Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-08-29
The New Partner.


"Dart, Maitland, Dart & Co."
So the name stood upon the great brass
plate; and in these names had the business
of the bank been prudenty and profltably
conducted for as many years as the major
ity of the inhabitants of lIighborough could
recall.
Trade panics had laid waste many another
long established firm; bankruptcy had
swooped unexpectedly upon many a house
where wealth had seemed as limtless as
here but the bank of Nessrs Dart, Matt
land, Dart & Co. held its head high above
all treacherous waters, and stood unmoved
and utterly secure after the heaviest gales
had passed.
The name of the firm was passport of
trust and reliance, as well as prompt in
PRODUCTION to the first society of the coun-
try; and the present representatives were
these: Maurice Dart, the senior partner, u
handsome man of fifty years, who imagined
the wishes, the weaknesses, and the hopes
peculiar to other men, could not move
him now and Walter Maitland, both in
appearance and manner, strong contrast
to his senior partner. Though but ten years
younger, he looked nearer thirty than forty,
and the frankness of his blue ewes, and the
gay words so prompt upon his lips, seemed
doubly frank and doubly gay, contrasted
with his seniors reticence and gravity.
The third partner was one in name alone.
His fathers death had left him a rich share
in the bank, but his only intercourse with
it was the polite periodical acknowledge
ment of its having swept away the debts
which were the worst enemies he had had
to fight since he entered the army. About
the Co.. there was of course that vague
ness which is inseparabe from the cogno-
men. In the outer world it was supposed
that an unlimited number of people had
invested their savings or their patrimony
on purpose to be considered "of the firm"
But among the clerks only one case was
known with certainty. He was neither the
oldest nor the most experienced, though
the most cheerful, perhaps, and the most
industrious. lie had deposited in the firm
the sum which his father through forty
years course of valued and profitable man
agership, had accumulated to bequeath to
him; aud so, being enabled to draw what
doubled his salary as clerk, Tom Leslie
looked upon himself as a partner of no
mean ORDER and built lofty castles for a
time when his name should stand upon the
brass plate otherwise than as "Co." Cheer
fully and constantly he erected these edi-
fees; but to attempt to lay their founda-
tions on terra frma, either by saving or
speculating, never entered Toms head.
With his mother-a little old lady, as hope
full and cheerful, and trustful as he was
himself-Tom lived in pretty white cot
tage beyond the town; and here he had
flowers all the year round, and birds, that
angin the gloomiest weather, and piano
on which he was no mean performer. And
I
around, Tom, taking his hat, would say, in
the most natural manner: 81 think we
should like couple of the younger fellows
out to dinner to-morrow-shouldn' We
mother Their salaries are not like mine ;
and things are dear, you say"
True, their salaries were not like his, but
then he would not have the small, bright
house, nor the small, bright mother, denied
any comfort he could think of, and so there
was never one penny of Toms salary left
when the year was up.
Once or twice Mrs. Leslie would inquire
ruefully where her son picked up the din
nerless clerks whom he delighted to bring
home to superior, as he always called it.,
"to little music" But her genial hospi-
tality was, after all, as prompt as his and
so, though she kept the accounts, there
was, as | said never a penny of Toms sal
AIRY left when the year was up He thinks
that that four hundred pounds year of
his, is kings revenue thought Mrs. Les
lie, one Saturday morning, watching her
son cross the road, drop his gift into the ex-
pectant hand of the crossing-sweeper, and
turn at the corner to nod to her. He will
soon expect me TO adopt few young men
whose salaries are less than his own. If he
had but inherited his fathers saving ma
ture !" She tried to regret this dolefully
but after all, she could not help the warmth
of perfect satisfaction filling her eyes.
Even his practical father had rejoiced
that his nature was his mothers from the
time that nature began to assert itself in
little Tom" Little Tom then to his par
ents; " Little Tom Leslie " afterward
among his schoolfelows; Little Leslie 81
now among his felow-clerks.
On this particular Saturday morning as
he walked to the bank, Tom loitered little
in one street-a quiet street of handsome
private houses, before one of which stood a
couple of cabs piled with boxes. Tom
waited long enough to be sure that the cabs
bore nothing but luggage. Then he walked
briskly on, aud, entering the bank excitedly
told his fellow-clerks of the arrival of the
ColonePs household; and for fully five min
utes forgot, IN his excitement TO add his
genial invitation for the morrow.
When the coming of the regiment had
been discussed, and Toms pleasant invita-
tion accepted, he turned to his desk, not tc
loiter again throughout the day. An houl
afterward Mr. Dart drove up, and with 8
quiet "good morning." passed through the
bank to his own private room. Here pres
emily Mr.. Maitland joined him, and, stand
ing before the fire, discussed various items o
town news--among them, of course, the ar
rival of the regiment.
"Colonel Conyngham has only one daugh
ter. We must help to introduce her. Young
Dart having once belonged TO the regiment
gives it, as it were, claim upon u.s."
"rhe Colonel's daughter will need bu
little introduction" remarked Maurice Dar
quietly.
CHAPTER n.
Dart, Maitland, Dart x Co."
The names stood unaltered ON the grea
plate yet-except the sleeping partner
away in India now-each one represented
by that sigu was perfectly aware that q
great alteration had been growing in him
self ever since Colonel Conynghaln and hi