The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1925-02-26
Which Was
the Rich Man?

suburban home after long and tir-
ing day in the city, was conscious Of
an unusual sense of WEAKNESS and
depression. There was no particular
reason for it, for though the day had
/ been well occupied, its events had
marched smoothly, and all his under
taking seemed to promise success.
New contracts had been signed that
very day which would bring his firm
into the very front rank In their own
particular line, and which would prac-
tically stamp out the slight opposition
which they had been doing their best
to get rid of for some time.
Curiously enough, the man who
the signing of the contracts would
most seriously affect, had travelled by
the same train, and alighted with For
rest at Wimbledon station. Forrest
lived at the farside of Wimbledon
Common, In palatial home which
+, had little of Suburbia about it; the
other man, Paul Chavasse, lived not
far from the station, In one of row
of neat villas.
The reluctance was on FORESTS
| side. for he knew perfectly well that
/ what had happened that day at a d.
rectors' meeting in the Cannon Street
Hotel would mean the practical ex-
| tinction of the smaller man.
! He assumed that Chayasse was In
I ignorance of the prospect in front OF
him, otherwise his greeting would
/ hardly have been so friendly.
Forrest was the older man and q
typical city magnate, large. important,
=, breathing efficiency and success at
every pore.
The other was tall, spare man,
about forty-six. but looking older with
face of singular refinement and
delicacy, and smile which invariably
won him place in peoples hearts.
Forrest, on the other hand, seldom
smiled. His face was somewhat heavy
| and forbidding, though he had good
! features and a certain dignity just
| perhaps bordering on pomposity.
"Ah, good evening, Mr.. Chavasse,"
he observed, raising his hat with
slightly punctilious air.
"Good evening. You are walking
| home; may / have the pleasure of
taking the same path? always have
a good walk before dinner, and that
is the advantage you have in the
breadth of the common to cross"
st is not so good on a Winter
morning with the wind due northeast"
observed Forrest grimly, but, did not
say that he would be pleased to have
a companion on his walk
Chavasse observed the lack of cor
diality In Forests manner. but did
] not suffer it to damp his spirits, which
were very good. Contrary to all For
rests ideas of the man, he had very
few cares, he took life simply and
easily. and had not worn his powers
threadbare with the strife of COM
petition
ct is a privilege to live out here,
especially at the opening of the year"
observed Chavasse, breathing the
delicious airs of April with keen en-
ioyment.
ut is fairly good as far as it goes,
l. but / should like to go further Sout
into the real country. If l could sell
my house without dropping too much
over it, l shouldn't hesitate mo-
ment"
"But 1t is beautiful place, and so
secluded. 1t seems to me you could
hardly do better even in the country"
Forrest shrugged his shoulders.
"After all, it is London, and when
a man has been grubbing in that I'M
holy city all day he wants to get
clean away
81 suppose you feel it So" said
i Chavasse with a slight wonder In his
eyes. would you propose to retire
from active city life altogether then?"
Anthony Forrest looked surprised.
"Not at all. Retirement is fatal
take for man, almost at any age. 1t
has shortened more lives than any
known disease. No, shall never re.
tire from city life"
"You like it?"
Forrest shrugged his shoulders.
st has become a second nature
What about your"
/ Chayasse smiled.
"Oh, am cast in different mold.
am naturally attached to the coun
try in which was born, and IL ! could
afford it ! should live there entirely
But like London, and city life within
moderation. The strain of big respon.
| sibilities however, is irksome, and
quickly depresses me. ] have just had
what / consider to be a stroke of I'm
commonly good luck this very after
noon"
"Ah, what is that?" inquired For
rest quickly
/ II have had the offer Of an excel
lent situation, which will give me
comfortable salary and commit ME 10
nothing except so many hours or hon
est work in day. shall have no hand
nor any stake in the enterprises which
viii come and go, and be settled
without my knowledge or interference
have accepted It; subject to my
wife's ratification Of my promise"
May inquire, without seeming
rude. where the situation is, and