The Washington times., 1919-01-15
The Heart Breaker
- A REAL AMERICAN ROMANCE
Honora Volunteers to Help Arthur
In Any Way She Can With \
Friendly { Counsel.

fact, you may remember that not
very long ago you mentioned as
much to me-"
Yes, 1 did, and you are the only
outsider to whom ] have put my
Z fears into words. l. am worried
about business, awfuIly worried.
So is Dad. And l am a little anX-
ious about him. too
Isn't he well:" she asked,
quickly.
Arthur shook his head. "He says
he is. but he isn't. He's taking the
present crisis too hard. He is not
very strong. you know-has too
high blood pressure, and 1 am sure
all this strain is not good for him.
Do you mind-will it bore you-if
1 tell you about the state of af-
fairs?'
"Of course, not. want to hear
about it, But, before you tell me,
let me assure you that what you
say will go no further. / just men,
tion this so that you may not have
qualms afterward for fear / may
speak of the matter to somebody" :"
Il would never fear that of you,
Honora," he assured her.
Then they walked more slowly as
he explained tn Il for months busi-
ness had been getting steadily
duller. His father was an old
fashioned, conservative man, and
adopted new method slowly. Ar
thur knew that they were falling
behind their competitors, yet he
himself had had too little business
experience to know just what steps
to take to save the concern from
gradual disintegration.
A Growing Fear.
''You see. 1 have had no COM
mercial training" he continued.
That's where my mistake lies. Dad
puzzles me a bit by his lack of
initiative. Yet I remember that in
years past he had lots OF pep. I'm
afraid"-his eyes darkening with
anxiety-''that the change in him Is
due to his disease. He is almost
timid about attempting anything
new, yet he does worry so much
about things.
Il cannot go ahead without his
sanction, and he lets good oppor-
tunities slip because he is not will
ing to take any chances. While he
Is considering some propos tioh
some other concern hops in and
walks off with the opportunity that
Dad was too cautious to seize, and
1 can see that he feels his limita-
tions, yet does not seem to have the
resolution to overcome them"
Honora let the son talk on.
There was nothing that she could
advise except that Arthur himself.
learn all that he possibly could
about up-to-date business methods.
And meanwhile we are losing
money" he grumbled. However, I
mean to do my best. I am SO de-
termined to put up a good fight
that / think must win out"
"Of course you will!" she pre-
dicted. am certain of that"
"A big incentive urges one on,
too" he said, his voice trembling
slightly. But ! am almost afraid
to dare to hope that 1 can think of
that incentive"
'Honora," drawing close to her
and taking her arm in his grasp
as they walked ever more slowly
than before, do you think that
under such business conditions as I
have described-a man would have
a right to tell a girl that he loved
her, even though he could not
marry for a long while? Would she
think it was fair if he ask I'd her
to wait?'
Honora tried to speak naturally,
but her throat felt dry and she
could hear the blood pulsing in her
ears. She could not look up.
"If-if-" she stammered. "if
she loved him-she would De will
ing to wait"
"Ah, that's it," he exclaimed.
''If she loved him. But just for Cne
moment ruppose she could ever love
him, would it be all right fo- him
to tell her-everything?"
Honora nodded. She could not
speak.
To BE Continued.