The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-05-04


ed business integ respected by all
men; but having the name among his
clerks and employees of a severe and
exacting master
This was his characterized been
through life. He loved justice, meant
to observe il vigorously i'm his dealings
with all mon, but it was that hard and
narrow kind into which pity seldom or
never entered.
His wife had, in some degree, modified
by her influence the dominant, infaxible
character of her husband, for, in his way,
he had l1ved her. But it was now more
than tenn ears since she had ~sa-s'' -a"u
the pentle, delicate, fragile woman had
never acquired that subtitle, but perma-
nept assendency over her husband which
could alone have changed the strong
current Of his character.
Margaret Phillips was daughter that
any father might justly have been proud
Of She had her mothers face, with It's
rarc and delic ate outlines, and soft glow
of bloom: she had in great degree her
mothers nature, generous, lmpuisiNe'
tender. of somewhat stronger, stubborn
tincture however, which she inherited
from her father. He had spared no pains
nor money in her mental and social cul-
tivation; and, although he never express
ed the feeling, he was certainly prouder
of. his Oldest daughter than OF anything
in the world.
Mr.. Phillipss head bookkeeper had
enjoyed, tor several years, the commence
of the senior partner, and he was not
easily deceived in his estimates concer-
nino men. The young man had been
admitted to the elders house on terms OF
social equality, and thrown frequently
1f Nor
Stephen Keith was general favorite,
csnecially with the women. He had all
those graccs Of person, that swift pene-
tration of character that facile adaptation,
and that mastery of words, which Is sure
to please the fancy of young, suseep-
tiblc, and cultivated woman
Margaret Phillips was all this, ana
Stepen Keith availed himself or every
opportunity, which his relations with her
father afforded him, of strengthening the
impression which he was keen enough to
preceivc that he had already made on
the Young girl. He was ambitious too
the Thought of her fathers wealth was
the great impehed motive of the young
mans purpose to win the heart of Alarga
ret Phillips.
For Stephen Keith had neither sound
-ssiHciple. nor true manliness of eharac
All hii irst re ta ~ sup Y
healthful character-gifts of shrewdness
of rapid perception and adaptation.
Mr. Phillips could not of course, be 81
readily blinded as his daughter. and som,
suspicious ut last took possession of hi
mind concerning the real character of hi
clerk
Investigation only proved them wei
founded. lie satisfied imself-th'
mans stern sense of justice required
that he should do that-of the youu:
bookkeepers total disregard of the truth
aud OF his dissipated habits. and hi
unexpected dismissal from his place fel
Ikea thunderbolt upon Stephen Keith
Margarets father had no suspicion
:. that hts willy clerk had ingratiated him
self into the affections of his daughter
until the truth betrayed itself in Marga
ret's agitation when her father informe,
her OF the dismissal of his bookkeeper
Mr. Phillips was surprised. shocked, in
dignant Whatever paternal feeling wa:
aroused in him ut this discovery. il mani
Tested itself in him at this discovery. i
manifested itself in its most repellan
form. He commanded Margaret neve
TO see, or SO much as to think of "tha
miserable vagahond again"
Neither of these things was in Marca
ret's power. Stephen Keith managed {,
see her the very next day at the house O
q mutual acquaintance, and pleaded hi
cause there, with all the eloquence O
which he was master, and that was not
little: and he soon succeeded in convinc
ing NJ rgaret that he was the victim of he
father cruel prejudices and injustice.