Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-12

with the concern over u years. After
the first five or six years. he mad beeh
advanced with comfortable, uneXciting
regularity in salary and in authority.
He had spent the increasing salary
without difficulty and without com
junction. Ii he died-sO his calculate
ran-his life insurance. heavy one.
would care for Violet adequately. Cor
liss at % would come into a little
from his grandfather Coriiss' estate
enough, as much as any young man
should nave. Meantime they lived
well. His sister had given her life
for his son and his home. 1t was only
fitting that the home should be of
recompensing dignity and charm.
All very reasonable. But today
Henning had announced that the re-
orga nization of the firm was upon
them. Old Joe Wheeler was trans
ferring stock and interest to his son,
young Joe. And they had had pro
posals from Eric Steiger about buying
it, Steiger was ready to put in fifty
thousand
Frankly, Phil" Henning. brusk AT
first, had become conciliatory once the
ice had been broken. Neither my
father nor myself would consider of
tiff you are ready to buy in. But
Steiger's been with us II years
I've been with YOU nearly -.
Philip had cut in.
rs il so long? Yes-yes, you're
right. But-well. your life is diff
ferent from Steiger's. your life. your
interests He eats and sleeps and
dreams cotton-no friends, no clubs
no outside pursuits. While you--
1--WE always figured that my clubs,
as YOU are referring to them. were
a business asset. We've found them
SO. ] think, sam
Yes. l know your wide connections
have been of considerable advantage
to MS. But. anyway, as | said We
shant accept Steiger'S offer-though
he makes his remaining with us con
tineent on letting him in. and he's a
very good man. I'd hate to see him
go. But we shant accept his offer
If you are ready to come in. Are
YOU
Was he? Could he raise $50, 900?
His investments We're negligible.
He and his household had always
spent the whole of his income. no
natter how it increased. To raise
the money and to repay it would
mean a right a bout face-a first mort
gage from the bank on the house.
something Of his life.insurance policy,
the sale of his few bonds. second
mortgage. perhaps. and. above all, a
strict curtailment of living expenses
for ) years-l0. Was it worth while :?
On the other hand, what of the
prospects of being a hired man al SIS
at 60. subject to hired mans dis
missalsr
But. wisdom aside. had he any
longer the mental vigor for a right
n l1cl1t- fa hn 40 :,
he would?
And Corliss was going to he more
and more costly for the next few
years. If he succeeded in getting
into college. his father might as well
write an extra $4,000 a year to his
budget And II the boy didn't sue.
coed In getting accepted. he was not
likely to be much less expensive
A hired man at 60. at 65. out of
job and an income at %
But could a husk-hang Violet s
big wig. his phrase had stuck-could
husk change its way of life? Were
not right-about. faces only for the
young-tor Corliss. he hoped. and for
that golden, glinting girl Of the Blake,
locks?
That golden haired girl of the Blake
locks! His thoughts dwelt upon her.
She seemed TO him what he had never
seemed to himself-so competent with
life. To have had wife like that
beside one from the days of one $
youth.
He caught his runaway thoughts in
surprise. How long it was since he
had last seemed actually to see a
woman-the real human being beneath
the pretty garb Of graceful manners
and pleasant talk that women wore.
Years and wears.
He sighed. Life had been lonely.
In spite of all the little Compensa-
tions-Niolet and the charming house
and the kind hostesses who liked 10
have him at their dinner tables. Lone
, ly and he had not known it. But
today he knew it. The smell of lilacs
on the air made him feel lost and
homesick. And there was the realiZa
ton that no one cared whether he
chose the old mans course or still
played at being a young man with
something yet TO achieve.
-
DINNER had begun rather better
- than Young CorIiss dared to hope
He had been desperate in. the after
noon when. arriving unheralded from
Exover. he had found his Aunt Vic.
let's meeting in full swing. He had
come home to lay before her. for
transmission to his father at propl-
tious moment. his story Of the little
episode which had caused the EXover
authorities to send him and his chum
Nenner away Two nights before
they had escaped from their dormi-
tory. borrowed a car-vastlr over
valued. he was sure. at thirteen hun
dred dollars--to run to dance, ana
had subsequently smashed u. He
wanted to lay the essential blameless-
ness Of the affair before her and 20
negotiate from her sufficient advance