The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-08-21

partners, and at last he awoke to the
startling truth that he was ruined-pen
niless.
He was not brave man, and as many
others have done in like circumstances,
not having courage to meet the stern
realities of adverse fortune, he rashly |
FASTENED, unsommoned, into the presence
of his maker, leaving his wife, feeble
invalid. and Bertha, an inexperienced !
girl, to battle with circumstances for the
pure necessities of life.
Reduced to actual want, Bertha
sought for employment everywhere
throughout the city, and at last gave up
in despair. accepting the dread alter
native of starvation or the workhouse,
when. as she hstlessly scanned daily
paper. her eye caught the following
notice:
WANTED.-A faithful, steady, compe-
tent person as copyist. Must write a
good legible hand. Apply at No. 2l0,
- street.
Spurred By urgent necessity, she re
sponded to the advertisement in person.
Entering the number designated. she
saw before the door a sign bearing in
large gilt letters, these words:
F. MARSHALL,
Attorney and Counsellor at Law.
On entering she was met by an Office
boy, who jerked his thumb over his
shoulder, and told her she would " find
the Squire in there" Following the d.
rection indicated by the boy. she entered
! another apartment, where she found the
lawyer busy among books, papers and
iunumerable parchments. With the rat
ural delieacy of good breeding, she wait
ed for him to acknowledge her presence,
and taking the seat which he proffered
her, she at once made known her bust
ness and her name.
Then, for the first time she noticed
that she had been addressing young,
and remarkably handsome man; she
could hardly realize that the celebrated,
highly successful and talented young
lawyer, of whom she had often heard,
stood before her.
Then she thought of the possible i'm
propriety of her applying for situation
The advertisement said "person," not
gentleman" and therefore she had rea-
son to infer that either lady or gentle
man might secure the position, provided
| they were believed to be competent to
| fill it.
These thoughts flew rapidly through
/ her brain while she sat with eyes down
/ cast, unaware that the lawyer regarded
/ her with earnest attention.
81 have no references" she faltered.
"but my father, Mr.. Lynde-''
"Ah. yes, | knew him very well" an
swered the lawyer in a deep, musical
voice, which had ring of kindness in it.
I" [ require no other assurance of your in
tegrity and ability. my dear Miss, and
should be pleased to have you commence
your duties as soon as possible. -
"But the salary she began.
"Oh, yesl l came near forgetting that
part of the contract Well, | had not
decided as to the sum [ could ssafford to
pay. How much did you expect to re-
ceive ?"
For moment she was silent, fearing
to mention any sum, lest she might lose
the position, and yet she needed money
| so much.
&c I would be Wiling 10 r+orh FOR ter
dollars a week." she faltered at length,
while the thought that she, Bertha
Lynde, was thus suing for a position
and mere pittance, to keep her from
starving, caused the hot blood to flush
her face and brow; but then she remem-
bered Der poor, invalid mother, and, by
an effort, she recovered her self-control,
and looked up TO meet the same earn
est, kindly gaze which had before reas-
sured her
will give you twenty dollars per
week." he said, and without waiting for
her to express her gratitude, he added,
and now, when will you commence
your duties p
"To. morrow" and she turned away
with a light heart, while the lawyer
seated himself at his desk but instead
of interesting himself in his business, he
allowed his gaze to rest on vacancy, and
his thoughts to wander far away.
Bertha commenced her duties, which
were not very arduous-for the lawyer
managed to assist her a great deal-and
with her earnings she soon made her
mother comfortable, Der home cheerful,
and was comparatively happy.
Thus months passed away. MIR. Mar
shall was always kind and considerate,
but their intimacy never ripened into
anything like intimacy. Their relation
to each other was zimply the relation 2f
employer and employee, and-nothing
more.
One morning, Mr.. Marshall received
note from his copyist informing him
Of hor mothers extreme illness, and beg
ging to be excused from duty two or
three days. A week passed and she did
not resume her labor. He called at her
home, and found her alone, lonely and
bereaved, for her mother had that day
been laid to rest beside her unfortunate
husband. in the little grave yard in their !
native village.
Tenderly he sought to administer the
palm of sympathy and consolation, win
ming her thoughts away from her grief
by his delicate kindness.
Summer came, and one beautiful day
Bertha proposed to visit the graves of
her parents. She asked leave of absence
of Mr.. Marshal, informing him at the
same time for what purpose she desired |
to be absent an entire day. He very
readily granted her desire, and, to her |
surprise, asked permission to accompapv