Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-03-23
A Business
Affair
1t Was Also an Affair
of the Heart
By ANDREW B. CARLISLE

estate, ana 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 his respects to his new
neighbor.
1t was a hot morning. and Chandler,
In a thin white flannel suit and a straw
hat, entered the gate of the Anterior
grounds and strolled up the walk to-
ward the house. A young girl sat on
a rustic bench under a tree reading.
1t 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 If
Mrs. Athertcn is at homer
"NCt this morning. She has gone to
the city"
"Um, All, I'm sorry to miss her.
Hearing that l had a new %neighbor.
came over to call upon her"
Its very hot, and you look tired.
Won't you rest yourself?' 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, a neigh
Dor, called to pay his respects"
"Mr. Bussing's nephew"
Eyes" =
"Mr. Bussing has spoken to Mrs.
Anterior about you. He said he
thought you would call"
"Um! Are you a relative of Mrs.
Atherton?"
II may say that l am, for my
mother ard Mrs. Atherton are as
closely allied as if they were one per
son."
"And you are?"
Mrs AthertOn's secratarV"
Indeed"
you know"
81 was not aware of that. I presume
that her absence gives you leisure to
enjoy yourself out in this pleasant
nook reading"
at does"
"Is Mrs. Atherton an elderly or a
young woman?'
Between forty and forty-fve."
81 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. l may as well confess
that l know your errand. l heard Mrs.
Anterior and your guardian uncle talk
ing over the union of the two estates.
1t is quite natural that you should be
interested in learning something about
her, especially what you have just re-
ferred to, since she is so much older
than you"
Chopd1or RI rau within hinoca1f tfTInw
did it happen" he said coldly, that
you overheard"-
"Oh, l was not eavesdropping! Be-
sides, Mrs. Atherton told me all about
the matter as soon as your uncle had
departed"
MAY l 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 a man younger than
herself?"
"All that part of it you must get
from her" This was said in a tone
that indicated she had not relished the
implied charge of eavesdropping.
II beg pardon. l should not have
expected you to reveal what is of ne
cessity 4 confidence. Since we have
progressed so far in discussing the
matter may l ask-just an opinion,
you know-what you would think of
such a natch?"
81? 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
inform Mrs. Anterior of this meeting
and so much Of what has passed be-
"