New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-18
A TERRIBLE NIGHT.

1t was four o'clock on an afternoon in
the month of December, 49,, and bu'i-
ness for the day being over, the porter of
the bank at W was closing the doors
of that establishment. AS l was account
ant at the bank, was busily engaged 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
various books and letters. When I had
finished an abstract l was making from
some of the ledgers, / took it into the
managers room. AS l entered, the man.
ager was Just buttoning his coat to depart.
II have done the abstract Of profit and
loss on bills for the last month, said l,
placing the paper on his table, 'and II
find the result more satisfactory than you
expected
Il am glad of it: the directors are par.
ticularly anxious to improve this branch
of the business l will take this abstract
with me and look it over this evening""
said he, putting it in his vest pocket. If
there is nothing very urgent TO do in the
Office, should like you to come up and
dine with me this evening; in fact, have
some news for you, which you will find rs
acceptable as. think. it will be uueX-
pected.
As / had no pressing reason for doing
any more work that afternoon, ! accepted
the managers invitation, the more SO as
he was a very genial man. and much of
my advancement in the bank was due TO
his kindly exertiOns in my behalf. We
both sailed forth into the main street. 1t
was a miserable night; the rain and sleet
came down at sharp angle, borne on
piercing wind, and under foot was halt
frozen mixture of mud and snow, which
struck cold chill through ones feet.
We soon found a cab, and few minutes
saw us in the porch Of Mr.. Wilmots house,
and one more in his cozy snuggery. As
soon as We were seated Mr. Wilmot COM
menced to communicate to me the news
of which he had spoken. 1t is unneces-
sarv to detail our conversation, the sum
Of which was that lie had very good reason
TO believe that was on the point of being
promoted to managership. 70 make
this comprehensive to the reader it is
necessary to explain something of the or
ganization of the bank in which l held
the post of accountant. The particular
office in which l was employed was q
branch bank, forming part of a great
;oint stock bank having its head Office in
London and branches in various provincial
towns. The manager of one of our branches
was about to retire on pension, and the
board had that day communicated to Mr..
Wilmot their intention, on certain con-
.litions, of appointing me to the post at
their disposal. OF course this was joyful
news to me, yet it seemed rather to spoil
any appetite for my dinner than to improve
It, and when We went into the dining.
room Mrs. Wilmot rallied me on my seem.
ing rather absent.
"Oh" said her husband, Il have just
been telling him some news that may con-
eiderably affect his career in the bank,
Snd suppose he is Eliminating over it.
But thought Mr.. Dandy was always
IA the good graces of the directors. ! hope
NO change has taken place." said Mrs.
Wilmot.
None whatever" said Mr.. Wiimot.
eCome,. Dandy. you ought to Look more
cheerful than ever: but ! can we'll under.
stand that the prospect Of obtaining the
goal of your ambition is too overpoWeyiug
to induce sprightliness.
II can assure you" said I, 'that the
the prospect is very gratifying, and can
not tell why should look SO dull, for I
feel SO joyful that am, in fact, quite con.
fused. Tomorrow shall feel all right.
30 doubt
But" said Mrs Tilmo,. lis there
some great secret about MIR. Danby's pros. |
pects?"
mo. my DEAR" said her husband.
''You are aware that Mr.. Kinnean, our !!
manager at s., is going to retire. |
Well, the directors have decided 10 ap. |
point Mr.. Dandy to succeed him, on Ger.
tain conditions, and as those conditions |
nre to my knowledge, favorable, We may |
Cook upon the matter as settled.
Mrs. Wilmot expressed her pleasure at
thy improved prospects, and then the
commencement of the dinner interrupted
our conversation for time When we
began to converse again, an accidental
iemark of Mrs. Wilmot led to the intro
duction Of topic which had repeatedly
been mentioned in my presence on former
occasions, but which had never prop
erly fathomed. 1t lef.rred to a Very
mysterious affair connected with the dis
appearance OF valuable jewel case be-
longing to Mrs. Wilmot. Prompted by
curiosity. asked Mr. Wilmot if he would