Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-03-08
From Cassels Magazine.
4 TERRIBLE NIGHT.

1t was four O'Clock on an after
noon, in the month of December,
1S-, and business for the day being
over, the porter of the bank at
W was closing the doors of that
establishment. As 1 was account
ant at the bank, l was busily en-
gagged in verifying the posting of
the ledgers, while the tellers were
hard at work counting the cash in
the tills, and the clerks at the vari-
GUS books and letters. When had
finished an abstract was making
from some of the ledgers, / took it
into the managers room. AS en-
tered, the manager was just button
ing his coat to depart. ...- 4.
81 have done the abstract of profit
and loss on bills for the last month"
said /, placing the paper on his ta-
BILE, "and l find the result more sat-
isfactory than you expected"
81 am very glad of it; the direct
ors are anxious to improve this
branch of the business. 1 will take
this abstract with me, and look it
over this evening"" said he, putting
it in his breast-pocket- '1f there is
nothing very urgent to do in the
office, l should like you to come up
and dine with me this evening; in
fact, have some news for you,
which you will find as acceptable as,
l think, it will be unexpected"
As l had no pressing reason for
doing any more work that after
noon, accepted the managers inVi-
tation, the more so as he was a very
genial man, and much of my ad-
vancement in the bank was due to
his kindly exertions on my behalf.
We both sailed forth into the main
street. IL was a miserable night !;
the rain and sleet came down st q
sharp angle, borne on a piercing
wind, and under foot was 3 half
frozen mixture of mud and snow,
which struck q cold chill through
ones feet. We soon found a cab,
and a few minutes saw us in the
porch of Mr.. Wilmot's house, and
one more in his cosy snuggery. AS
soon as we were seated Mr.. Wilmot
commenced to communicate to me
the news of which he had spoken.
1t is unnecessary to detail our con-
versation, the sum of which was
that he had very good reason to be-
lieVe that was on the point of
being promoted to a manzgership.
To make this comprehensive to
the reader it is necessary to explain
something of the organization of the
bank in which held the post of ac-
countant. The particular Office in
which 1 was employed was . branch
bank, forming part of q great joint
stock bank, having its head ofhce
in London, and branches in various
provincial towns. The manager of
| one of our branches was about to
retire on a pension, and the board
had that day communicated to Mr..
| Wilmot their intentiOn-on certain
coRditioRs-of appointing me to the
post at their disposal. OF course
this was joyful news to me, yet it
seemed rather to spoil my appetite
| for dinner than to improve it, and
when we went into the dining-room
Mrs. Wilmot rallied me on my SEEM
| ing rather absent
0OhE said her husband, ''I have
lust been telling him some news
| that may considerably affect his ca
reer in the bank, and I suppose he
is Illuminating over it."
"But / thought MIR. DANNY was
always in the good graces of the
directors. / hope no change has
taken placer" said Mrs. Wilmot.
'rNone, whatever" said Mr.. Will
mot. "Come, Dandy, you ought to
look more cheerful than ever; but
can well understand that the pros
pect of attaining the goal of your
ambition is too overpoWeriag to in
duce sprightliness."
Il can assure you," said /, "that
the prospect is very gratifying, and
L cannot tell why / should look dull,
for feel so joyful that L am, in fact,
quite confused. Tomorrow l shall
| feel all right, no doubt"
"But," said Mrs. Wilmot, sis
there some great secret about Mr..
Danby's prospects ~
''No, my dear" said her husband.