The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1883-04-26
"OuR" MR.. JENKINS.

was fortunate in my uncle.F So ev-
erybody thought, for Uncle Braithwaite
was as wealthy and thriving manu-
facturer as any in Lambeth, and |, his
dead sisters son, Cyril Vaughan by
name, was not merely drawing fair
salary, with the prospect of partner
ship, but was actually engaged to be
married to my second cousin. reputed a
great heiress dear, sweet Lucy Braith-
waite-the old mans only child. A
severe, just man was John Braithwaite.
lie had won his own way in life by rigid
self-denial and unwearying industry
during a joyless youth, and doubt ii
he ever thoroughly enjoyed the fruits of
his wen-earned prosperity. TWAS only
when his eye rested on his daughters
pretty face that his stern look relaxed.
Lucy reminded him. doubtless, of her
gentle mother But he was good
master to good servant notably where
he, who was by nature and habit suspi-
cious, could repose full trust. He did
so In his confidential clerk, Jacob
Jenkins. That head clerk was one out
Of thousand. Respectable Jenkins"
was the nickname by which irreverent
youngsters in the counting house spoke
with bated breath of that pearl of clerks;
but even those pert Office lads had be-
llef in the mamie was so respectable,
with his lean. well-shaven face. his
neatly-brushed suit of formal black, and
his square-toed boots. Never, as have
heard. in the twenty-nlne years of his
toll had honest jenkins been known to
ask for holiday, to shrk extra work,
or to make blmder as to tare and tret,
a #
large exporters as we were.
As for myself, I am afraid that my
poor merits. II | had any, were quite
eclipsed by those of that commercial
comet, Jenkins. Indeed. know Of no
reason, except my blood relationship 10
our principal. head of the house OF
Braithwaite. Perry & Co., for any COM
parison between that veteran of the
desk and my inexperienced self. But
my uncle eften said, in his gruf way:
Take jenkins for your modelW or
"Cyril, lad. it will be one while before
you fill Jenkins shoes see how neatly
he settled that business with Chauvin
OF Fills, of Bordeaux, and how cleverly
he avoided the heavy loss of that last
shipment when Krakow and Kinder
garten, OF Hamburg, were going to
Smash
Yet stuck to my work young as
was, and did my best not to be undeserv-
ing of the prospective partnership. and
somehow got d vagre impression in my
head that instead OF my being Jealous of
jenkins, Jenkins was jealous OF me-
One day there was big check to
be changed-nearer to three thousand
pounds than two-and il was my task.
no unusual one. to present the DRAFT at
Peabody Il Sons In house like ours.
where the furnaces were always aglow,
and tall chimneys always smoking, the
outgoing for wages. horse-keep and
fuel were, need hardly say, very large.
On that day--bow we'll remember
It'll was in exceptionally high spirits.
had been talking with dear Lucy, and
though her father, who said that we
children need not be in hurry, would
never consent to name even APP
proxima'e day for our wedding. still
there was vague prospect of connu-
bal bliss next spring. 1t was fine
bright weather, and on Tuesday there
was to be garden party at some Rich
mond villa, TO which we were all to 90.
Altogether | was in excellent spirits, and
as far as any man could be from dream
ing OF the evil that was TO come.
"How will you take itp'' asked the
bank cashier.
''Short!' | answered. with sort of
boyish pride in my newly. acquired
familiarity with business phrases. and
with my gold and notes left the bank.
As / did So a man staggered toward
me, jostled me. then reeled away, NIT
tering beg pardon and would have
fallen bat for the support Of my arm.
saw in moment that the man was
sober But he looked i'll, very ILL., hag-
gard and hollow-eyed though still
y ung, and he was decently clad in n
well-worn velvetine suit. with large,
bronze buttons. There was smack of
the country about him, wait as he was
in the midst of London. and his accent,
so far as | could Judge. was that OF
Yorkshire or Northumberland
"Yoy ARE i'll. | fear.n | in uired,
land perhaps stranger 10 London"
Nigh clemmed in this blessed Lon
don of yours, paved wi golden guineas,
as our old crones say up in Craven
n'uttered the countrvp an in the same
thin, reedy voice: "pavod wi traps,
say !. and cause for Il. since all that
EibAti'l ailel NihIfN up, hllttAtl iNI }taH
and Bell or Tor IRE -" and then he
would have fallen but for my assistance.
Clearly the man was fainting. and
from starvation We had walked some
distance. In tempting proximity, at
the corner OF side street was house.
over the door OF which. in great gold
letters, cleaned the words Luncheon
Par Into this, quito instinctively, |
half dragged. hall hustled the man.
II WIS tie middle of the day.
luncheon tine, q brisk hour for bush
ness in the citr, IN The eating and drink
ing line at least, and the place | had
entered was full o. Customers youug
men mostly. noisily chatting over their
sandw ehes %s flung open the
swingingaoor fell sure that caught
glimpse Of my IN les confidential
clerk - tie pavement outside.
&" Mr.. Jenkins ] called OFT. hut he
identlv dii not hearnc. hutp scdo on
there was % rush OF excited Young
70 ows toward us -''pet YOU les
drunk" "iour 10 lye he 5 dead"
Rim over? and so % IA ard IL was
not nmediatelv lhFt tonld Get some
Test0sati G, But the poor couniryman'
lace WAS iiyld, his ewes closed his teeth
fast Init and be could swallow moth.
ing Then doctor was sent for, an
tie do.or WIS slow in com ng. and
had explanation te explanation TO
give, iise, 10 the Gi.Ew,t,ed landlord,
who came blink n out Of back parlor