Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-02-18
Amabel was delighted. Bel

her mother. Altogether, Amabel
decided the match would be charm
ing. But hint to that effect met
= one of Raymond's sternest frowns,
such as had never visited his face III
the old amusing days.
"Nover speak of it again. Anna
BEL" he said, l am no fortune hunter
to live upon the money of a rich wife.
I'll carve out my own way first"
But carving his own way proved
tedious work, till, desperate at his
many failures, he accepted a position
offered in jest, of driver Of an ex-
press wagon.
"I do understand horses" he said,
"if l cannot sell goods or keep
books"
1t proved harder work, however,
than in the first flush Of his despera-
ton he had imagined. 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 an easy in
dependence upon wealthy connec-
tions, but these were few.
A week passed, when one morning,
delivering some goods at one of the
most fashionable 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
drop the hand he was lifting to raise
his hat. The sweet musical voice he
loved spoke at once:
"Please, Mr.. Thurston, help me
with this obstinate door. IL will
stick"
He went forward, then, with al the
easy grace of manner that had ever
marked his intercourse with ladies'
The little glovcd hand was extended
to meet his as she thanked him.
at is too bad you are engaged"
she said. 81 should like to borrow
your artistic eye to aid me in select
ing dress for my reception on
Thursday evening. But you will
come and tell me how / succeeded
alone, will you not?"
ado you really wish me to come
now?" he asked.
81 do"
"Then I will come! I must say
good morning." and he left her with
n most courteous bow.
But while the great express wagon
ratified down the streets, Miss Haines
turned away from the store she had
been entering and re-entered her car
riage.
"To my fathers" she said to the
driver, and few moments later the
merchant looked up from his lcdgcrs
to see his only child, in faultless
walking dress, entering the counting
house.
Another checkw he said, moving
a chair to her. GLOW much this
time?"
Nothing. want to talk to you.
Shut the door SO these horrid men
can't hear me-"
The door was closed, and privacy
in the sanctum secured. Bertha as
tonished her paternal relative by
bursting into passion of weeping.
"Why, Bertha." he cried.
"Nevcr 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 4 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 a subordinate position
and learn the business was simply
farce"
"Did l say all that, Bertha?"
"To me you did. But | suppose
you dismissed 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?"
eyes. He has capacity, brains,
and splendid address. But he has
been an idler all his life"
"He is no ldler now. He is driv-
ing an express cart"
Bcrtha!"
"He is. | met him not an hour
ago. He thought l was going to cut
him. As if" she added, with mag
nifcent scorn," | would slight an old
friend in adversely"
"Bless my soul. Driving an ex-
press wagon! Ned Thurston's boy!
Educated at Harvard! Dear me! Did
you notice whose wagon it was, Ber-
THAI"
Bertha had not noticed, and the old
gentleman hustled into his coat and
started for the office. AT dinner he
informed Bertha that Raymond had
accepted a place in his own large es-
tablishment, with frank confession
of his profound Ignorance of all bus
mess affairs, but an earnest resolution
to learn we'll and speedily whatever
appertalned to the duties entrusted
to him.
1t was not many weeks before MIR.
Haines congratulated himself upon
the acquisition of his new clerk. lie
told Bertha marvellous stories of Ray
mond's rapid progress, and the strides
he was making in his new life, know
ing of the long nights spent in por
ing oyer lcdgers and accounts, the
many misgiyings the new clerk felt.
The same active brain and quick in
telligence the student had brought to
gain college honors now stood in
good stead in mastering theintrlcaclcs
in invoices, bookkeeping, and count
g-house mysteries, and Raymond
gained favor rapidly in the eyes of
his employer
!. 1t is a question whether actnal
merit would have advanced HIM quite
so frequently 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 had successfully con-
cealed from all others. A selfmade