The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1868-07-04
Nd ] $ 9 IEL L a ld e q U s.
TIfE MERCHANTS TEST

"Dick am afraid the oil man has taken il
into his head To send you adriii ?
why, what can you mean, Philip
Only that he was talking very earnestly With
Mr. OgitthOtpc ~ wen; into the room just now,
and they ceased very dscrccily on my entrance
took the liberty of waiting outside the door
I'LL the conver sliion was resumed, aud | heard
enough 10 satisfy mo that Oglrihurpc has n neph-
ew who is ahou, lo take your place.
What did ou ovetlear 2'
Merely sentence from each Oglc,horIe
said 80, you think my nephew will have no
difficulty IN hlling the place ~ yuur head eirtk2'
Then Btale replied None whatever and the
other clerk, Philip Warden. has h,rn in my cs-
iablishmcni long time, aud he eau give him a
lillc insight into our business affairs II need br
did not wait To hear mor. thn, is enough
should think
so IL would seem, Was the reply, in II tone
Of deep dcspondcncy.
at is mean 10 the old man 10 discharge YOU,
aud equally strange II II was me now, should
not think Il so odd but b. hns nil along scented
TO think 81 much of you liui. lis just like him.
ALWAYS doing something out of the way.
Richard wilkins WAS too sirk ai heart To reply
liz turned To the desk and cnlcayoI.d To concern
iraic his wandering thoughts upon his work but
IN vain. The pen dropl"t from his fingers and
leaning his head upon his hand hc gave full
seopc ,o his sorrowiu aud Indignant feelings
When the two gentlemen emerged from Mr.
Benr's private room be started like one guilty
al secret crime. and snaichng the pcn, prctch-
el iO hc all absorbed in his duties. Ills Hurried
manner So different from his usual quiet cuinpo-
sure, was noticed bI his employer who drew his
cone lusions therefore. Mr. OgicihorIr was re-
turning io his home IN baltimore. Ills friend ac-
comranch him 10 the steamboat, and "n RETURN
ing, closel. observed his two clerks NJ hr ssun.
A A. AZ. II.
apraa'e""- '".''ra'"l ""'h'"p urus"ni L'.'
Richard, ihnugh Ice Lad partially neaiued his
customary tumlosutc, runld pot prrycu, a slight
hcsianry and cnn.iraini When r"pl, ing So Mr.
Beales casual T'maiks.
Several days after, Mr. i;ealc hrnughi Richard
letter To sral anl deposit It IN thu post Office -.
he went To- dinner A. the same time he scn,
Philip 10 "a neighbOring store ON business which
would detain him some little time, he then re-
tarned 10 HE private room. Len to himself,
Richard gazcd on the superscriitiOn Of the letter
long and earnestly. -. Oglcihorpc Esq Balti-
more The words seemed burned into his btain
What would he not give Ia know the contents
Of that letter doubtless IL related to the neph-
cw that was 10 supplant him. Richard besitAtcd,
turned the letter over aud over. Why could he
not glance into il II was not sraled-hc would
bctray no confidence by doing so-mosi Of the
business letters were given 10 him 10 answer, and
certainly 10 no one living would he reveal the
contents. whatever they might be-. Those r,ilcc-
iions ovcrcame his strong repugnaucc % the net,
and with iremhling hand he opened he letter
and read
"DEAg SiR-l sish your nephew 10 arrive. il
possible. by T.s.lay, the goth, us Oh that day
Young wilkins ycai will haze e.pre. and Il Il
drsirihr that his successor should u" on the spot
I" enter Immediately on his duties
Truly YOUR, J. BgALE.
The blood rushed 10 Richard brow ~ De
fsal For an instant h. forgo, the consequences
10 himself OF the threatening blow Ofindignaton
Of bis employers dupliciy.
-Four years ago, hc murmured bitterly, aye,
four years next Tuesday. entered this store
Not once gincc that DAY has he had oscason to
rcprovc ine Cor the slightest oversight, Stern and
exaeing as he IT, have given no cause for COM
plant, and that is the cnd-this Is my reward
! am 10 b. discharged 10 make room for one of
his friends connection. am thankful opened
the letter NOW ! can prepare for his ,reachcry
With calmncss that surprised himself, the
clerk sealed the letter and dropped Il in the post
Office a. directed. On his way back to his en-
loymcnt he called at the counting room " a
merchant, whom, as one OF Mr. llealc acquain.
ianccs, he well knew Richard wished to make
inquiries, In an indirect way, for situation hut
white he was striving 10 form some question 10
this end. the genteman came 10 his relief by
asking IL he knew Of any young man in need Of
a situation whom he could recommend TO him,
as be had a vacancy for a CLERK. Richard eagerly
offered himself. Mr.. Curtis was surprised that
he shOilld wish to leave his old place. but gladly
accepted him, having long admired the integrity
aud siriet application Of ,he young man, whose
praises he had frequently heard from Mr. Beale.
The yearly salary was named II was one hun
dred dollars more than Richard was now fecciy-
ing and having engaged 10 enter upon the du.
ties Of his new place on the following Tuesday,
he went with alight heart 10 his old employment.
lie did not mention his intention TO Mr. lieale
90 the week passed on without Mr.. Curtis visit
ting the store. lie hoped he hal not met his enl-
ployer for Richard hal a wish that the latter
shOu.d not hear how bis ircacherous scheme had
been defeated ill the last moment.
On Monday evening Richard knocked nj the
door Of Mr. Bealc's room, aud In as few words
Ms possible requested the wages due him, rs hc
was engaged to so 10 another house on the NOR
row.
II have known Of your engagement sincc
Wednesday" said Mr.. Bealc "Mr. Curtis in
formed me Of Il. May ask Ihc motive of this
secret aud unusual proceeding an your part ? !
believe I gave you no cause for 80 sudden de-
termination, 10 quit my employ ymcni, did 2
''No cause T. Richard repeated, bitterly -
ooh, no, air, M cause.-The clerk isonly the duIc,
The slave 0f the merchant, aud has M cause To
complain Of any conduct, however iniqniious, of
which he Is the victim.
"Yonr sarcasm u rather cut of place Young
man, replied NJ. Ieale, coolly. ~ asked you
u I had given you any cause Of oilcnse. know
have not you falsely imagine that have. aud
thus imagining, you have done yourselfa great
Injury. Nay, no questions ! will tell you all
ON the day that Mr. Oglethorpe was here, no.
iiced great alteration IN your looks, your words,
your whole conduct. | suspected at once that
Philip had overheard our eonversation, aud re-
paaicd Il 10 you, IN consequence OF which you
we're disturbed in mind. This was natural, aud
! was far from blaming you but II afforded lne
an opportunity for = test which had a peculiar
reason for desiring 10 apply. J penned brief
note 10 Mr. Oglelhorpe, gave u 10 yon 10 seal,
and watched your proceedings from that window.
| thought the temptation would be a severe one
aud ifyou Arose superior 10 II, need never have
any fears concerning you. ! was right, the temp
lallon was strong too strong Tor your honor or
integrity 10 withstand. ] saw you open the let
ter-'twas enough. did not al all wonder when
heard of you applying for new situation you
thought that ! was acting treacheronsly to You,
and that yOa would out-wit mo"
Mr. Beale ecascl, and looked Gnedly al'lllcharl
whose counlsnanee was snifased with llushes ~
The true nature of his conduct was brought thus
calmly 10 hls view. Ia bis indignant feelings he
i