The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-06-14

other. give it up, Miss Rosa. what
| seem to be' Heavensi what can she
The days went ON. The weeks followed
the days. The warm, pleasant time of
late spring came; and summer was near.
Arthur Guild and Rosa Young had be-
come better acquainted. Living under
the same root, it would have been strange
If they had not. Rosa had found that
Arthur's countenance and general appear.
ance did not belle the man. They had
not yet become at all intimate. On the
contrary, every time they met it was al
most like the meeting of strangers. They
approached each other in sort of hold
ing. back manner; as two opponents might.
each one feeling little nervous in regard
each other intently. There was no rush.
ing into each others society-nothingo of
that kind; but it happened that they did
| frequently meet, in the sitting-r room and
elsewhere. Guilds private interests did
not seem to require him to hasten to his
room immediately after tea, as he had
done for three years back; and Rosa, al.
though it was nothing % her whether he
spent his evenings up or down stairs, and
although she had made no effort to per.
suade him to stop in the sitting room be.
low, was often there at the same time that
he was. This remarkable coincidence,
perhaps, was owing-as Rev. Joseph
Cook would say-"to the nature of
things" Once in q while, on pleasant
afternoons, Mr.. and Mrs. Young went out
to ride. And If, ON any of those after
Moons, Rosa thought of something she
wanted at the store, and went for it, Ar
thur did not seem Overburdcned by the
extra demand upon his time, although he
was left alone TO attend to customers.
Clerks sometimes look upon every Gus
toner that comes into the store as an un-
welcome disturber of their personal con-
venience. But, if Guild felt that way, he
controlled his feelings in mastery way,
while performing the onerous task Of
waiting upon his employers daughter.
He did not appear to be put out at all.
One afternoon, when he was getting
some article for her-there being no other
people in the storc-she said: How did
it happen, Mr.. Guild, that you became q
clerk for papa? Excuse the question;
but it seems little singular that you
chose to do this work, when, perhaps,
you would have succeeded in profession"
~ may not be what l seem, Miss
Young" was the reply.
.. AOONSA SAoA ny az sA0 SiCi : OOuAu
1t be that he had heard that question that
day? Ne-his face treasured her. She
concluded that he was not aware how sig
nificant the reply was.
But it is fact" continued he, "that
did not think of being q clerk when l
left college some five years ago. After
graduating, taught school year; and
then was i'll a while; after my recovery,
l should have continued the study had
begun-that of law-but my physician
positively forbade it. I was told that
over-study had brought me where had
been, and that must for q few years,
perhaps for life, cease to tax my brain.
[ was poor, I saw your fathers advertise.
ment for clerk; accepted the position,
and have been here ever since. / expect
to remain here the rest of the year, but no
longer"
Not long after it struck Mr.. Young one
day that his clerk was getting to be more
than usually thoughtful. He attended as
well as ever to his duties; and, 80 far as
he knew, was ae correct as ever; but
often when he had nothing particular to do
he would sit at the desk for long time
without speaking or raising his eyes. If
we could have obtained the diary that Ar
thur Guild wss in the habit OF keeping
during these days, under date of June s,
10 we miGnt have reau a h~if-incuaic-
rent entry like this:
1--WE had q very pleasant chat last
my life, don't call it being in love-
nothing of the sort. OF course it's safe!
board there for convenience. At the end
of my year, we shall be quite we'll &C.
Quainted with each other, that's all.
No harm, no danger of-of anything
of course not. Clerks like me are never
expected to fall in love with their employ.
er's daughter; they never do, of course
not"
Such was his "analysis" of the situa-
tion.. If Arthur Guild had made these
statements to the puclic, 90 that it could
have known just where he was, they
would have felt that he could not make
it plainer-though, possibly, it would
have been of advantage to have headed
that entry, "Signs of Capitulation."
If In June Mr.. Young thought his
clerk was uncommonly meditative, in
September he could hardly have failed to
notice that he had become decidedly
grave.
He now saw plainly his condition.
"One of two things is sure to be mine,"
said he, "Great Happiness or Great Scr.
rowland he spelt these words with
capitals, feeling that small letters were
quito inadequate to the situation. But
one thing could satisfy him; without that,
there could be nothing but misery. One
morning as he left the house he said to
himself that he could stand it NO longer;
he must 60 away, for, unless he did, he
should be sure 10 tell Rosa Of his love,
the first time he found himself alone with
her. So, when Mr.. Young came into the
store, about an hour afterward, he said to
him:
"Mr. Young, although the settlement
begins next Monday, and ought to be
here to balance our customer books, !
feel that must ask for . week OF ten
-days' vacation. am not feeling very
well, and II You can get over the settle
ment without me. hope you will let me
Co."
Somewhat surprised, Mr.. Young re.
piled: well, Arthur, / will get along
some way. Don't stay . moment, II you
heed to Co."
Arthur returned to the house. took what
clothing he needed and departed. He did
not see either>Mn. Young or Rosa before
going; and they thought his departure an
abrupt one, when MI. Young told them,
ct night, that he had gone.
Where has he 9oner' asked Mrs.
Young.
- don't know" he replied, che said
he felt - though he was going 10 b sick,
and must have week or ten days to pick
up in. Tomorrow" continued Mr..
Young. sis Saturday. can get over
that day without any trouble; but Non.
day beelm the settlement week; and Poo.
FplosWill be IN 10 look over. and ehal1