Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-11-17
s@TRANsfENT BILLs-CAsH.
"Aro you regularly hired here Z"

''Yes, sir. The contractor gave me this
berth until we can find one better"
What does he pay you?"
50 ust the same as he pays the others-two
dollars day; but earn dollar extra in the
evening by keeping his accounts. It's bet
ter than nothing sir. tried to find clerk>
ship; but there were at least dozen appli-
cants for every vacant place. OF course
couldn't starve; aud while have health and
strength will neither beg or run in debt
l was brought up to work, You know and
thank Heaven, I am neither afraid of il, NOR
do feel above IL"
'HOist away !" shouted the master; and
George Acton applied himself again to his
work.
Mr.. Beverly went over and talk ed with the
contractor, and from tho fact that they looked
several times towards the windlass where the
young clerk was at work, it was reasonable to
suppose that they were speaking of him.
During this time Miss Florence spoke With
Philip and Clarence, and delicious autteriug
seized them as ther met her welcoming smile.
They expected that she would speak of the
sad humiliatiug spectacle exposed before them,
and they we're prepared to tell her how NOR
titled they felt; but she made no allusion TO
the circumstance. She did not even intimate
to them that she had recognized the young
man at the windlass.
By>aud>by Mr.. Beverly came out from
amid the ruins. and having drawn the arm of
his daughter within his own and bowed to his
former clerks, he departed He did not bow
an adieu to young Acton, for just then the
laborer, was busy at his work.
And Philip Lewis and Clarence Bugbee
walked away talking of their pity for poor
Acton.
"Mcrcy," cried the former al wouldn't
have been in his place when Florence. Beverly
came upon the scene for all the money in
Boston"
at was certainly humiliatiug," assented the
other But" he added refectively, "Aoton
never was really high>toucd l guess his
family is rather lowered, any way"
And in this conclusion both young men
fully agreed and they further agreed that
they should not in the future recognize
George Acton as an acquAintanc.
A week later Lewis and Bugbee had oc-
casiop to call at the Office where Mr.. Beverly
had established his business headquarters,
and they were not little surprised at behold,
ing George Acton seated at the desk of the
confidential clerk and correspondent. II was
a private room, with glass door, which
George occupied, aud they did not 20 in
there: but they ventured TO ask one Of the
bOok-keepers if Acton had been permanently
employed.
81 don't know about that" replied tho
book>kceper 81 only know that Mr.. Bev>
erly seems TO have taken u sudden aud strong
liking for the young mau-that he entrusts
him with his private correspondence, and has
given him home beneath his own roof"
Another day came-a day when the sleigh
ing was excellent, and when merry bells were
jingliug far and near Through the kindness
of friend Lewis and Bugbee had managed
to secure team for the afternoon, and they
drove out upon ono of tho Brighton roads,
Out in the conntry they met tho superb double
cutter of Mr. Beverly drawn by pair of rat>
tlue bays. Upon the front sest sat the mer.
chant and his wife, and upon the back seat,
smiling and chatting with all the grace aad
charm of friends who had given to each other
the fullest trust and confidence, sat George
Acton and Florence Beverly!
"What did it mean" !"
IF Philip Lewis and Clarence Bugbee arc
not stupid beyond belief, they must ere this
have solved the problem and may the soIu>
tion give them new and enlarged views Of life
and its duties!