Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-07-06
"A Business
Affair
Il Was Also an Affair
Of the Heart
b ANDREW a CARLISLE
b ANDREW q CARLISLE


college his uncle told him that he bad
q special plan for him. Chandler was
an orphan who had inherited q 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 he should mar
~ her. The benefit to his estate
would be considerable. Chandler said
he would look into the matter and
about week after his return strolled
over to pay his respects to his new
nelghbor.
II was hot morning, and Chandler,
IA thin white flannel suit and 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 o tree reading,
It 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 hel
position. However. he lifted his hal
politely and asked:
Beg pardon, but can you tell me Il
Mrs. Atherton is at homer
mot this morning. She has gone Il
the city"
"Um! All! I'm sorry to miss her
Hearing that had a new neighbor,
came over to call upon her"
ITS very hot, and you look tired
Won't you rest yourselfr The CIR
moved to one end Of the bench that h
might occupy the other.
THANK you very much" he replied
seating himself.
This was all very fortunate. H
would have an opportunity to cha
about the widow
Perhaps you will be good enough T.
say to Mrs. Anterior on her return
that Mr.. Herbert Chandler, a neigh
Dor, called to pay his respects"
"Mr. Bussing's nephew"
yes"
mfr. Bussing has spoken to Mrs
Atherton about you. He said ht
thought you would call"
"Um! Are you relative Of Mrs
AthertonT
II may say that am, for my
mother and Mrs. Anterior are al
closely allied as If they were one per
son."
"And you arer
Mrs. Atherton's secretary"
Indeed"
"And her amanuensis. She writes
you know"
II was not aware of that. presume
that her absence gives you leisure t
enjoy yourself out In this pleasant
nook reading"
ut does"
rs Mrs. Anterior an elderly or Z
young woman
Between forty and forty-nve."
II hear she Is very handsome ant
appears far younger than that"
He had heard no such thing. HI
was working the pump handle. The
girl smiled.
Something amuses you" he added
soberly.
Excuse me- 1 may as well confess
that 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 b.
Interested In learning something abou
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
"0h, | was not eavesdroppingl Be
sides, Mrs. Atherton told me all aboul
the matter as soon as your uncle hat
departed"
MAY ask If she was favorably dis
posed toward the planW
"She was very much interested II
the matter OF uniting the two proper
ties. She said 1t would very much en-
nance the value Of both"
But marrying a man younger thar
herselfT
"All that part Of 1t you must gel
from her" This was said in tone
that indicated she had not relished thu
implied charge OF eavesdroDping.
II beg pardon. should not have
expected you TO reveal what IL Of no
cessity a confidence. Since we have
progressed 30 far In discussing the
matter may ask-just an opinion
you know-what you would think Of
such n matchr
III Oh, wouldn't think OF giyinl
an opinion on a matter that concernl
you and Mrs. Atherton."
"You consider II very mercenary,
suppose"
II certainly would unless you cam'
TO love ench other"
In this vein they chatted on for SOM
time. when Chandler arose.
Il presume" he said, that you will
inform Mrs. Atherton Of this meetlnI
and so much Of what has passed be
tween us as you think will interes
her"
III you desire It shall consider tn,
meeting and all that has been said con
f1danffa10