The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-02-20

| Klnu IOr MIN TO 90 III anu TELL his niece
that his decision had been made, and
that his choice had fallen on Fred.
Why keep them all in suspense until
Junep So reasoning, he pushed open
the gate, and walked up the path to
the house.
The servant who answered his RING
F! told him that Mrs. Pierce had gone out
tor moment, and asked him TO await
her return.
"rll wait ten minutes-no longer, "
said the old man, as he stepped into the
library.
Mr.. Pierce was fond of reading, and
the room was lined with bookcases. In
one of these Mr.. Maynard saw the vol.
ume of travels he had presented to
Fred.
"Tll see what it was that proved so
interesting to the lad," he muttered, as
he drew the book out.
He opened it, and began to turn
over the leaves; then suddenly started
back as if he had received blow in the
face.
"Impossible!' he muttered, as he
sank down in chair, completely over
come. "There must be some mis-
take"
For several moments he sat thus, in
deep thought, the book resting on his
knee. Then, rising, he restored it to
its place, deep sigh escaping his lips
as he did so. Then, picking up his cane,
which had fallen to the floor, he left the
house,
"A most fortunate discovery" he
muttered, as he walked away. "Poor
lad! poor lad!''
When Mrs. Pierce returned home a
few minutes later, she of course found
the library unoccupied.
"Uncle Asa is always so impatient"
she said. Surely he could have waited
just little longer"
"He promised to wait ten minutes,
but I'm sure he wasn't here more than
tive," said the servant.
81 am very sorry l missed him." said
Mrs. Pierce.
But she did not know what Fred had
missed by that early call of Uncle
Asa's.
Fred wondered why he did not re-
ceiye the promised books, but, conclud-
ing that Mr.. Maynard had forgotten the
matter, said nothing about it.
But he had greater cause for wonder,
when, after the June graduation, he
heard that his cousin Henry had been
taken into his uncle's Store
81 can't make it out" he said to his
cousin. II was sure Uncle Asa intend
ed to give me the place. He always
appeared to like me better than he did
YOU"
1T was great surprise to me, con-
fess, said Henry. HE seemed so
vexed with me about that book l chose,
you remember He scarcely spoke to
me the next time met him. But he is
very pleasant to me now"
81 wish the matter could be ex-
planned" said Fred. Il would like to
understand about it,
He understood very soon. One day
in the beginning of July he received a
summons to come to his uncle's Of
flee.
The interview did not last long; but
perhaps Fred suffered more during the
ten minutes his uncle talked to him
than he had in the whole of his life be-
fore
'It is only right that you should
know why my choice fell on Henry
said the old man, 'for intimated to
your father that l should choose you.
The knowledge may be of permanent
benefit to you, and influence you for
good in similar case, should one ever
occur. l gave you book two months
ago, with which you seemed immensely
pleased. Meeting you on the street
week later, / asked you if you had read
it. You said you had, and praised it
highly. was well pleased with you,
and concluded that had better settle
at once the matter of your coming here,
after your graduation, to learn my
business. l went to your fathers
house, and, your mother being out, |
stepped into the library to await her re-
turn. There saw the book had given
you. Some impulse led me to open it.
Frederick, you know, of course, the dis
coveryI made. The volume was rough
ly bound and cheaply printed, and the
pages were uncut DO you understand?
| knew at once that you had not only
been guilty of deceit, but of deliberate
falsehood. l want in my employment
no one whom | can not trust, and my
trust in you was destroyed forever
when l left your fathers library that
day.
Fred tried to speak, but there was
lump in his throat which prevented his
doing So.
"You may go now," said Mr.. May
nard; "but remember, my lad, that no
matter at what apparent cost, it is al
ways best to stick to the old proverb:
Honesty is the best policy"
And as Fred walked out of the office
he felt the perfect truth of his uncle's
words. .-Florence B. Halloacell, in Golden
DAYS.