The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-19

steady gaze, and the cheek crimsoned,
but they were raised again with an as
surance born of the necessities of the
hour, as she said:
II could Judge Of mans talents,
capabilities, or honesty better by his
countenance, than by his recommend
ations. The latter might be forged, the
former never"
Perhaps you arc right said the
editor, laughing. You are a queer
boy, and / suppose ytd have been sitting
here all this time, spaniel-like, reading
my ugly countenance.'
"Yes, sir.''
"Well, what did you make out of it,
The dimples came into the corners of
her mouth as she said
"You look sick, and harassed, and
stern enough, but i would trust to your
generosity or kindness of heart"
Well, you shall not trust in vain,
boy. like you so we'll l will dispense
with the recommendations, and shall
try and give you reasons to think you
We're right
After the terms were agreed upon,
Alice went home with a lighter heart,
and the next day she entered upon her
new duties and new phase of life. She
found that the continued illness of the
junior editor, was the cause Of the boys
being wanted, and that Mr.. Moreley,
the senior, who was gentleman of
thirty-fve, or SO, with a superior ability,
but infirm health, was indeed over
worked and harassed enough by his
double duty, and very much in need of
an assistant. Files of unanswered letters
and unexamined manuscripts had accu-
mulated, and everything about was in
the utmost confusion for the senior had
not been in the habit of attending to
such matters as taking care of the odds
and ends, and doing the office drudgery
generally, but devoted his time to writing
and obtaining general information. He
had expected only temporary and partial
relief by boy, but somehow, with her
wolnan's tact and ingenuity, Joined
to untiring patience and perseverance,
things about the office, in very few
days began to assume quite Il different
aspect, and the editor looked with as1
constituent upon the immense amount
of business performed in one day by that
strange boy. Heaps of letters were
answered, interminable manuscripts
waded through, large quantities of papers
filed and put in their proper places, and
everything reduced to a better system
than had ever been known in the office
before; and all without the least noise
or confusion or bother to the gentleman,
who, though constantly occupied, was
yet made dimly conscious of all that was
going on, by an occasional law-toned
inquiry, as we'll as by the gradual access
sion of comfort and freedom from cares,
that had SO unexpectedly come to him.
He seldom spoke to her at first, except
upon the business of the office, but after
a while upon rare occasions, he would
converse with her quite genially, each
time with growing wonder and aClmi-
ration Of the boys abilities and stock Of
general information.
Where did you get such tact for
Office-work? Why, you are rs handy as
a woman !" he said to her one day.
Alice had now got used to his abrupt
ways, and the feeling Of the strange gar
ments, but this feminineallusion brought
the bushes to her cheek, and for the
moment disconnected to her.
" / used to sort and file the law papers
for my guardian at home and later since
I came to the city, have written great
deal for my brother, who is an author"
"What was his name? ~
"Arthur Hamlin, sir"
"Arthur Hamlin! All! remember
him; you resemble him. Light litera-
VuACS WASH vi AASiAeS 5tAuS
but Blake was sick, and cross then, and
perhaps too fastidious. Look in that
drawer of waste papers, yonder, and see
if you can find any of his productions"
Alice readily found them, for they
were in her own hand writing, and she
happened to come upon them a few days
before, and sighed over the broken hopes
they involved, and when Mr.. Merely
asked her with unusual interest and con-
descension to read them, she was careful
to do her best. He interrupted her
several times with admiration, and ut
the end exclaimed:
"Why, what was Blake thinking Of?
1t is really excellent"
Alice's eyes glistened with tears, as
she said:
~ knew that you were kind and
generous "
"There's no generosity about 1t. I
look ut these things in purely business
point Of view. The story is admirable,
and shall be published and paid for, and
il you have any more IN gOt,d ut home,
why bring them along"
"No thanks! But did your brother
write much ~
NXaa hvt Iva wac uuknour onf his