New Ulm weekly review., 1886-03-10
''0NE OF MY CLERKS"
From Household Words.

There was much speculation and
suppressed excitement in the Office OF
Messrs. Cragsby and Golding, Colonial
Brokers, of Fenchurch Street. Mr..
Cragsby, for many years the senior
partner in the firm, had just died, and
the conduct and management of af-
fairs had thus devolved upon Mr..
fGotding, who was now sole partner,
and also nephew and executor to the
deceased. The event had caused in
the Office feeling of unanimous re-
gret.
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 pro-
bity, he never made his own up
rightness 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
cause for it." This necessarily ensur-
ed 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 ar
rangement OF the firm. Having once
employed man and found him trust
worthy Mr.. Cragsby preferred to re-
tain him, even though the salary paid
continuously increased. This gave a
feeling of security to clerks and ware
housemen which remained undisturb-
ed till the death OF the chief rudely
awakened them, when they remember
ed how different were the views and
opinions OF the junior partner, who
would now hold undisputed sway.
For Mr.. Golding was accustomed to
rate his social interiors by a very DIFF
ferent scale. Each, in his eyes 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 esti-
NATION, gave him no claim to regard
or consideration.
But, as almost always happens,
there was one person with whom his
rudeness Of manner 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
cherished in his inmost heart-or per-
haps it would be better to say mind
than heart-a liking for her favorable
regard. AS yet, however, he had not
achieved any marked success, but he
was OF a dogged, 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 q considerable
fortune. which would be OF use in ex-
tending and improving the business.
"For," as Mr.. sGolding was won't to
say to a fewfriends, aCragsby was
good, fellow. enough, but slow and old
fashioned couldn' t keeppace 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 attractions,
which had in reality at first captivated
him, would have been almo sufficient
to induce him to seek the alliance;
ybut Elinor's. wealth was irresistible.
III.
'Renshaw, the govern or wants you,' =
said one of the seniors to q young
man who, bending over his desk, sap-
peared SO intent upon his occupation
thatthe other had to repeat the words,
and in a louder key, before any notice
was taken.
Then Gilbert Renshaw, with a. 5riei
s1Thank you, Brown" put his work
carefully in his desk, AID locking it,,
ssturned and walked quietly across