The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-07-16

without first paying all you owe 1 have,
=. he re to say that, if you will promise me
will let ) GU have the money to discharge all
those obligations"
II am not yet reduced to accepting charity,
MT. Macvain," replied Philip.
:" don't offer it as a charity" said Mr.. Mac
Vain. You can repay me at such times and in
such =! sums as may be convenient to you-yes,
me interest"
said p SsGline money and yor aaya tie
turned a trump. If do this or that, the Cos
sips are Immediately going around, working
their jaws and roliing their eyes
interests" said Sir. MacVain, rising to 90.
There's many a friend of your honored ia
ther will be sorry to see the old name brought
to dishonor, and there's none that will be more
ready than myself to extend the hand OF friend
ship and do all that can be done to assist you
should you hereafter change Your mind"
Philip escorted his friend to the door, and
returned his friendly grip and compliments of
the day in cold. formal manner.
"a very pretty state of affairs" he said, So
liloquising; a man but drinks an extra glass,
pleasantly away, and everybody mas his name
in their mouths. wish they'd let me alone"
1t was now nearly ten O'Clock, and he started
to transact, for Mr.. Macourty always made it q
complete holiday for his clerks, but then they
all went down some time during the morning
receive their enPloyers
tanning many expressions of kindness, and
substantial proof Of their friends appreciation
of their character and services, in the shape of
value and standing of the recipient. As these
checks were drawn by Mr.. Nacourtey on his
private bank account, Philip never knew be-
fOrehand how much was coming.
When he entered the store, Tom, one of the
warehousemen, greeted him with the usual
salutation, and, to his inquiry if there was
any one in the Office. answered in the negative.
Going upstairs, Philip found letter on his
desk in the familiar handwriting of his EN-
ployer, and in it he found check for five hun
dred dollars. He looked in the envelope,
envelope wide once more, and then fell into
brown study.
GIVE hundred dollars! Last year it was
thousand, and business has been better than it
was then. Five hundred that will just about
pay my little bills, the tailor, shoemaker and
so forth. Its queer, there used to be letter
ope again, there's nothing here, not even a
scratch, not simple Merry Christmas" That
looks ominous-well, / don't care, they can all
so to the devil if they don't like me and my
Notwithstanding this bravado he felt crest
fallen and miserable. He returned to bis room
and laying down on his bed he was soon
asleep, After five or six hours of rest he got
up, and rejecting on the events of the day, he
resolved to put good face on the matter. He
dressed himself with great care, and after a
Mr.. McDonalds Here he spent an agreeable |
hour and then proposed that Mary and Mrs. |
Mcdonald should go with him to Mr.. Macour-
an imitation that was accepted at
,arouse of the previous night had disappear |
I'd, and his spirits were free and gay. They |
spent a pleasant evening and when he at last
parted with Mary at her own door, she was
happy and full of hope.
CHAPTER xxx.
Philip was at work early next morning. AL
hough he had not been absent from business
ate, as had been his custom, and he was
little behind in his writing. In
addition to the usual routine, it was now time
10 take stock, make up interest accounts and
prepare to strike balance on the books, to
ascertain the result of the past years opera
ions. He was much troubled about his inter-
very friendly to him, and whose action on the |
day previous, his good sense convinced him,
was prompted solely by a desire to serve him.
He felt that he had lost his temper and that in |
this MIR. MacVain had the advantage of him, |
having been throughout perfectly cool and |
After much reflection he came to |
friend, and that his own character and honor |
demanded that it should be made. He, there
fore, wrote the following note, and sent it to |
that gentlemans office.
"NEw ORLEANS, December Goth 1856
Percy Macvain, Esq:
you for my ungentlemanly reception of your
advice, rendered to me yesterday at my rooms,
beg leave to say that :! regret the use of any
expressions that may have been harsh or |
to your feelings. am well assured
that your action was prompted by friendship |
to myself, and, although l could not accept
your advice, 1 feel that it should haze been
received with courtesy and respect With
surances of my high esteem am
Your Friend, PHILIP CUMMINGS"
To this letter he received an immediate an
swcr, couched in the most considerable and
language, ending with the assur-
ancc that his friend would be pleased to serve
him Mt any time.
During the following week, Philip worked
steadily at his books and accounts, never
leaving the Office until late at night.
Tho rooms of the Crescent Club were bril-
lianty lighted New Years Eve, and crowds
were continually going and coming, exchange
ing friendly greetings. Col. Spades was seat
ed in one corner of the front room, apparently
latent on reading the papers, but the anxious
glances he threw at the clock now and then,
and the close scrutiny that he gave each