The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-11-25

81
4 do understand horses, he said, if
cannot sell goods or keep books
| 1t proved harder work, however, than in
| the first flush of his desperation hh had i'm
agined Not the mere work; that he soon
conquered; but the sights, rudeness, and
stares of his old friends. Some few recog
nized the true nobility that accepted honest
labor rather than the easy dependel upon
wealthy connections, but they were few.
A week passed, when one morning. deliv-
ering some goods at one of the most fash
ionable stores on Broadway. as he went out,
Raymond saw Bertha Haines opening the
door of her low carriage. An impulse made
him start forward to hand her out, only to
| draw back crimson with confusion, and
dropping the hand he was lifting to raise
| his hat The sweet musical voice he loved
| spike at once:
"Please, Mr.. Thurston. help me with this
obstinate door, 1t will stick
He went forward, then, with all the easy
grace of manner that had ever marked his
intercourse with ladies. The little gloved
hand was extended to meet him as she
thanked him.
1t is too bad you ere engaged, she said
i should like to borrow your artist eye to
aid me in selecting dress for my reception
| on Thursday evening But you will come
and tell me how I succeeded alone, will you
not?'
She said the last words very earnestly.
| raising her dark eyes to his face.
do you really wish me to come now?' he
asked
| Il do
Then I will come. l must say good
| morning. and he left her with most cOur
teous bow
But while the great express wagon rat
tied down the streets Miss Haines turned
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, enter
ing the counting house.
'.Another check !" said he, moving a
chair to her. "How much this timer"
'Nothing! l want to talk to you. Shut
the door, so those horrid men can't hear
me-"
The door was closed, and privacy in the
sanctum secured. Bertha astonished her
paternal relative by bursting into passion
Of weeping.
"Why, BERTHA" he cried.
"Never mind, papa II is all over now.
Do you remember what you said to me when
Raymond Thurston asked for some employ
n,nt here!"
"Not exactly"
IL do. You said that a man brought up
as he had been would want sinecure; that
he would never come down to real work,
and that you had no position for fine gen.
tleman; that his offer to take subordinate
position and learn business was simply a
farce"
Ibid say all that Bertha?'
ITO me you did. l 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 a chance here?''
..Yes He has capacity, brains, and a
splendid address. But he has been an
idler all his life"
ale is no idler now. He is driving an
express cart"
"Bertha,"
"He is. l met him not an hour ago. He
thought l was going to cut him. As it,
2 she added. with magnificent scorn, Il would
! slight an old friend in adversely
..Bless my soul! Driving an expires.
wagon Ned Thurs.on's boy! Educated Al
Harvard. Dear me, Did you notice who's,
! wagon 1t was, Bertha"
Bertha had not noticed, and the old gen
tleman hustled into his coat and started I,
> the Office At dinner he informed Berth,
that Raymond had accepted place in hi.
own large establishment, with frank con
fession Of his profound ignorance Of all bus
Z mess affairs. but in earnest resolution L
r learn we'll and speedily whatever apper
= tanned to the duties entrusted to him.
II was not many weeks before Mr. Haine,
: congratulated himself upon the acquisition
of his new clerk. He told Bertha marvel
Gus stories Of Raymond's rapid progress ant
: the strides he was making in his new life
rot knowing Of the long nights spent il
: porting over ledgers and accounts, and tn,
many misgivings the new clerk felt Tn,
; same active brain and quick intelligence tn.
the new student had brought to gain col
: lege honors now stood in good stead il
J mastering the intricacies in invoices. book
keeping, and counting house mysteries, ane
. Raymond gained favor rapidly in the eye.
!, Of his employer.
! 1t is a question whether actual meri
/ would have advanced him quite so frequent
" as he was promoted hard as he worked
!
). Haines worshipped his only child. and tn,
q burst Of tears in the counting house, tolt
him the secret Bertha succe ssfully concealed
! from all others. self-made man himself
with an ample fortune TO add to the on,
4, Bertha already held, he laid no stress upo.
: money in thinking of con in-law. Energy
i industry, integrity, these were the founda
: ton stones Of his own fortune, these wer,
the qualities he desired in life companion
r for the child who was the hope and pride o
his old age.
The closer ties were bound that drew
e Raymond Thurston to him in business, tn,
1 more he honored and esteemed the sterling
E worth of the man he so long regarded rs
r mere butterfly of fashion, one of fashion
1 spoiled children And learning to respec
+ his worth he had also learned to love tn,
: frank. bright face, the clear. ringing voice
and the ever ready courtesy Of the yocai
e clerk It grew to be very frequent &C
eurreace for him to ask the support Of tn
. strong, young arm when the streets wer,