Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-12-04

clamation, which drew all ewes, will
Ences. moresor less furtive, to the win
dow. There, at some little distance
quietly strolling along, was Gilbert Rem
shaw. Unconscious of tAose watching
him he epauscl at the corner, looked al
his watch, and, after moments hesita
/ tion as If uncertain what course to pur
sue, turned into side street and disap
peIred.
III.
Monday morning came, and to the
amazement of each and all Mr. Goldins
was first at the office. The juniors, wht
were naturally among the earliest, wert
warned by the housekeeper in myste
rious whisper that ''the governor wa,
there" A greater degree of order and
silence reigned that morning than wa.
usual
One by one, as the clerks came in, the
various posts were taken up. BY the
senior clerks desk stood Mr.. Golding, {
hard, pitiless expression on his face. The
clock was just Ginning when the door
swung open, and Gilbert RenshaW
walked in. He glanced round, evidently
rather surprised at seeing Mr.. Golding,
and then walked toward his desk. Ere
he had taken three steps the principals
voice checked him.
"You left before the time on Saturday,
Mr.. Renshaw9n
"About ten minutes before two,
answered the other.
'And your reason for doing soG"
"My work was finished and had an
important engagement.
Indeed !" sneered his employer. "But
| do not allow any one of my clerks to
keep important engagements till the
office is closed, and as you have thought
tit to leave at your own time, you will
not be surprised if inform you that
shall not need your services longer. This
is the amount due to you, and Mr..
GOlding held out slip of paper, but
Gilbert made no movement to take it.
81 understand you, Mr.. Golding, and
| am as ready to leave your service us
you are to require me to do so. Techni-
cally, you are in the right and therefore
apologize for having deprived you of ten
minutes on Saturday. My presence,
doubtless. is not very agreeable to you,
but we may meet again before long
should such an event happen, you will
please understand that the interview will
not be of my seeking. Good day, gen.
temen," and with a comprehensive
glance and bow to the amazed onlookers,
the young man turned and quilted the
Office, leaving his employer standing, as
much astonished as any one, with the
unheeded check still between his fingers.
Elinor Cragsby sat with her friend and
companion dreamily gazing into the fire.
After while the elder lady looked up
from the book she was reading
GA penny for your thoughts, Nell!"
The girl started at the voice, and the
words had to be repeated before she
seemed to understand them.
''Im not sure," she said meditatively,
"that they are worth the sum-"
''Then, said her friend with smile,
"without wishing to be uncomplimentary
to the subject of them, think | can
guess their direction"
II wish could make him see how use
less it is" the girl broke out, apparently
irTelevantly.
"He doesn't wish to see that" said her
companion. GAS | have often told you,
it appears to me that he has deliberately
resolved to succeed in the attempt to
win your regard, as he is not a man of
fine feelings. Nothing short of absolute
discourtesy or rudeness would repel him,
unless, indeed, it were the presence of a
successful rival, " she added in lower
and meaning tone.
There was something in the last sen.
tence that brought flush to Elinor
Cragsby's face. She rose from her seat
and, moving toward the window stood
looking out. Suddenly she uttered an
exclamation of annoyance. Her friend
looked up.
''Here he is" said Elinor, as if in an
swer to the look.
A smile played for moment round
Mrs. Seaforth's lips, then vanished.
"Shall l leave your she said, half
rising.
"No-on no account" and Elinor,
smiling herself in spite of her vexation,
recrossed the room, and with gentle
force pushed the elder lady into her seat
again and then resumed her own. Scarce
ly had she done 50 when the servant an
nounced "Mr, Golding," and that gentle
man entered, all bows and smiles.
''Ellen," lie said, attempting to take
her hand, "you must know how long
and how devotedly | have been at.
tached to you, how | have longed for
the hour that should enable me to ap-
proach you and offer myself as suitor
tor you hand"
He paused to note the effect of this
declaration which, in reality, he had
carefully prepared before he reached the
house that evening. But he learned moth
ing from the contemplation of the face
before him. 1t was slightly averted, as
was natural, but IN no wise did its fair
owner seem discomposed. Mr.. Golding
began to feel little uneasy, and a new
idea for the first time flashed upon his
mind. Could there be another9 1t
seemed too absurd, but it would not be
dismissed. He rose from his chair and
bent over her for last appeal.
"Can it be2' he murmured, half re-
proachfully. "Have | a rival9"
AS the words left his | ps, the room
door opened, and voice announced
Mr.. Renshaw." At the sound Mr..
Golding, with sudden start, faced round,
and to his utter astonishment beheld be-
fore him, smiling courteously. and with
outstretched hand, the man whom he
had dismissed from his service, whom
he had even spoken of contemptuously
TO Elinor herself as zone of my clerks. {"
"A friend of yoursW he said, interro-
gatively, but in tone that sounded
strange in his own ears and caused the
other three to look curiously at him.
The girl blushed, smiled, but did not