The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-03-04


by table on which were writing ma
terials
"You look very coy here, Herbert {;
but why do you have an attic room
Are there none you can have below
stairsP"
go, yes, sir; but this is a dollar a
week cheaper, and | have all the more
money to send to my father,'' replied
Herbert.
"Isn'tyour father well off?' inquired
Mr. Hudson.
g Not very, sir; he used to be pretty
rich, but his business was disastrous,
and he lost a good deal of money!" said
Bond.
"What do vou find to do evenings?
Does not time hang very heavy?"
so, no, sir / have books to read
and letters to write Tonight l am
writing home; they want me to make
them a visit, bat l write that it is a
pretty busy time just now, but when it
is over shall ask you for few days of
ABSENCE" answered Herbert.
60 You shall have it willingly said
Mr.. Hudson, and then he added !:
Z" Does Charles ever call upon you?"
"No, sir. 1 have asked him to sew
eral times, but he has never called"
" Are you contented here in this
clearinghouse" inquired Mr.. Hudson.
sit is a very good clearinghouse,
and Mrs Buntin is very kind; but l
have often wished that | could live at
home," answered Herbert.
And why can't you? How far is it
from hereP'' asked his employer.
Twenty-Five miles, sir; rather far to
travel every day, and then can't aft
ford the EXPENSE was Herbert's reply.
"What time could you reach the store
in the morning?"
"At half-past eight, sir
"And you would have to leave at
what hour in the afternoon?"
"At about half-past five, sir"
g Not very bad hours for the business.
Perhaps it can be arranged so that you
can live at home, Herbert
go, should like it so much if /
could. l am so homesick here in the
city!" was the clerks reply.
We'll, I'll look into the matter, Her
bert. 1t seems pity that one who is
so fond of his home can't live there, in
these times of railways and fast travel
ing" said Mr.. Hudson, as he arose to
depart. Herbert thanked him for his
visit, and said it would please him to
have Mr.. Hudson call again.
The old gentleman descended the
stairs well satisfied with the call, and
said to himself:
"Now for Charles Sehmour. hope
l shall find him as well occupied as
Herbert Bond"
The boarding house was reached, the
bell rang, and Mr.. Hudson was admit
ted. The servant said Sehmour was in,
and ushered him to the chamber door.
Mr.. Hudson knocked, and the door
Immediately swung wide open, and
voice exclaimed, "Well, old fellow, got
along at last, have youP We're all
ready for you; have got the"
Charles Sehmour stopped here, and his
face turned suddenly pale at seeing,
instead of one of his boon companions,
his venerable employer. 1t was several
seconds before he could recover his
speech. 81 beg your pardon, Mr..
Hudson, you must excuse me; expect
ed friend this evening, and in the dim
light of the entry / thought you were
he. Walk in, sir, and sit down."
Mr.. Hudson entered the room, and
was somewhat surprised to see the
identical three young men who had in
suited him on the street; they were
smoking cigars, and had their feet ele-
waited on the bureau, mantelpiece and
bedstead. Mr.. Hudson saw at once that
he was in confusion, and Sehmour's ac-
tions were painful and awkward. New
his employer started con-
versation, and had been there but a few
when footstep was heard on
the stairs; the door opened little and
a bottle of champagne came rolling
across the floor, followed by round
Dutch cheese, bunch of cigars and two
more bottles. SEYMOUR looked dread
fully distressed, but could do nothing.
1t was fourth friend, who had been
out after refreshments, and took this
facetious mode of introducing them into
the chamber. Mr.. Hudson thought it
was time for him to go, so he took his
leave and retured to bis home.
Mr.. Hudson was not long making up
his mind as to which one of his clerks
would make the most faithful and eff
Gent partner, and in less than a week it
was announced in the papers that Her
bert Bond was member of the firm of
Benjamin Hudson & Co. 1t was hap
Ply day for Herbert, and it was not many
years before he managed the whole
business himself, and he became a
wealthy man.
Charles Sehmour knew very well the
reason of Mr.. Hudson's choice, and he
always had to regret having formed
such improbable acquaintance as were
assembled in his room that unlucky
William L. Williams.