The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-10-19
Che 1iamtuek 9sffsrsnniam
The Merchants Test.

"Why, what can you mean Philip
"Only that he was talking very
earnestly with Mr.. Oglethorp, as
went into his room just now, and
they ceased very discreetly on my
entrance. took the liberty of wait
ing outside the door till the conver-
sation was resumed, and | heard
enough to satisfy me that Oglethorp
has nephew who is about to tahc
your place" .
what did you overhear p
"Merely n sentence from each.-
Oglethorp sad So you think my
nephew will have no difficulty in fill
: ing the place of your head clerk
and Beale replied None whatever,
and the other clerk, Philip Warden,
had been in my establishment long
time, and he can give him a little in
sight into our business affairs, If need
be. did not wait to hear more, but
that is enough, should think"
$50 it would seem, was the reply,
IN a tone OF deep dependency"
''It is mean in the old man TO dis.
charge you, and equally strange; If
it was me, now, should not think it
so odl, but he has all along seemed
to think 50 much OF you. But it is
Just like him, always doing some
thing out Of the way
I Richard Wilkins was too sick at
, heart to reply. He turned to the
desk and endeavored to concentrate
d his wandering thoughts upon his
!, work, but in vain. The pen drop
; lped from his fingers, and leaning his
-" Ihead on his hand he gave tull scope
to his sorrowful and indignant feel.
: ings. When the two gentlemen
emerged from Mr.. Beale's private
room he startled like one guilty of a
II secret crime, and snatching The pen
~ he pretended to be all absorbed in
e his duties. His iiurried manner, SO
:, different fran his usual quiet compo
IS sure, was noticed by his employer
o who drew his own conclusions there
IS from. Mr.. Oglethrop was returning
to his home in Baltimore. His
: friends accompanied him to the steam
boat, and on returning closely OBJ
served his two clerks as he sauntereC
back and forth through the store
Philips appearance indicated moth
4. ing unusual but Richard, though h
,.. had partially regained his customar.
r. composure, could not prevent
or slight hesitancy and constraint whel
so replying to Mr.. Beale's casual re
IL. marks.
Several days after, Mr.. Beal
'g' brought Richard letter to seal an
- deposit in the post Office as he wer
to dinner. At the same time he sen
Phillip to u neighboring store o
- business, which would detain him som
y little time-he then returned to hi
private room. Left to himself, Ricl
ard gazed on the superscription {
tue letter, long and earnestly. "L
b., Oglethrope, Esq, Baltimore --th
J words seemed burned into his brail
What would he not give to know I'll
contents of that letter? Doubtless
related to the nephew that was
supplant him. Richard hesitate,
turned the letter over and over
'he Why could he not glance ints it?
was not sealed-he would betray L
confidence by doing so--most
,C tie business letters were given hi
~ to answer, and certainly TO no OF
living would he reveal the content
whatever they might be. Those
lections overcome his strong rcpu
nance to the act, and with tremblii
hand he opened the letter and read
"DEAR SIR: | wish your nephC
to arrive, if possible, by Tuesda
ICY the 30th, as on that day young w
kin's year will have expired, and it
desirable that lis successor shou
be on the spot to enter immediate
on his duties,
% Truly yours,
- j. BEALE.'
The blood rushed to Richar,
IS, brow as he read. For an instant
forgot the consequences to himself
the threatening blow of indignati
at his employers duplicity,
"Four years ago" he murmul
bitterly, "aye, four years next Tu
day, entered this store. Not Oh
since that day has he had occas
to reprove me for the slightest n
MS, lect or oversight, stern and exacti
as he is. have given no cause
"a complaint, and that is the end-t
is my reward. am to be discha
ed TO make room for one Of
friends connections. / am thank
| opened the letter-now | can |
pare for his treachery."
rs With q calmness that supri
himself, the clerk sealed the Lei
and dropped it into the post Office
}. directed. On his way back TO
employment he called at the count
room Of a merchant, whom, as on
Is Mr.. Beale's acquaintance, he
knew. Richard wished to make
~ ouiries, in an indirect way, for a
HIS, uation, but while he was tryin;
form some question to this
the gentleman came to his relief
asking if he knew any young ma
need of situation whom he CO
recommend TO him, as he had a
cancy for clerk. Richard Gag
offered himself. Mr., Curtis was
prised that he should wish 10 Il
his old place, but gladly accel
es' him, having long admired the IL
), etc. rity and strict application Of
Young man, whose praise he had