Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-03-23

lcdSG w 81 1 VIII COulC ia a lew
days"
"She will naturally be interested to
see you"
Chandler walked away, perhaps bet
ter pleased with his visit than if he
had seen the lady he had called on.
Mrs. Atherton's secretary was not only
attractive in appearance, but had a del
icate sense of what was not proper for
her to say in such a conversation.
Chandler was a bit dissatisfied with
himself for having implied that she
had been an e~ayesdropper. He wished
for an opportunity to remove any un-
pleasant impression that his mistake
might have occasioned.
When he called again he did not ac-
knowledge to himself hat he would
like to have another tete a-tete with
the secretary. He was received by her
with a message from Mrs. Atherton
that she was indisposed and begged
him to excuse her.
Mrs. Atherton has especially charged
me to say to you" she added, that
you are not to regard adversely her not
seeing you today and that she hopes
you will come again Don She expects
to be p|resentable within a few days"
Chandler did not hurry away. He
called at 5 o'clock, and at 6 he was still
occupied with Mrs. Atherton's secre-
tary. Then the butler came in with
an invitation for him to remain for
dinner. Mrs. Atherton herself could
not be present, but her secretary would
do the honors for her. Chandler &C
cepted the invitation with alacrity. He
did not leave the house until II o'clock
that night.
Fate seemed to be against Chandler
meeting the widow. The next time he
called she had again gone to b city,
and the next after that she had had a
fall that had neeessitated her remain
ing in bed for "a few days Chandler
was enjoying so well his visits with
the secretary that he didn't care if the
mistress remained bedridden for the
rest of her days. Then one day when
he called he received a message from
the lady through her secretary that
she had been considering the matter of
joining the estates by their marriage
and had come to the conclusion that
the difference in their ages would be
altogether too great an objection.
On receipt of this communication
Chandler stood looking very disconso-
late.
81 am sorry for your disappoint-
ment," said the secretary.
ut isn't that" replied Chandler dole
fully.
mot that? Then what is it?"
"Why, | have no excuse to come here
any more"
and why should you come when
the object of your coming has ceased
to exist?'
"How am l going to get on without
seeing your"
To this the only reply was a drop
ping of the girls eyes to the floor.
81 have a PLAN" said Chandler.
"Since l can't marry the mistress I'll
make a proposition to the secretary.
1t is not to unite two estates, but two
hearts,"
She looked up at him with a charm
ing expression.
"Sit down." she said, 'and I'll tell
you a story. Your uncle and Mrs. Ath-
erton were very anxious to unite these
estates, as you know. Neither Of them
had any idea of a marriage between
you and her. And now l have a con-
fession to make. | am more than Mrs.
Atherton's secretary; l am her daugh-
ter. Your uncle suggested to mother
that the property be united by a mar
riage between you and me. But such
proposals usually miscarry. Their plan
was to bring you and me together, you
thinking that you were opening nego-
t~iations to marry mother. They were
obliged to let me into the secret. l
agreed to carry out their plan-that is
well, provided liked you"
"And you do, don't your" said Chan
dler in a pleasing tone.
"Well $685." was the answer.
''Then the plan is to be carried out?'
what plan?'
"Why, the II you have just refer
red to-"
ooh! | meant the plan of making
you think you were opening negotia-
tons to marry mother"
"Ohr'
"That's all | had to do with it."
81 think you had a great deal more
to do with it,"
81 don't see what"
"Well while you have been receiving
me in place of your mother you have
got me used to being with you. Be
sides, think how advantageous it will
be to unite the estates"
II care nothing about the estates"
Cor me?"
81 didn't say that, but I shall not
marry for the purpose of uniting two
properties"
"Then will you marry for the pur-
pose of uniting two hearts?"
81 must be satisfied that such a
union will be effected"