The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-12-04
ONE OF MY

Fenchurch street. Mr.. Cragsby, for many
years the senior partner in the firm, had
just died, and the conduct and manage
ment of affairs had thus devolved upon Mr..
Golding, who was now sole partner, and
also nephew and executor to the deceased.
The event had caused in the office a feeling
of unanimous regret.
While by nature a just man, Mr.. Cragsby
had been an unusually kind one-so far, at
all events, as those whom he employed
were concerned. A man of high principle
and strict probity, he never made his own
uprightness and rectitude an excuse for
severely Judging others. As one of his
clerks put it, ''Cragsby was strict, but you
couldn't help liking him, for he would
never find fault without a cause for it,
This necessarily ensured him the respect
and liking of those who were under his
authority.
Another circumstance which added to his
popularity was the fact that he disliked
making changes in the arrangements of
the firm. Having once employed a man
and found him trustworthy, Mr.. Cragsby
perferred to retain him, even though the
salary paid continuously increased. This
gave a feeling ofsecurityto clerks and ware
house men, which remained undisturbed
till the death of the chief rudely awakened
them. they remembered how different were
the views and opinions of the Junior part
her, who wouldnow hold undisputed sway.
For Mr.. Golding was accustomed to rate
his social interiors by a very different scale.
Each, in his eye, had "a market value. "
That was his phrase. A man might have
served the firm well and faithfully for
twenty or thirty years, but this, in Mr..
Golding S estimation. gave him no claim to
regard or consideration.
But, as almost always happens, there was
one person with whom his rudeness ofman-
ner was yelled by courtesy. his asperity
softened into mildness, by the desire to
please, and this person was the daughter
of the late partner, and consequently his
cousin, Elinor Cragsby.
For some years Mr.. Golding had cherish
ed in his inmost heart-orperhaps it would
be better to say mind than heart-a liking
for his fair relative. and had set himself to
gain her favorable regard. As yet, how
ever. he had not achieved any marked sue
cess, but he was of a logged, persevering
nature, and did not despair. The match
would be a very advantageous one, for
Elinor was, by her fathers death, placed
in possession of a considerable fortune,
which would be of use In extending and
improving the business.
For" as Mr.. Golding was wont to say
to a few friends, 'Cragsby was a good
fellow enough, but slow and old-fashioned
couldn't keep pace with the age" And
now that the game was in his own hands
he began to launch out more boldly. But
to do this required capital, and this, if he
could but win his cousins regard, was
ready to his hand. Elinor's personal attrac-
tons, which had i'll reality at first captivat-
ed him, would nave been almost sufficient
~ iiNttbt nm - INV oiilt'litN. ia
Elinor's wealth was irresistible.
II.
'Rensilaw, the governor wants you. y
said one of the seniors to a young man who,
bending over his desk, appeared so intent
upon his occupation that the other had to re-
peat the words, and in a louder key, before
any notice was taken.
Then Gilbert Renshaw. with a brief
''Thank you, Brown put his work care
fully in his desk, and, locking it, turned
and walked quietly across the office to the
private room. Mr.. Brown looked after
him.
Hes a queer one, he soliloquized.
''He's been here four or five years, and he
takes things as coolly as if he had been here
all his life-more coolly, in fact. Half of
us would have gone to Golding full pelt,
but not he; catch him hurrying. l can't
make him ont" and with this candid adj
mission, Mr.. Brown turned his attention
to his letter-writting,
Meanwhile Gilbert Renshaw had entered
the private room where Mr.. Golding sat
alone.
"You have kept me waiting, Mr.. Rem
shaw"
Il regret to hear it, SIR was the quiet
reply.
The chief shifted in his chair and looked
up at the young man. OF all his clerks,
apart from the important question of their
.'market value" Gilbert Renshaw was the
one whom he most disliked.
81 have sent for you, Mr.. Renshaw," re-
sumed the chief, ''to point out an error OF
yours in these papers-an error which
might nave involved grave Consequences
Gilbert Renshaw bowed, but said moth
ing. The error thus magnified into so
much Importance was in reality a trifing
oversight, and was for the most part the
fault of a junior. This, probably, Mr..
Golding we'll knew, but as the papers
would come before Renshaw for revision
he chose to assume that the entire blame
rested with him. The young man was at
once too high-minded and kind-hearted to
exculpate himselfby accusing his junior and
in a few words expressed his regret.
'It must not occur again, Mr.. Rem
shaw
Gilbert bowed, but made no reply, and
tban altar takinp his princiDals directions,