Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-11-21
IuCia's
Choice
BY SAIDEE E. BALLOON


Robert Merton had made a million
and was retiring from business. He
had been a liberal and indulgent en-
ployer. and when the establishment
he had founded was transferred to
others he summoned four of his for
mer department heads to his home.
Boys" he said Familiarity and af-
f~ectionately, you have helped me
make my business successful and
profitable. and l am going to make
each Of you a present of $4,000. l
am going to do something else. You
are all young, unmarried, have worked
hard, need a rest, and | invite he
four of you to join me in a trip around
the world at my expense"
That's just like your dear old gen.
erous self" exclaimed Water Morse,
always exuberant and laxative. THE
idea is fine. 1t will give you a varia-
ton and will broaden US young ones"
"You have been a regular father to
us and we will be a jolly party" added
Clifton Adam. Just as responsive and
as much pleased were Newton Lund
and Randall Wickersham, who ex-
pressed their appreciation and ac-
ceptance of the invitation. In the
room where they sat was q f~ull-length
portrait of a beautiful girl, the daugh-
ter of the house. -Four pairs of eyes
more than once strayed to this, and
Mr.. Merton secretly noted this and
chuckled. From Morse, the aggressive
and boisterous. down to Wickersham.
quiet and undemonstrative. each one
Of the quartet was In love with Lucia
Merton. If Mr.. Merton had been ia
therly. Lucia was sisterly. and her In
valid mother as well looked upon 1.-The
boys" as she called them, with friend
ly interest. No mi of the quartet
was over twenty-five, their lives had
been clear and clean. and father and
mother believed that some n Of the
group would some day win the love
of their only child.
As to Lucia, life vas to her the gold
en- dream of a petted, happy girl.
kind to everybody and saddened only
by the confirmed Illness of her mother.
Mrs. Merton had been under medical
care for nearly five years. The great
err part of the time she was so weak
and nervous hat she was confined to
her room, and her physician was not
only puzzled, but in despair over her
case. She had taken a marked fancy
to young Wickersham. and his SYM
pathy and solicitude for her welfare
had somehow drawn Lucia closer to-
ward him than to the others.
There was q farewell dinner and
Mr.. Merton and his animated fellow
travellers started out to circumnavi-
gate the globe. Each n Of us is
going to bring you back q famous me-
mento Of the wonderful trip we con-
template" announced the buoyant
Morse. eve shall ransack both hem
ispheres for something worth having"
Seven months later. bronzed. travel
worn, but pictures Of radiant health.
every one OF the little group returned.
There were entertaining stories to tell
Of what they had seen and exciting ad-
ventures to relate. Thus, Lund, who
had visited an ostrich farm, had been
chased a mile by one Of the powerful
birds, and Wickersham was lost In the
mountains of India for a week while
looking up a famous Hindu doctor
said to have effected some remarkable
cures of disease.
Morse had brought Lucia a string Of
exquisite pearls gathered in a far
East fishery. Adams presented some
seal fur trimmings from Alaska, Lund
rendered some ostrich plumes, Wick
ersham had brought a dainty Floren-
tine carved pin. simple but precious
Lucia welcomed these true and cher
ished friends with warmth and glad
ness. AS soon as the first greetings
over Wickersham said to Lucia:
7 would like to see your mother.