Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-12-08

made ourselves pretty proficient in the
business Of our employers. and I think be
regarded US as young men Of more than
ordinary promise in mercantile matters.
At least this was the tenor of letter he
wrote to our delighted fathers. I don't
mention this in vain-glorious way. for l
think we merited the esteem of our en-
ployer for (of all the clerks) we were the
most regular and punctual at our desks.
Ralph never visited place of amuse-
ment that l did not accompany him. His
acquaintances were mine also, aud so We
literally had things in common. There
was, perhaps. nothing unusual in this.
considering the manner Of our former lives
and only mention it now when I recall
our subsequent estraugement.
1t was in the beginning Of our third
year in business. that l first discovered
Ralph slipping away in bis walks without
me. 1t was new sensation | experience
ed, and it gave me pain; but concealed
my slighted emotions and bore up under
it as best could
We still roomed together, and when in
each others society were as cordial as Of
old. We got along in this way pretty
we'll. aud were it not for an occasional
twiuge of conscience to remind me that
there was some little matter changed be-
tween US. we might have been happy and
contented in the old time way.
In the course of my visit I made the &C.
quaintance of Julia Hobart She was the
daughter of a gentleman largely engaged
in the grain business. She was spright-
ly. black eyed girl Of eighteen years. rath-
er pretty. but her greatest charm lay in
her powers Of conversation in this respect
1 preferred her to any young lady I had
ever met.
I had been visiting Mr.. Hobart's house
for several months, and only by accident
discovered that Moulton was visitor there
also. One evening | returned home rather
later than usual from visit to Miss Ho-
| art aud was surprised to find Moultou up
andreadiug book.
II have been to the Hobart's tonight,
Ralph" l said. throwing myself into a
chair. I wished to notice the effect OF
my speech. for as yet not word had pass
cd between US as to our mutual acquain-
tance with the Hobart family.
$50 supposed" be quietly remarked.
why did you suppose so?" I asked
ed. for I did not exactly like the cool way
lin which he spoke.
Because you 60 there q great deal, u
he answered in the same tantalizing man.
|ner
"Oh. is that all 2" replied.
"Yes, that's about all, be rejoined.
ri don't understand one thing, howev.
err" continued, land that is. why you
never mentioned to me that you visited
Miss Hobart? What motive could you
have for concealing it? ?"
IF you will answer me question" be
said. II will tell you"
go on" | replied. what is it2''
why did you never inform me tha,
you were visiting Miss Hobart7 Wha,
motive could you have for corcealing it p
could not help smiling at his ingenui-
ty for I plainly saw the matter would work
both ways.
Indeed, I don't know" replied.
"Nor do l." be answered. LET US
therefore drop the subject, and be salts.
fed that we know smart girl with pleu-
ty Of brains"
Months passed away and we never al.
luded to Julia Hobart. I still kept uE
my visits. and he likewise. We soou be.
gan to understand each others visiting
nights. and although we had no agreement
on the subject we nevertheless arranged
our visits so that we should not be at Mr.
Hobart's house at the same time.
During all this period not word es.
capped Ralph that would have led me te
suppose he was more than ordinarily pleas.
ed with Julia Hobart's society. and fol
myself. looking back. l can solemnly de.
clare that no thought of falling in love
with her had ever crossed my mind.
Winter had come, and we were pretty
well occupied with parties and various en-
tertaiuments, Ralph and myself wer'
enjoying ourselves to our full bent.
| l was one day at my desk, when Mr.
Storer. our employer. came in and toll
me be wished to speak with me. I lai'
down my pen and followed him into hi
private Office. wondering what sert of com
unnicatiou he had to make.