The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1883-01-19


Twas fortunate in my uncle So cv-
erybody thought. for Uncle Braithwaito
was rs wealthy and thriving manu-
facturer as any in lambeth. and I. 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 10 my second cousin. reputed a
great hercss deer. sweet Lucy Braith-
waite the old mans only child. A
severe. just man was John Praithwaite
He had won his own way in lie by rigid
sclf-denial and unwearying industry
during ioylcss youth, and doubt II
he ever thoroughly enjoyed the fruits Of
his vel! earned prosperity. twas only
when his eve rested on his daughter
pretty face that his stern look relaxed.
Lucy reminded him, doubtless. Of her
gentle mother But he was q good
master 10 cool servant. notably where
he. who was by nature and habit suspi-
cious, could rcposc full trust. He did
SO in his confidential clerk. Jacob
jenkins That head clerk was one out
Of q thousand. Respectable Jenkins
was the nickname by which irreverent
Youngsters in the counting house spoke
with baled breath Of that pearl OF clerks:
hut even those pert Office lads had be-
lief in the mamie was so respectable.
with his lean. well-shavcn face. his
neatly-brushed suit Of formal black. and
his sguarc-tocd boots. Never, As have
heard. in the twcnty-nine years Of his
toll hsd honest jenkins been known to
ask for holiday. to shirk extra work.
or to make blunder rs 10 tare and trct
thing Of moment with i firm like ours.
large exporters as we we're.
A for myself. am afraid that my
poor merits. II I had any. were quite
eclipsed bv these OF that commercial
comet. Jenkins. Indeed. I know OF no
reason. except my blood relationship to
orr principal. head Of the house or
Braithwaite. Perry x Co., for any com
parison between that veteran Of the
desk and nv inexperienced self. but
my uncle often said. in his gruf way
Take jenkins for your model" or
cyril. lad. il will be one while before
You fill Jenkins shoes see how neatly
he settled that business with Chauvin
Ct Fills. Of bordeaux. and how clcverlv
he avoided the heavy loss Of that last
shipment when Krakow and Kinder
garten. Of Hamburg. were going 70
smash"
Yet stuck 10 my work. young as !
was. and did my best not to be undcscrv-
ing Of the prospective partnership. and
somehow got sagre impression in my
head that instead Of my being jealous Of
Jenkins, jenkins was jealous Of me.
Ono day there WAS big check 70
be changed nearer 10 three thousand
pounds than two-and II was my task
no unusual one. to present the draft at
Peabody X 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-how well 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 n ap-
proxima'e day for our wedding. still
there was vague prospect Of connu-
b'al bliss next spring. II was fine
bright weather. and on Tuesday there
was to be a garden party IT some Rich
mond villa. TO which we were al 10 20.
Altogether was in excellent spirits. and
as lar as any man could be from dream
Ing of the evil that was 70 come.
How will you take itP' asked the
bank cashier.
short answered. with sort Of
buoyish pride in my newly acquired
familiarity with business phrases. and
with nv gold AMI notes left the bank
AZ did 81. man staggered toward
me. ostled me. then rcclcd away. nut
icrIng beg PARDON" and would have
,allen but for the support Of my arm.
saw In moment that the man was
sober. But he looked i'll. very i'll. bag
gard and hollow-cycd. though still
young, and he was decently clad in q
well.worn vclvctine suit. with large.
bronze b ttons There was smack Of
the country about him, waif as he was
IN the midst Of London. and his accent,
50 far Is could Judge. was that or
Yorkshire or Northumberland
"lcri are III. fear.n I inquired.
and perhaps n stranger to Londony'
IN IN clcmmcd IN this blessed Lon.
aon of yours paved Wi golden guincas,
n our old crones say up In Craven "
muttcred the countryman III the same
nm. recdy voice: sspaved VII traps,
say |. and cause for L. since all that
grantfcyther stored up. whethcrfor Bess