The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-02-08
Herbert Dexter's Ordeal.
By HoRAT1o ALGEK, JR.

the store, where q young cler.
awaited her order. He was a DO
of fifteen, with frank, handsom
face that inspired instant confidence
He at once displayed variety Q
goods. One particular piece ap
peared to please the customer.
"A1e the colors fast?" she in
quired.
Herbert Dexter looked at it care
fully.
81 am afraid not" he answered
"a lady came in a day or two sine
and complained that it had faded.
"Thank you," said the LADY,
"Then I must look elsewhere, al
you have nothing else with a small
figure to my TASTE"
The proprietor of the establish
ment was near enough to hear thil
conversation. The lady had scarce
ly left the store when he advanced
towards Herbert and said harshly
"what made you tell that lady the
cloth would not wash?"
Because" said Herbert looking
up in surprise, "she asked me-"
swell, you simpleton, why could
not you tell her it did"
"Because it wouldn't have beer
the TRUTH" replied Herbert simply
"Then you could at least have
told her that you didn't know
"But / did, Sir"
sit seems you have tender con
science" sneered his employer
"Since that is the case I can't afford
to have you here. It won't do to
pay for sending customers away
When your week is out you may
leave my employ"
Herbert's heart sank within him
To him the loss of a situation was
a very serious matter. His mother
was a poor widow dependent upon
her own exertions for a livelihood,
and the three dollars which Herbert
brought to her weekly was of great
consequence to her. He had only
been in his place a month, it having
been procured by the influence OF
his Uncle John, man of property
who might have put his hand into
pocket and assisted his brothers
son without feeling it. But John
Dexter was not man of that sort.
His money was dearer to him than
his nearest friend. He seemed to
feel that in obtaining a situation for
his nephew in the retail store of
Messrs. Smith & Co., he had placed
him under a great load of obligation.
In the midst of Herbe-t's sorrow
he did not for an instant doubt that
he had done right, nor would he
have acted differently if the oppor-
tunity had been given.
Yet it was with a heavy heart
that he went home to supper and
informed his mother that he had
been dismissed from his place.
81 hope you have done nothing
to deserve dismissal" said his
mother much disturbed.
Herbert thereupon related his
story.
"You did right, my son." said
Mrs. Dexter, emphatically. "The
situation was not worth keeping at
the expense of truth"
81 am glad you think / did right
mother" said Herbert, "but what
shall doY' he inquired anxiously
az ought to get another situation
Immediately"
'sPerllaps you had better call on
your uncle john" suggested Mrs
Dexter. "He will no doubt be able
to procure you another situation
CPL go tonight, mother" said
Herbert, ''for there is no time to be
LOST
Twenty minutes later Herbert
rang the bell of a handsome house
in fashionable street in the city,
He was admitted by the servant
and ushered into his uncle's pres
ence.
Mr.. John Dexter was a dignifie6
looking man, having apparently
high opinion of himself, and com
paratively a low opinion of every
body else who chose to come in con
hict with him.
swell Herbert" said his uncle
patronizingly, show are you getting
on at your placer
"Not very well, uncle" answered
Herbert rather nervously, for b.
stood a little in awe of his uncle. :
Mot very welli" repeated Mr.
Dexter, surveying him through hi
glasses with displehsure. sHoy
does that happen?
"Mr. Smith. expects. me to d
what ] don't think is tight"
81 don't understand you."' -
Hereupon Herbert entered int
the explanation with which we ar
already familiar.
4 AT the conclusion he looked int
his uncle,s face, and saw that j
was. unfavorable.
| fsWeuld you like to know m
opinion of what you have doneT" b
demanded, in tones of 'displeasur,
"If you please, uncle,' faltere
Herbert. ~,
"Then i think you have made
fool of yourself. What bushes
have you to frighten away custt
mers. I think your employer di
Ijust right. 1 should have done til
same in his place."
/ "But was it right to deceive tt
1 lady?" asked Herbert perplexed.
/ 81 have no disposition to ent'
into any discussion on that point
said his uncle coldly. 'sThe upsh
OF it all is, that you have lost yo1
, situation. How do you expect
get anotherT
81 thought perhaps you might i
: terest yourself for me, uncle,o sa
: Herbert, his heart sinking with
him.
sits of no use to help you,"- sa
:. Mr.. Dexter, taking up his pap.
> and beginning to read. You'd 10
, the best situation / could procu
: for you in less than a month.
s can't be at the trouble of contir
., ally finding situations for one W
!. doesn't choose to keep them"
p "Then what shall / do?" [
claimed Herbert, much troubled
= this refusal.
d "You ought to have taken t