The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-17

ssain. l Supposeg' WI 'Ai
days" "''' come III few
see YOU" "e interested tc
,on I"uief r,l walked away. perhaps bet
er pleased with his visit than q =,
n"u seen the lady he had caI,o1 nr
~ - Athertoh's secretary was moi onIy
''i"''l'e IN appearance. but had = loi.
,1''e sense Of what was not pronor ror
nei TO say III such a convarsa,iar
IHanuier was bit dissatisfied viii,
hiilseH for having implied that sbo
Hiu oeeh an eaye>dropper. He wi>bel
io' an opportunity to remove any ~.
pieasaht impression that his mistake
might have occasianed
When he called again no "A,
nno" ieuSe TO himself that he would
iiAe TO have another tcte-a teta with
'ne secretary He was received nv ber
Win message from Mrs. Atber,op
.ndt she was indisposed and begged
MN to excuse her
Mrs' Atherton has especially charged
me TO say to YOU" she added "tha,
you are not 10 regard adversely her M,
seeing you today and that she hopes
you VIII come again soon She cypeets
10 be presentable within few daysn
ehahdler did not hurry away. He
cdiied AT o'clock, and at & 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 eoul1
not Toe present, but her secretary would
do the honors for her Chandler ac-
ccpted the invitation with alacrity Ua
did not leave the house until II o'clact
that night.
Fate seemed 10 lie against Chandler
meeting the widow The next time he
called she had again gone to the city
ana the next after that she had had a
IAN that had necessitated her remain
ing III bed for few days. Chandler
was enjoying SO we'll his visits with
the secretary that he didn't care if the
mistress remained bcdridden for the
rest OF her days Then one day when
he called he received 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.
Il am sorry for your disappoint.
ment," said the secretary
1T isn't that" replied Chandler dole
fully
Not that? Then what is ilt
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 going to get on without
seeing youg"
To this the only reply was drop
ping Of the girls eyes to the floor
IL have II plan" said Chandler.
Since ! 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 charm
ing expression.
"Sit down" she said, and I'll tell !
you story. Your uncle and Mrs. Ath
erton were very anxious 10 unite these |
estates. as you know. Neither of them
had any idea of marriage between 1
you and her. And now | have con
fession to make. | am more than Mrs |
Atherton's secretary; am her daugh- /
Ter Your uncle suggested TO mother I
hat the property be united by a mar
Rage between you and me. But such 1
proposals usually miscarry. Their plan
was to bring you and me together, you
linking that YOU were opening nego-
iatiOns to marry mother. They were
obliged 10 let me into the secret.
agreed to carry out their plan-that Is
well. provided | liked yon."
And you do. don't you Chan
Her in a pleasing tone.
well, $3.50" was the answer.
"Then the plan is TO be carried outF'
"What PLAN
why. the one you have just refer
ed to
"Oh, | meant the plan of making
,ou think you were opening negotia-
ions to marry mother"
oh
"That's all had to do with it."
Il think you had a great deal more
o do with il"
Il don't see what"
We'll. while you have been receiving
ne in place Of your mother you have
OF me used TO being with you. Be
ides. think how advantageous it will
q TO unite the estates"
Il care nothing about the estates.
"or me?'
"I didn't saw that. but | shall not