The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-12-26
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Golding began to feel a little uneasy,
and a new idea for the first time flashed
upon his mind. Could there be anoth-
err 1t seemed too absurd, but it would
not be dismissed. He rose from his
chair and bent over her for last ap-
peal.
'Can it be2' he murmured half re-
proachfully. 'Have rival?'
AS the words left his lips, the room
door opened, and voice announced
'Mr. Renshaw.' At the sound Mr..
Golding, with a sudden start, faced
round, and to his utter astonishment
beheld before him, smiling courteously,
and with outStretched hand, the man
whom he had dismissed from his service,
whom he had ever spoken of contempt
uously to Elinor herself as 'one of my
clerks.
"a friend of yours2' he said interrog-
atively, but in tone that sounded
strange in his own ears, and caused the
other three to look curionsly at him.
The girl blushed, smiled. but did not
answer, and Mrs. Seaforth, who had
risen and approached them, came to
the rescue.
'Mr. Renshaw was friend of Mr..
Cragsby's and is still a friend of ours.
'Mr. Renshaw,' said the other, prob
ably has good reasons for his friend
ship. Fortune-hunters generally have.
Gilbert Renshaw took step forward.
'That is true as a general statement,
Mr.. Golding,' he said, with all his for
mer easy indifference, 'but it is not true,
if you will allow me to say so, in this
particular instance. I, personally, am
not hunter. Perhaps you
know of some one who may better de-
serve the name2'
'You were my clerk, said Golding
with bitter sneer; what are you
now?'
Il will tell you, replied the other in
the same unruf1ed tone. 'AS you right
ly said, was your clerk, and it came
about in this way. At my fathers
death, the property to which 1 succeed
ed was somewhat encumbered. Your
late partner was an old friend of ours
and he suggested that l should obtain
a situatian for some few years, leaving
the property thus to clear itself by ap-
plying the income to the extinction of
the debt. To simplify matters, he kind
ly offered me position in his own office
at good salary, stipulating that moth
ing should be said or known of his long
friendship with our family, lest it should
be thought he might favor me. ac
cepted the post. In few years, as we
planned, my property was unencumber-
ed, and your sudden dismissal of me
simply anticipated my own resignation
by two or three weeks. You see, Mr.
Golding, while I give you full credit
for having intended to injure me, car
very readily treat with indifference
course of action that has ended ii
failure
As Gilbert ceased speaking, he glanc
ed meaningly at Elinor, who, with Mrs
Seaforth, had stood quietly by. 1t wa
evidently no news to them, and Mr.
Golding, as his gaze travelled from ont
to another, saw that his efforts had beer
in vain, and that success was hopeless
But the whole matter was so utterl,
unexpected that for moment he fel
that it could not be really true. HI
turned to Elinor.
you knew all this it seems?'
'Yes,' she said, but speaking in 81
low tone that he could scarcely catcl
the words; Il knew of all; but it wa
my fathers wish that the matter shoult
not be mentioned. That, of course
was sufficient. You would, however
have known it before long, for-for-
She hesitated, and cast an appealin!
glance at Gilbert.
'We are to be married shortly sait
that gentleman, promptly, completing
the sentence.
The blushing face, the downcast eye
beside him confirmed the statement, if
indeed, confirmation was needed. Mr.
Golding waited to hear no more, but
turning short on his heel with muttere'
execration, left the roem and the house