Part 57 (1/2)

A murmur of approval ran through the little group, and the sonorous tones continued:

”Article III. The officers of the company hereby incorporated shall be as follows: Walter E. Cameron, president; Walter E. Houston, vice-president; Guy M. Cameron, treasurer and general manager; Edward B. Rutherford, Jr., secretary.”

Mr. Cameron, from his post of observation, watching to see the effect produced by the reading of this doc.u.ment, did not have to wait long.

The faces of the ladies expressed their delight, while Ned Rutherford was speechless with astonishment; but it was the figure half reclining in the invalid chair that he watched most closely; it was his son's approval that he most desired.

At the mention of his name, Guy Cameron had given a slight start, but he now lay with closed eyes, the only sign of emotion visible being that his pale face had grown still paler. Only the preceding day, Guy and his parents had held their first and only conversation together regarding the time so long past, Mr. and Mrs. Cameron intending it to be the first and last allusion which should be made to that sad time.

Guy well knew that all was forgiven; he knew that the unhappy secret had been guarded with such loving care that his reputation was untarnished, there was nothing to be recalled against him on his return; yet he would consent only to a brief visit to the old home; he would not yet return permanently.

”Let me first go into business somewhere, and retrieve myself in my own eyes at least,” he had said, ”not be taken back as a prodigal.”

Mr. Cameron had conferred with Houston, and both hoped that a responsible position in the newly organized company, amid the old familiar scenes and work, and a.s.sociated with those to whom he had become personally attached, would more than meet his wishes. Mr.

Cameron had wished to make him general manager on account of his familiarity with the business, while Houston wished him to hold the office of treasurer, as token of their perfect trust; hence the two were combined.

After all the articles of incorporation had been read in full, the little group broke up, and crowded around the newly-chosen young officers with many congratulations.

”Great Scott!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Ned, ”I never was so thunder struck in my life! Accept it? well, I should say so, Mr. Cameron, and with many thanks; you couldn't have picked out anything that would suit me better. I guess,” he added in a confidential aside to Houston, ”I guess that will fix the old fellow down there in Boston all right.”

Guy grasped his father's hand and Houston's in a manner that removed every anxiety from their minds.

”It is more than satisfactory,” he said, ”more than I could wish.”

The following day, Mr. Whitney, Lindlay and Van Dorn returned east, leaving the ”family party” as they laughingly styled themselves, to follow later.

Among the pleasant surprises of those last few days of their stay, it was discovered that Leslie Gladden, whom Mrs. Cameron and Lyle had urged to make her home with them upon their return, was the owner of a palatial residence not many blocks from their own city home, besides having a snug little fortune in bonds and stocks.

Houston's surprise was unbounded, but remembering how he had won Leslie's love, there was little he could say.

”I thought you once said you never had a home of your own,” he remarked in considerable perplexity.

”Well,” she replied archly, ”a residence is not necessarily a home; it has never been a home to me since my earliest recollection, but it will be one soon, in the truest sense of the word.”