The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-09-07
. co..
CHAPTER 1

So e name stood upon the great
brass pate; and in these names had the
business of the bank been prudently and
profitably conducted for as many years
as the majority of the inhabitants Of
Hillsborough could recall.
Trade panics had laid waste many
another long-established firm bank
ruptcy had swooped unexpectedly upon
many a house where wealth had seemed
as limitless as here; but the bank of
Messrs. Dart, Maitland, Dart q Co.
held its head high above all treacherous
waters. and stood unmoyed and utterly
secure after the heaviest gales had passed.
The name of the firm was passport
Of trust and reliance, as well as a prompt
introduction to the first society of the
country; and the present representatives.
were these Maurice Dart, the senior
partner, a handsome man of 30 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 man
ner. a strong contrast to his senior
partner. Though but ten years younger,
he looked nearer 30 than 40, and the
frankness Of his blue eyes, 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 inter
course with il was the polite periodical
acknowledgment 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 vagueness which
is inseparable from the cOgnomen. In
the outer world it was supposed that an
unlimited number of people had invested
their savings or their patrlmOny 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. He had deposited
i'm the firm the sum which his father.
through forty years course of valued
and profitable managership, had ac-
cumulated TO bequeath TO him, and SO,
being enabled to draw what doubled his
salary as a clerk, Tom Leslie looked upon
himself as q partner of no mean order,
and built lofty castles for a time when
his name should stand upon the brass
peiat otherwise than as " CO." Cheer
fully and constantly he erected these
editices: but to attempt 10 lay their
foundations on terra tirma, either by
saving OF specializing, never entered
Tom head. With his mother "A little
old lady, as hopeful and cheerful, and
trustful as he was himselt-IOm lived in
a pretty white cottage beyond the town
and here he had flowers all the year
round, and birds that sang in the
gloomiest weather, and piano on which
he was no mean performer. And as
regularly as Saturday morning came
around, Tom, taking his hat, would say,
in the most natural manner; 81 think
we should like a couple of the younger
fellows out to dinner tomorrow
shouldn't 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 OF twice Mrs. Leslie would in
quire rue by where her son n P jI3i up
20 bring home 10 superior, rs he always
called it, " to "a little music But her
genial hospitality was after all, Jas prompt
as his: and so, though she kept the
accounts, there was, as l said, never a
penny of Toms salary lett when the
year was up. d" He thinks that that
500 a year of his, l. kings revenue, ="
thought Mrs. Leslie, one saturday
morning watching her son cross the road
drop his gift into the eXpectant hand of
the crossingsweeper, and turn at the
corner to nod to her. He will soon
expect me To adopt a few youEg men
whose salaries are less than his own. If
he had but inherited his fathers saving
nature ." She tried 10 regret this
dolefully, but after all, she could not
help the warmth Of perfect satisfaction
filling her ewes.
Even his practical father had rejoiced
that his nature was his mSther's from
the time that nature began to assert
/ itself in little Tom" Little Tom then
to his parents; Little Tom Leslie
atterwaTd among his scheoliellows
/ " Little Leslie now among his fellow
clerks.
On thiRparticular Saturday morning
as he wa Eed to the bank, Tom loiterec
a little in one street-a quiet street o.
] handsome lIlFdLt llBu-FHr bt4tAF D44t -
which stood a couple of cabs piled witt
boxes. Tom waited long enough TO bt
sure that the cabs bore nothing bu
luggage. Then he went briskly on and
entering the bank excitedly, told hi
fellow-clerks of the arrival of thu
Coloners household; and for fully fiy,
minutes forgot, in his excitement, to ado
his genial invitation lOr the morning.
When the coming of the regiment baD
been discussed, and Toms pleasant invi
tation accepted, he turned to his desk
not TO loiter again throughout the day
An hour afterward Mr.. Dart drove up
and with a quiet Good morning
passed through the bank to his owl
private room. Here presently Mr.. Matt
land Joined him, and standing befor
the fire, discussed various items of tow
news-~among them, of course, the arriva
of the regiment.
Colonel Conyngham has only on
daughter. We must help to introduce
her Young Dart having once belonge,
to the regiment, gives it, as it were,
claim upon us"
% The Colonel's daughter will nee,
but little introduction" remarked Mau
rice Dart quietly.