The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-01-26
THE UNEXPECTED TEST.

"James, l found you and Mr.. Cooper to
gether this morning, and IS entered thu
Office knew my name was upon Mr.. Coop
er's lips. Was it not so ?"
The young book-keeper trembled, and was
silent
Thomas Landrove and Albert Cooper were
partners and proprietors of one of the heav
lest wholesale manufacturing establishment,
in the West, and their business was increas
ing day by day. Landrove was New York
er 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 recommendation to Landrove from
an old college mate and chum of the latter
he was employed, 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 even
ing, almost come to blows, aud were DOW as
unhappy as it was possible for two well-mean-
ipg men to be, who had both been very fool
ish.
"Was it not so p repeated Landrove.
1T was, sir."
"And what did Mr.. Cooper say of me
You need not be afraid to tell me'
James Worcester became calm and SELF
possessed, though a trihe 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 Ard yet he resolved to be a man.
"Nlr. Landrove, you must excuse me-"
"Ah! Did he place you under the ban of
secrecy z"
"No SIR"
'Then, what did he say to you of me 2"
II cannot tell you, SIR"
"Cannot? You mean, will not''
GAS you please, SIR
While Landrove was silent with amazement
at this department on the part OF the crea-
ture Of his bounty, the youth proceeded:
"Mr. Landrove, as God is my judge. am
your humble friend and most obedient ser
of my employers than the other, that love is
for you. But, sir, even to please you, I cannot
do mean, unmanly thing Whatever Mr.
Cooper may have said to me was said in con-
fdenee. | know that he would not like that
| should repeat his words. I hold them as
I would hold money that had been placed 10
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 threatened his dis
charge.
Il came to you with an honor untarnished
r
| wish to take the same priceless possession
away. When once have betrayed trust,
can no more have confidence even in my
self"
'Then you fatty refuse I"
81 refuse to betray the private speech Of
Mr.. Cooper, as would nov refuse to tell
him, were he to ask me, what you have now
said to me-"
Every well +; you may now close up your
accounts aud pass your books over to Mr..
Nickerson for" and here Mr. Landroye
with fierce oath. swors that the reticent
youth should leave on the morrow.
Il will go, sir but O! why cannot see
you and your partner reconciled before [ go
You love him, and l can swear before heav-
en- that no man lives whom he loves better
than he loves you -
I.androve would listen to no more.
That very night these two very impul-
sive men met, and their ill-wilf vas blown
to the Wind as quick as it had been
cngeudered. Over bottle of wine Land
rove told his interview with young Worces
ter .,, -t -- 5.- -..-
"Of one thing [ can assure you," sad
Cooper, che loves you truly and devotedly.-
| know it from the words which he spoke
this morning, and from the warm tears which
ciept out upon his lashes as he gave them ut
terance. His refusal to repeat my words was
from principle"
"Ahv' cried Landrove, "and from primer
pie very seldom found in this poor world Of
ours. BY my life, Albert, he will be wortl,
his weight in gold to US? We can trust
him.
Mr. Nickerson took James Worcester
books, as Landrove had threatened, but II
was only that the younger book keeper might
be transferred into the inner room. or sane
tum, where he was installed as confidential
agent and correspondent, whence, in time, he
stepped forth into share of the business
This little sketch bears deep and vaua
BILE lesson for those who have eyes to see ant
hearts to understand