The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-07-23
THE STORY OF A Thu MARK.

sneaker was A Young man-little more than
lad, indeed, to judge Ivy his smooth face,
though in figure he was stalwart and well
set up. He spoke passionately as he closed
the door and came out. He did not go back
to his desk in the counting house, but passed
straight from his unces private office to the
street, snatching his hat from the wall as he
left.
Another row with the governor. Mark
my words" said one of the clerks to his
neighbor, "that young fellow will come to
no good"
The "governor lust referred to was the
sole representatives aud proprietor Of the
firm of Anthony Greg & Co., situated in
one of our large seaport towns in the west
of England. Nearly a hundred men and
women were employed in the factory, and the
firms trademark, n ship in full sail, was
known all the world over on their packages
of flour, meal, and biscuits. Greig's bis
cults were sucked by babies everywhere,
from England to the aniipodcs, from Shang-
hal TO San Francisco; ladies crumhled
Greig's biscuits aud dipped them dantily
into their wine; sailors smashed Greig S
hardbalSe with their fists; even dogs,
horses, and cattle were supplied with
specially prepared confections, guaranteed
to possess the qualities of both food and
medicine.
Young Anthony Greig occupied desk in
his uncle's office among the other clerks.
He was advancing through all the grades of
the business till he should he Judged fit to
hold share in the firm, But young An
thony was by 10 means so patient as his
uncle desired him to he, nor 50 steady.
Twice he had been forced 10 appeal TO his
uncle to extricate him from his debts--gam-
bling debts. Aud old Anthony was not dis
posed to he a lenient Judge of his nephew s
faults.
That day there lrad been third and most
serious encounter. Young Greig was in
volved to the extent of about 600. He had
tried in vain to do bill - on his own ac-
count. and he was not sufficiently demoral-
lied as yet to take less legitimate means of
solving his difficulties. His uncle, however,
did not appreciate at its true value the boy IS
straightforwardness. feasibility was not
one of the old mans characteristics, and he
had already warned the young one that he
would not help him a third time. The
nephew pleaded his case with the utmost
importantly: but in vain. "I gave you
fair and serious warning. You have seen
fit TO disregard it. Do you think that am
as great n fool as you are yourself. If you
don't respect my word, at least will. Go
Go, say - hethundercd, as the young man
hesitated. So that all the clerks from the
manager down to the old man who went
messages heard the row, as they called it,
between the governor and young Mr.. An.
thony.
As for the old man he hardened his heart,
and persuaded himself he had acted for thu
best. The boy would ruin himself if al
lowed to persevere in such courses. Better
strike once and for all. But as the day
wore on things presented themselves rather
differently to his mind. There was it'll,
tenderness in his nature but his sense o
Justice told him that after all the young
fellow had acted in straightforward way
he might have done infinitely worse. III,
wished the lad had not taken so abruptly
his command TO go. and half persuaded him
self he had only intended to order him bach
to his desk. Meanwhile he busted himsel
with work, and on his returning from the
market, remained porting over his ledger
his private ledger--until it was time to clos
the office.
&c shall stay an hour or two to night, Mr.
Snnot; you can dismiss when ready. SenC
James for something for dinner--as usual
1t was no extraordinary circumstance 70
Mr.. Greig To remain late at the office, as th
order would indicate. He was hard worker
like many successful men, and il ID hard 4
say whether such men are successful becaus
they work hard, or work hard because the.
are successful.
At 10 o'clock that night young Anthem,
entered the sitting-room of his friend Beesley
living in apartments in Harrington street
He was pale and discomposed. Tvc had
row with thegovernor, Dick. | can't pay NJ
and he wouldn't help me. want you I
give me nights lodging; can't so home.
At 8 o'clock the next morning the wome
who came to sweep ont the office found oil
Anthony Greig face forward upon his opel
desk--dead.
Miss Grace Ii in the drawing -room an,
says you are to go up il you please, sir,
said the servant TO a black bearded. rathe
sprucely attired man, who entered tho hal
with the air of u frequent visitor.
"Mr. Greig i'm p he asked, taking of hi
gloves, and arranging the blue silk handker
chief in his breast pocket.
No, sir. Neither Mr.. Greig nor Nh
Anthony have come TO dinner. Miss Grac
doesn't know what can have kept them.
The prim little domestic had way of italici2
ing her speech in most arbitrary mode.
Papa must bo staying at the Office agai
tonight, Robert; and Tony has not bee
home and Pm very glad you have come.
" So am |, " said the young gentleman thu
warmly welcomed. " And so you have bee
nursing the cat all the afternoon, ell :"
"Well, II isn't miracle of observation {
find that out Suds certainly does leave paI
of her fur wherever she goes.''
The gentleman thus addressed plumed hin
self somewhat upon his detective-lilSe power
of observation and the young lady seems [
have known this, for she went on to say
" But have been neutrality-suspicious. you ca
also guess what l' and Miss Greig put he
hands behind her, inclined her head to on
side, and assumed generally n saucy an
critical air, while her companion peere
about. oh you are quite cold in you
search I" she continued. SIT isn't at tha
side of the room at ALL"
Well, you barely give a fellow ohanc,
everything is so neatly put away ON I'll
shelves. However, think | have got il
'sybille'-isn't that the book in question
g How could you guess %
"Oh, easily enough. II does not nee
much clcverness TO infer that you had bee
reading certain book, with a binding yer
much warped by that intoleTable habit
yours of taking book to the fire and toas
ing its poor back until it writhes like
martyr ct the stake"
" Books are made to lie used. But
this faculty of observation really useful
1t makes one feel almost uncomfortable, as
you Were an officer of private inquisitiol
holding judgment upon everybody aroun
you.'
"If it's useful to any one, It ought to |
to me. Permit me to inform you that | a
lawyer--Robert Slater, of the firm of Fa
reli, Altman & Farrell My head is my on
capital, in the economic seuse as well as Ii
erally-aheml Now think clever CUES
ing comes by practice as much as by gil
lfyou waste your time over acrostics or che
problems, you will get very smart in solvir
them. Well, then, clever guessing ms
prove useful to one in my position, cou