The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-11-18

away from the store she had been entering
and re.entered her carriage.
"To my father's,' she said to the
driver, and few moments later the
merchant looked up from his ledgers to
see his only child, in faultless walking
dress, entering the counting-house.
Another check!' he said, moving a
chair to her. Chow much this timer"
Nothing! want to talk to you
Shut the door, so those horrid men can't
hear me-
The door closed, and privacy in the
sanctum was secured. Bertha astonished
her paternal relative by bursting into pas
sion of weeping.
"Why, BertRa!' 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 herey''
mot exactly"
II do. You said that a man brought
up as he had been would want a sine
cure; that he never would come down to
real work, and that you had no position
for fine gentlemen; that his offer to take
subordinate position and learn business
was simply farce
Ibid say all that, Bertha?''
'To me you did. suppose you dis
missed him politely enough. But, papa,
if you thought he was really in earnest,
really meant to work for living, would
you give him chance here?"
"Yes. He has capacity, brains and
splendid address. But he has been an idler
all his life.'
"He is no idler now. He is driving an
express-cart."
"Bertha!'
"He is. Imet him not an hour ago.
He thought l was going to cut him. As
it, she added, with magnificent scorn,
II would slight an old friend in adver.
sity"
"Bless my soul! Driving an express
wagon! Ned Thurston's boy! Educated
at Harvard! Dear me! Did you notice
whose wagon it was, Bertha?''
Bertha had not noticed, and the old
gentleman hustled into his coat and start
ed for the office. At dinner he informed
Bertha that Raymond had accepted a place
in his own large establishment, with
frank confession of his profound igno-
rance Of all business affairs, but in earnest
resolution to learn we'll and speedily
whatever appertained to the duties intrust.
ed 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 RaymoDd's
rapid progress and the strides he was max
ing in his new life, not knowing of the long
nights spent IN porting over ledgers and
accounts, the many misgivings the new
clerk felt. The same active brain and
quick intelligence the new student had
brought to gain college honors now stood
IN good stead in mastering the intricacies
in invoices, bookkeeping and counting
house mysteries, and Raymond gained
favor rapidly in the eyes of his employer.
1t is question whether actual merit
would have advanced him quite so fire.
quently as he was promoted, hard as he
worked and steadily as he improved. But
Mr.. Haines worshiped his only child, and
the burst of tears in the counting house
told him the secret Bertha successfully
concealed from all others. A selfmade
man himself, with an ample fortune to add
to the one Bertha already held, he laid no
stress upon money in thinking Of son-in-
law. Energy, industry, integrity-these
were the foundation stones of his own for
tune, and these were the qualities he de-
sired in life companion for the child who
was the hope and pride Of his old age.
The closer the ties were bound that drew
Raymond Thurston to him in business the
more he honored and esteemed the ster-
ling worth of the man he so long regarded
as mere butterfly of fashion, one of
fashions spoiled children. And learning
to respect his worth he had also learned
to love the frank, bright face, the clear,
ringing voice, and the ever-ready courtesy
of the young clerk. 1t grew to be 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 BEAM
ing look of pleasure from Bertha.
There came day, after two long years
OF faithful service, when Raymond was
informed in the privacy of his counting
house that junior partnership was his
If he would accept it. Some emotion
checked the utterance of Raymond's
heartfelt gratitude. He extended his hand
to meet cordial grasp and hear:
Yes, yes! know. And now if you
want to tell Bertha the news you may take
holiday"
MAY I tell her more. May tell her
l love-that the one hope of my life is to
win her love in return?''
You may tell her that l 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 son
ever since the day she met you driving an
express wagon"
And behaved like an angelp'
Yes, yes, of course, they always do.
There; get along with you. I'm busy.
Take my love to Bertha, if you are not
overburdened with your own"
And so-you know the rest. There
was wedding, and Amabel gave the bride
a parure OF diamonds and owned, when
in burst of confidence Bertha told the
whole story, that after all the Thurston
pride was not SO good in the end as Ray.
mond's pride.