon. but can you tell me II
Mrs. Atherton is at homer
"Not this morning. She has gone to
the CITY,"
"Um! All! I'm sorry to miss her.
Hearing that I had new neighbor. /
came over to call upon her"
Its very hot, and you look tired.
Won't you rest yourselfT' The girl
moved to one end Of the bench that he
might occupy the other.
"Thank you very much" he replied.
seating himself.
This was all very fortunate. He
would have an opportunity to chat
about the widow.
Perhaps you will be good enough to
say to Mrs. Atherton on her return
that Mr.. Herbert Chandler, neigh
Dor, called to pay his respects"
"Mr. Bussings nephew"
EYES,"
"Mr. Bussing has spoken to Mrs.
Atherton about you. he said he
thought you would call"
"Um! Are you a relative Of Mrs.
Atherton?"
II may say that am, for my
mother and Mrs. Atherton are as
closely allied as II they were one per.
SON."
"And you areT
"Mrs. Atherton's secretary"
Indeed"
"And her amanuensis. She writes,
you know"
II was not aware Of that. Ipresume
that her absence gives you leisure to
enjoy yourself out In this pleasant
nook reading"
1T does"
"Is Mrs. Atherton an elderly or o
young woman" -
Between forty and forty.nve."
II hear she Is very handsome and
appears far younger than that"
He had heard no such thing. he
was working the pump handle. The
girl smiled.
Something amuses you" be added
soberly.
Excuse me. I may AZ well confess
that I know your errand. heard Mrs.
Atherton and your guardian uncle talk.
Ing over the union of the two estates.
It Is quite natural that you should be
interested in learning something about
her, especially what you have just re-
ferred to, since she is 80 much older
than you."
Chandler drew within himself. "How
did 1t happen" he said coldly, that
you overheard"-
"Oh, was not eavesdropping! Be-
sides, Mrs. Atherton told me all about
the matter as soon as your uncle had
departed"
"May. ask II she was favorably dis
posed toward the plan"
"She was very much interested In
the matter Of uniting the two proper
ties. She said 1t would very much en-
hance the value of both" .
But marrying q man younger than
herself?"
"An that part Of It you must get
from her." This was said in q tone
that indicated she had not relished the
implied charge Of eavesdropping.
II beg pardon. I should not have
expected you to reveal what Is Of ne
cessity confidence. Since We have
progressed so far in discussing the
matter may ask-just an opinion,
you know-what you would think Of
such a match2"
T? Oh, I wouldn't think Of giving
an opinion on q matter that concerns
you and Mrs. Atherton."
"You consider 1t very mercenary, ]
suppose"
II certainly would unless you came
to love each other"
In this vein they chatted on for some
time, when Chandler arose.
t"I presume" he said, that you viii
inform Mrs. Atherton Of this meeting
and 30 much Of what has passed be-
tween us as you think win interest
her" y.
"If you desire It shall consider the
meeting and al that has bean said con
fldential." f
.As you IKE" he replied *NotAins
has been said that Arh AthsEton
should not hear" go
II may tell her that you win call
again, / supposer
"Plsase do 20. win come IN . few
days" ~
"She viii naturally be interested to
zee you"
Chandler walked away. perhaps bet
ter pleased with his vidt than II be
had seen the lady be had called on.
Mrs. Atherton's secretary was not only
attractive In appearance, but had q del.
,icate sense Of what was not proper for
her to say In such O, conversation.