The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-14
The Unexpected Fest.

The Unexpected Fest.
james, found you and Mr.. Cooper
together this morning, and rs entered the
Office l knew my name was upon MIR. Coop
cr's lips. Was 1t not so:"
The young book-keeper trcmblcd, and
was silent.
Thomas Landrove and Albert Cooper
we're partners aud proprietorS Of one Of the
heaviest wholesale manufacturing eStab-
liShments in the West, and their business
was increasing day by day. Landrove was
a New Yorker by birth, and Cooper came
from New Hampshire. James Worcester
was youth Of nineteen, from Western
Massachusetts, and having gone out into
new country with letter OF recommends
ton to Landrove from mn Old collese-mate
and chum Of the latter, he was at once en-
ployed, and thus far, during the space of
six months. had proved himself worthy and
we'll qualified.
The partners. warm-hearted, but quick
and impulsive, had fallen into misunder-
standing. They had, on the previous eve
ming, almost come to blows, and were now
as unhappy as it was possible for two we'll
meaning men to be, who had both been
very foolish.
"Was it not so: z" repeated Landrove.
IL was, SIT.
And what did Mr.. Cooper say of me ::
You need not be afraid to tell me-"
James Worcester became calm and self
possessed, though trifle paler than usual.
He knew that Mr.. Landrove had hired
him, that to him he owed his success, and
that to him he must look for the retaining
of his situation. And yet he resolved to be
aman.
mir. Landrove, you must excuse me-"
"Ah! Did he place you under the ban
Of secrecy"
mo, Sir"
"Ihen, what did he say to you Of me %
~ cannot tell you, SIR
"Cannot? You mean you will not
GAS you please, sir"
While Lundrove was silent with amaze
ment at this department OIL the part Of the
creature Of his bounty, The youth pro-
ceeded:
"Mr. Landrove, as God is my Judge.
am your humble friend and most obcdicnt
servant, and if have a love more strong
for one Of my employers than the other,
that love is for you. Bnt, sir. even to
please you, | cannot do 4 mean, unmanly
thing. Whatever Mr.. Cooper may haye
said TO me was said III confidence. | know
that he would not like that should repeat
his words. | hold them rs would hold
money that had been placed in my keep
ing"
Mr.. Landroye swore big oath and again
demanded to know Whit Mr.. Cooper had
said of him. But Worcester was firm.
Then the manufacturer threatened dis
charge.
IL came to You with IN honor untarnish-
ed, SIR said james, and if | must leave
you, I wish to take the same priceless pos
session away. When once l have BETRAYED
tr11S I Ia hay f6l III pyf
in myself"
"Then you fatty rcfuSe:'
~ refuse to betray the private speech of
Mr.. Cooper, as i would refuse to tell him,
were he TO ask me, what you have now said
% me-"
every well you may now close up your
accounts and pass your books over to Mr..
NickcrSUn for" and here Mr.. Landrove,
with fierce oath. swore that the reticent
youth should leave on the morrow.
al will 90. sir ; but o why cannot l see
YOU and your partner reconcled before I
20: You love him, and can swear before
heaven that no man lives whom he loves
better than he loves you"
Landrove would listen to no more.
That very night these two very impulsive
men met, and their ill-will was blown to the
wind as quick as it had been engendered.
Over bottle Of wine Landrove told his in
terriew with young w orcesCer.
"Of one thing l can assure YOU" said
Cooper, che loves you truly and devotedly.
know it foom the words which he spoke
this morning, and from the warm tears
which crept out upon his lashes as he gave
them utterance. His refusal to repeat my
words was from principle"
"Ah!" cried Landrove, " and from prin.
ciple very seldom found in this peor world
of ours. BY my life, albert, lie will be
worth his weight in gold to us: We can
trust him."
Mr.. Nickerson took James Worccsters
books, as Landrove had threatened, but it
was only that the younger book-keeper
might be transferred into the inner room,
or sanctum, where he was Installed as con-
tidential agent and correspondent, whence,
in time, he stepped forth into share of the
business.
This little sketch bears deep and valua-
bic lesson for those who have eyes to see
and hearts 20 understand.