Morris tribune., 1917-03-02
A Business
Affair
Il Was Also an Affair
of the Heart
By ANDREW B. CARLISLE

college his uncle told him that he had
q special plan for him. Chandler was
an orphan who had inherited a large
estate, and his uncle was his guard
ian and would be for a 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 Chambers
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 bis respects tn his new
ueighbor
1t was a 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
rustic bench under a tree reading,
1t occurred to the visitor that he would
60 over to where she was sitting and
ask If Mrs. Anterior 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 if
Mrs. Atherton is at homer"
''NOt this morning. She has gone to
the city
''Um! All! I'm sorry to miss her.
Hearing that 1 had new neighb0r. !
came over to call upon her.
It's very hot, and you look tired
Won't you rest yourselfY' 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 he good enough to
say to Mrs. AthertOn on her return
that Mr. Herbert Chandler, a neigh
bOr called to pay his respects"
"Mr. BnsSing's nephewY
Yes"
mfr. Bussing has spoken to Mrs.
AthertOn about y0U. He said he
thought You would CALL"
''Um! Are you relative of Mrs
AthertonY"
Il may say that l am, for my
mother and Mrs. Atherton are AS
closely allied as If they were one per
SON.
And you areY'
Mrs. Athertnn's secretary"
"Indeed."
"And her amanuensis. She writes.
you know"
Il was not aware Of that presume
that her absence gives You leisure to
enjoy yourself ont in this pleasant
nook reading"
1T does
"Is Mrs. Anterior an elderly or a
young wOman?"
Between forty and forty-fve."
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" he added
sOberly.
Excuse me. may as well confess
that know your errand. I heard Mrs.
Anterior 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 40 much older
than you"
Chandler drew within himself. How
did it happen" he said coldly. that
you Overheard'-
"Oh, was not eavesdrOpping! Be
sides, Mrs. Anterior told me all about
the matter as soon as your uncle had
departed"
'May ask if she was favorably dis
posed toward the plan?"
''She was very much interested in
the matter Of uniting the two proper
ties. She said it would very much en-
nance the value of both"
"But marrying man younger than
herself?"
Cali that part of it you must get
from her." This was said in 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 1 ask-just an opinion,
you knOw-what you would think of
such a match?"
T2 Oh, wouldn't think of giving
an opinion on a matter that concerns
you and Mrs. AthertOn."
"You consider it very. mercenary,
suppose"
81 certainly would unless you came
to love each other"
In this vein they chatted on for some
time, When Chandler arose.
Il presume" he said, "that you will