Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-02-01

tOgetner tnlS mOrnluB anu AS entereu
the office / knew my name was upon Mr..
Cooper's lips. Was it not so2'
The young book-keeper trembled, and
was silent. a1 t..
Thomas Landroye and Albert Cooper
were partners and proprietors Of one of
the heaviest wholesale manufacturing
establishments in the West, and their
business was increasing day by day.
Landroye was New Yorker by birth,
and Cooper came from New Hampshire.
James Worcester was q youth of nine
teen, from Western Massachusetts,, and
having gone out into new country with
letter of recommendation to Landrove
from an old college-mate and chum OF
the latter, he was at once employed, and
thus far, during the space of six months,
had proved himself worthy and well
qualified. lo8
The partners, warm-hearted, but quick
and impulsive, had fallen into a misun-
derstanding They had on the previous
evening almost come to blows, and were
now as unhappy as it was possible for
two well-meaning men to be, who had
both been very foolish.
/" Was it not so2' repeated Landrove.
" 1t was, sir. t,t
" And what did Mr.. Cooper say of me2
You need not be afraid to tell me.
James Worcester became calm and
self-possessed, though trife paler than
usual He knew that Mr.. Landrove had
hired him, that to him he owed his sue
cess, and that to him he must look for
the retaining of his situation And yet
he resolved to be man. tfa
" Mr.. Landrove, you must excuse me.
I" Ali Did he place you under the ban
of fsecrecy2" a ara d"
" No, sir. .....,...,9 isg B
" Then, what did he say to you of meY
" l cannot tell you, sir,
"Cannot2-You mean you will not, "
" As you please, sir. u
While Landrove was silent with amaze
ment at this department on the part of
the creature of his bounty, the youth
proceeded Hasa ag.i f.,. ..,.f
+" Mr.. Landroye, as God is my judge,
am your humble friend and most obe-
dent servant, and if / have love more
strong for one of my employers than
the other, that love is for you But, sir,
even to please you, / cannot do a mean,
unmanly thing. Whatever Mr.. Cooper
may have said to me was said in conf
dence. | know that he would not like
that ! should repeat his words. | hold
them as / would hold money that had
been placed in my keeping"
Mr.. Landrove swore big oath and
again demanded to know what Mr..
Cooper had said of him. But Worcester
was firm. Then the manufacturer threat
ened discharge.
l came to you with an honor un-
tarnisned, sir, said James, and if |
must leave you, wish to take the same
priceless possession away. When once
| have betrayed trust, I can no more
have confidence even in myself.
Then you fatty refuse2
refuse to betray the private speech
of Mr.. Cooper as would refuse to tell
him, were he to ask me, what you have
now said to me.
Very well; you may now close up
your accounts and pass your books over
to Mr.. Nickerson; for and here Mr..
Landrove, with fierce oath, swore that
the reticient youth should leave on the
morrow.
II will go, sir; but OF why cannot
see you and your partner reconciled be-
fore go? You love him, and L 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 impul-
sive men met, and their ill-will was blown
to the wind as quick as it had been en-
gendered. Over bottle of wine Land
rove told his interview with young Wor-
cester. Ahlm
"Of one thing l can assure you, said
Cooper; g he loves you truly and de-
yotedly. / know it from the words which |
he spoke this morning and from the
warm tears which crept out upon his |
ashes as he gave them utterance. His
refusal to repeat my words was from
principle"
"Ahl" cried Landrove, land from
principle very seldom found in this poor
world of ours. By my life, Albert, he
will be worth his weight in gold to us2
We can trust him"
Mr.. Nickersoh took James Worcester's
looks, as Landrove had threatened, but
t was only that the younger book-keeper
night be transferred into the inner
Dom, or sanctum, where he was installed
IS confidential agent and correspondent,
whence, in time, he stepped forth into
hare of the business. brs 10 %
This little sketch bears deep and
raluable lesson for those who have eyes
o see and hearts to understand.