“It was Will Carden,” said Theodore, who had entered unobserved, and stood just behind them.
“I might have suspected that,” remarked the doctor, dryly, but there was a tone of pride in his deep voice that he could not disguise.
“Carden?” said Mr. Williams, reflectively; “Carden? I wonder if he is any relation to John Carden, who——”
“Just his son, sir,” interrupted Doctor Meigs, calmly. “The son of that John Carden who discovered the process of making steel which your mills are now using.”
“I know; I know!” said Mr. Williams hastily. Then he bent down and kissed Annabel’s white brow.
“I like Will,” she whispered.
“Try to sleep, my darling,” he answered, gently. “Fanny will sit by you; and, if you want me, send at once.”
Then he stood up, cast another loving glance at his daughter, and followed by the doctor left the room.
Few strangers would have supposed Chester D. Williams to be a successful business man, if they judged him superficially by his appearance. Unlike his lady wife, he assumed no airs or mannerisms that might distinguish him from any other man you came across. His clothes, although made by an excellent tailor, were carelessly worn, and had not his wife kept careful watch of him he would have continued to wear one necktie until its edges were disgracefully frayed. In build the man was not very prepossessing, being below the medium height and inclined to stoutness, while his beardless face was round and red and only his kindly eyes redeemed his features from being exceptionally plain.
Yet in the big outside world people liked Chester Williams, and respected his ability. No one knew better how to obtain a favorable contract for steel, or fulfilled it more exactly to the letter of the agreement. In mechanical industries he was acknowledged a great man, and was known to have accumulated an immense fortune. Here in Bingham, where he was seldom seen, for his business in the city claimed a large share of his time, the owner of the steel mills was an absolute autocrat, and his word was law to the simple villagers. Yet he had never abused their trust and confidence in him.