The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-03-06
A Business
Affair
1t Was Also an Affair
of the Heart
By ANDREW 3. 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 Anterior had
bought some contiguous property that
Chandler had long desired. She was
forty years Of age. but Chambers
guardian proposed that be should mar
ry 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.
It was hot morning. and Chandler,
In thin white flannel suit and q straw
hat, entered the gate Of the Anterior
grounds and strolled up the walk to-
ward the house. A young girl sat on
rustic bench under tree reading
1t occurred to the visitor that he would
go 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 II
Mrs Anterior Is at homer
mot this morning. She has gone TO
the CITY,"
'Uml All! I'm sorry to miss her.
Hearing that 1 had new neighbor.
came over to call upon her."
i TITS 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 ali very fortunate. he
would have an opportunity to chat
about the widow.
Perhaps you win be good enough to
say to Mrs. Anterior on her return
that Mr.. Herbert Chandler, a neigh
Dor, called to pay his respects"
"Mr. Bussing's nephewr
'Yes"
"Mr. Busting has spoken 70 M4s.
Atherton about you. He said he
/ thought you would call"
"Uml Are you a relative of Mrs.
| AthertonY'
II may say that I am, for my
mother and Mrs. Atherton are as
closely allied as If they were one per
son."
"And you areT'
''Mrs. Atherton'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 out In this pleasant
nook reading"
1T does
| rs Mrs Anterior an elderly or q
young woman?n
Between forty and forty -iye.y
| Il 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 wen confess
that I know your errand. heard Mrs
Atherton 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"
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 aboui
the matter as soon as your uncle hai
departed"
May ask If she was fav0rably dis
posed toward the plan2H
"She was very much interested Ii
the matter Of uniting the two proper
ties. She said it would very much en-
nance the value Of both"
But marrying man younger thar
herself?'
"All that part of It you must get
from her" This was said In tone
that indicated she had not relished tht
implied charge Of eayesdropping.
II beg pardon. should not have
. expected you to reveal what is Of ne
cessity confidence. Since we hay,
progressed SO far In discussing thu
matter may ask-just an opinion
you know-what you would think o.
such match?''
III Oh, wouldn't think Of giving
an opinion on a matter that concerns
you and Mrs. Atherton.r
"You consider 1t very mercenary,
suppose"
q certainly would unless you cam,