The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-08-27

I this obstinate door. 1T will stick !"
lie went forward, then, with all tn
easy grace of manner that had eve
marked his intercourse with ladies
+ The little glOved hand was eXtendet
I to meet his, as she thanked him.
'-It Is too bad you are engaged" sh
! said. II should like TO borrow you
artist eye TO aid me in selecting
dress for my reception on Thursda,
evening" But you will come aud, tel
me how ] succeeded alone, will yol
not ?"
She said The last words very earn
estly. raising her dark eyes to his face
@Do you really wish me to com,
nol0 p be asked.
II dogD
erhen viii come! 1 must say good
morning,D and he lett her with hi
most oHrteons bow.
while the great express-wagor
r1ifi& downthe street, Miss Hainel
turned away From the store she had
been entering, and resentered her car
riage.
.sTo my fathers, she said to the
driver, and few moments later the
merchant looked up from his ledgers
to see his only child, in q faultless
walking dress, entering the counting
house.
"Another check ~ he said, moving q
chair for her. "How much tins time r.
Nothing! | want to talk to yOu.
Shut the door, so those horrid men
can't hear"
The door being closed, and privacy
in the sanctum secured, Bertha aston
ished ber parental relative by bursting
into passion of weeping.
'.Why Bertha - he cried.
"NeVer mind, papa. 1t is all over
now. Do you remember what you
said to me when Raymond Thurston
asked for some employment here ?"
'Not exactly"
81 do. You said that man brought
up as he had been would want sine
cure that he would never come down
to real work. and that you had no
position for fine gentlemen /; that this
offer to take a subordinate position
and learn business was simply farce. !"
'sDid say all that, Bertha"
''To me you did. l suppose you
dismissed him politely enough. But,
papa, if you thought he really meant
to work for living, would you give
him a chance here?"
: "Yes he has capacity, brains, and a
splendid address. But he has been an
idler al his life.
"He is no idler now. He is driving
an express cart"
''Bertha !"
'sHe is. met him not an hour ago.
He thought I was going to cut him.
A = sev .Io o11aI NTH uaonniffrant
scorn, Il would slight an old friend in
"Bless my soul! Driving an express
wagon Ned. Thurston's boy Educat-
ed at Harvard Dear me! dear mel
Did you notice whose wagon it was,
Bertha?'
Bertha had noticed, and the old
gentleman bustled into his coat, and
started for the office. At dinner he
Bertha that Raymond had
accepted a place in his own large es-
with frank confession of
his ignorance of all business affairs,
but an earnest resolution TO learn well
and speedily whatever appertained to
the duties entrusted to him.
1t was not many weeks before Mr..
Haines congratulated himself upon
the acquisition of his new clerk. He
told Bertha marvellous stories of Ray
mond's rapid progress and the stride
he was making in his new lite, know
ing nothing of the long nights spent
in porting over ledger and accounts,
the many nisgivings the new clerk
felt. The same active brain and quick
the student had brought
TO obtain college honors, now stood in
good stead in mastering intricacies of
book keeping and counting
house mystries, and Raymond gained
favor rapidly in the eyes of his en-
ployer.
1t is question whether actual merit
would have advanced him, quite so
as he was promoted, hard
rs he worked, and steadily as he i'm
But Mr.. Haines worshipped
his only child, and the burst of tears
in the counting house told him the
secret Bertha successfully concealed
from all others. A self-made man
with an ample fortune to add
10 the one Bertha already held, he laid
40 stress upon money in thinking ofR
possible son-in law. Energy, industry,
these were the foundation
stones of his own fortune, and these
were the qualities he desired in life
companion for the child who was the
hope and pride ofhis old age.
The closer the ties were bound that
drew Raymond Thurston to him in
business, the more he honored and eS-
teemed the sterling worth of the man
be had so long regarded as a mere
butterfly of fashion, one of fortunes
ah loo To-,
spect his worth, he also learned to love
the frank, bright face, the clear ring
ing voice, and the ever ready courtesy
Of the young clerk. 1t grew to be a
very frequent occurrence for him to
ask the support of the strong young
arm, when the streets were slippery,
and at the door TO invite Raymond to
dine, sure of a beaming look of pleas
nre from Bertha.
There came day, after two long
years of faithful service, when Ray
mond was Informed, in the privacy of
the counting-house, that Junior part
nership was his, if he wonld accept
it. Some emotion checked the utter
ance of RaymOnd's heartfelt gratitude.
He extended his hand to meet a cor
dial grasp. and hear
"Yes, yes know. And now if
you want to tell Bertha the news, you
may take holiday"
"May / tell more2 May | tell her
that love her-that the one hope of
my life is to win her love in return"
ou may tell her that have been
your most sincere friend and warmest
well-wisher for two years. You may
tell her," and the old mans eyes
twinkled, "that l have looked upon
you as a son ever since the day she
met you driving and express wagon"
"And behaved like an angell"
ayes, yes, of course. They always
do! There, get along with you, Pm
very busy. Take my love to Bertha,
if you are not over-burdcned with
your own"
And so-you know the rest There
was wedding, and Ainabel gave the
bride paTu1 of diamonds, and own
ed, when in burst of confidence Ber-
tina told her the whole story, that, af-
ter all, Thurston's pride was not so
fl,ra 4