The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-03-15
A Business
Affair
II Was Also an Affair
of the Heart
BY ANrREW b. CARLISLE

an orphan who I'D inherited 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.
ry her. The benefit to his estate
would be considerable Chandler said
he would look into the matter and
about u week after his return strolled
over 10 pay his respects to his new
neighbor.
1t was hot morning, and Chandler.
In thin white tlannel 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.
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 20 her
position However, he lifted his hat
politely and asked:
Beg pardon. but can you tell me IL
Mrs. Atherton Is ut homer
mot this morning. She has gone to
the city"
"Um, Ali I'm sorry to miss her.
Hearing that had new neigbbor, |
came over to call upon her"
ITS 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 be good enough to
say to Mrs. AthcrtOn ON her return
that Mr.. Herbert Chandler neigh.
Dor. called TO pay his respects"
Mr.. Bussing's nephew
YES"
'AIr. Bussing has spoken to Mrs.
Athcrton about you, He said he
thought you would call"
I'm! Are you relative of Mrs
Athciton?"
Il may say that | am. for my
mother and Mrs Atherton are as
closely allied as if they were one per
son"
And you are?"
"Alrs. Atherton's secretary"
'lndeed."
And her amanucnsis. She writes,
you know"
II was not aware of that. presume
that her absence gives you leisure to
enjoy yourself out in this pleasant
nook reading"
1T does
rs Mrs. Atherton an elderly or a
young woman?"
Between forty and forty-flve."
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
thael know your errand. ! heard Mrs
Anterior and your guardian uncle talk {
ng over the union Of the two estates
It Is quite natural that you should be
Interested In learning something about
ier. especially what you have just re.
ferred to, since she Is so much older Z
han you"
Chandler drew within himself. How
lid 1t happen" he said coldly, that t
you Oyerheard"-
"Oh. was not eavesdropping Be
'ides, Mrs. Anterior told me all about
he matter as soon as your uncle had I
departed"
MAY ask II she was favorably dis
POSED toward the plan" u
"She was very much interested in G
he matter of uniting the two proper. *
les She said II would very much en-. b
lance the value Of both
But marrying a man younger than
Ierself?"
"All that part Of II you must get n
rom her" This was said In a tone p
bat indicated she had not reliShed the
implied charge OF earesdrOpping. p
II beg pardon. ! should not have
expected you TO reveal what Is or ne. Il
esSity Il confidence. Since we have
progressed NO far In discussing the Il
natter may Isk-just an opinion. y
on know what you would think OF
nch matchl" II
III Oh. | wouldn't think Of giving q
n opinion on matter that concerns
gu and Mrs. Aiherton." 4
"You consider IL very mercenary. tc
Impose.
II certainly woul unless you came b,
, love each other III
In this vein they chatfed on for some
me. when Chandler arose
Il presume" he said. that you will 10
iform Mrs Afhert0n ~ this meeting 10