Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-01-18

place in Mr.. Miliin's dry goods store.
Shoulder to shoulder the young men
had worked their way, till this financial
crisis had brought all business men into
temporary difficulties of greater or less
magnitude.
win had expressed the warmest in
dignation at the proposal made his
cousin, strongly advising him to throw
up his situation and "see how old Minlin
would get along without him." and
Charlie, before seeing Mabel, was quite
ready to follow his advice.
He knew Will would think him mea
spirited to remain upon half salary
and yet Mabel was right. Half a loaf
is better than no bread.
And while Charlie Castleton was
thus weighing the pros and cons of his
decision, Mr.. MiGlin was listening to
the counsel of his old friend and chum,
the senior partner of the firm that had
been Gardner & Minln. and who
though he had retired years before, was
still the friend and frequent adviser Of
his former partner.
at is a mistake, Millin," he said
"YOu had better send young CastletoE
about his business and engage an en-
tirely new book-keepeE You viii find
that half pay means half service, mark
my word"
"But | might search C--from
end to end and not ind cle.G compc
teat to take his plGcs."
"TAcn pay him "ar 5a.ary."
u c-2a.t do it unless reduce the
Inu;nn.r OF statesmen, and am short
lhaaicd now. There is but one way to
keep my head above water. You see
! Ciark's failure involves meyery heavily
anl-"
And the worried man OF business
entered into explanations of his dill
culties not necessary to repeat here,
II touched Charlie Castlcton deeply
| when entering the counting house to
announce his determination To remain
in his old position, to see the face Of
his employer brighten And rs Charlie
spoke the large eyes grew brighter and
he smiled pleasantly as he said
THANK you, Charlie Itwould have
caused me serious embarrassment "a
lose you, and | am heartily glad you
will stay. trust you Will not long be
obliged to take small salary. but cir
cumstanccs compel me To economize.'
you have been a kind employer to
me for ten ", LIS" replied Charlie. "and
if am really Of any more value to you
than another would he in my place,
VIII not desert YOU
And looking into the careworn face
that trouble was marking more deeply
than age. Charlie rcSoylcd TO serve Mr.,
Mialin more faithfully in his perplexi-
ties than in his more prosperous days.
1t was not long before the old gen
tleman felt the sympathy Of his young
clerk, and looked 10 him as he never
did before for advice a we'll as service.
He admitted MIN 20 confidential rrla-
tions, explained to him the d'qioulties
caused 10y the failure Of other firms.
some heavily indebted to the firm Of
Joel MiAlin, others upon whom he had
depended for goods obtained upon
credit.
Day hy day, as the hard, trying win
ter wore away, the two friends grew
faster, and. so far from lcsscning his
work, Charlie found himself willingly
lifting some Of his employers burdens
upon his own shoulders.
He gave more time to business. and
he was gaining an insight into it Of
which an opportunity had never been
= given him.
And Mabel at home was hraycly
taxing her share Of the diminished loaf
with a smiling face and a cheerful
heart. As far ~ might he she kept
from Charlie a knowledge Of her domcs-
tic economies, but some of them were
apparent.
The woman whose competent aid de-
manded high wages was dismissed. and
a half-grown girl engaged to mind the
babies while Mabel cooked and washed
and ironed and sewed. meeting difficult
ties with a courageous heart. She had
never been dronc in the worlds hive.
having been a busy little dressmaker
before Charlie Castleton won her heart
and took her to preside over his pretty
home.
But for three years Of her married
: life she had been much petted. and
! Al