The Irish standard., 1886-06-05

by the housekeeper in a mysterious whis-
per that s'the governor was there" A
greater degree of order and silence reigned
that morning than was 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 nine, when
the door swung open, and Gilbert Ren.
shaw 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 princl-
pals voice checked him:
s:You need not trouble yourself to open
your desk, Mr. Renshaw.'
Gilbert turned round, still more sur
prised at this intimatlon.
Mr.. Golding had walked across the
Office, and the two men stood facing each
other. One glance at the stern face, those
cold, keen eyes before him, and Gilbert
saw the others purpose in moment.
Every one in the Office looked on, either
stealthily or openly, with increasing in
terest, and every one was puzzled by the
way in which the young man maintained
his usual air Of easy Indifference. But
Mr. Golding gave but little time for
speculation.
lyon left before the time on Saturday
Mr.. Renshaw?"
"About ten minutes before two" a1l-
swered the other.
"And your reasons for doing so?'
t'My work was finished and had an
important engagement"
s.lndeedr' sneered his employer. "But
dc not allow any one OF my clerks to
keep important engagements till the Office
is closed ana as You have thought fit to
leave at your own time, you will not be
surprised if inform you that shall not
need your service any longer This is the
amount due you," and MIR. Golding held
out slip Of paper, but Gilbert made no
movement to take it,
81 understand you, Mr.. Golding, and I
am as ready to leave your service rs you
are to require me to do So. Technically,
you are in the right, and / therefore
apologize for having deprived you of ten
minutes on Saturday. My presence, doubt
less, is not very agreeable to you, but we
may meet again before long; should such
an event happen: you will please under
stand that the interview will not be Of my
seeking. Good day, gentlemen" 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 astcnished as any one.
with the 1nheeded check still between his
fingers.
y y :t * ;: x *
Elinor Cragshy sat with her friend and
companion dreamily gazing into the fire.
After q while the elder lady looked up
from the book she was reading.
IA penny for your thoughts, Nell!''
The girl started at the voice, and the
words had to be repeated before she
seemed to understand then.
"Pm not sure" she said meditatively
ssthat they are worth the sum-"
.The1l," said her friend with smile,
sswithout wishing to be nplimenta1y
to the subject Of them, think / can guess
their direction.'
tI wish could make him see how use"
less it is,' the girl broke out, apparently
irrelevantly.
s.He doesn't wish to see that" said her
companion. 'As l have often told you,
it appears to me that he has deliberately
resolved to succeed in the attempt TO win
your regard, and he is not q man OF tine
feelings. Nothing short Of absolute dis
courtesy or rudenees would repel him,
unless, indeed, it were the presence OF a
successful rival,'' she added in lower and
q meaning tone.
There was something in The last gen~
tence that brought a flush to Elinor Crags-
by's face. She rose from her seat and,
moving towards the window, stood looking
out. Suddenly she uttered an exclama-
ton of annoyance. Her friend looked up.
stHere he isr' said Elinor, as if in answer
10 the look.
A smile played for moment ro'1n0 Mrs.
Seaforth's lips, then vanished.
tShau leave you?' she said, half ria-
ing
"No-on no account and Elfnor, snof-
ing herself in spite of her vexation, re-
crossed the room, and with gentle force
pushed the elderly lady into her seat again
and then resumed her own. Scarcely had
she done 50 when the servant announced
.tMr. Golt.ing," ard that gentleman en-
tered, all bows and smiles.
t.Ellen," he said atte mptiug to take her
hand, .syou must know how long and how
devotedly have been attached to you,
how have longed for the hour thatshould
enable me to approach you and offer my
self as suitor for your hand"
He paused to note the effect of this dec
laration which, in reality, he had carefully
prepared before he reached the house that
evening But he learned nothing from
the contemplation of the face before him.
It was slightly averted, as was natural,
but in no wise did its fair owner seem dis
composed. AFR. Golding began to feel a lit
tie uneasy, and 81 new idea for the first
time flashed upon his mind. Could there
be another? 1t seemed too absurd, but it
would not be dismissed. He rose from his
chair and bent over her fora last appeal.
.sCan it be?" he murmured half reproach-
fully ttHave g rival1''
As the words left his lips, the room door
opened, and voice announced stMr. Rem
shaw" At the sound MI. Golding, with &
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 even spoken OF con-
temptuoa1sly to Elinor herself as zone of
my clerks"
ga friend of yours?'' he said, interro-
gatively but In a 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
answer; and Mrs. Seaforth, who had risen
and approached them, came to her rescue.
"Mr. Mr.RenshaW was friend OF Mr.. Crags-
by's and is still friend Of ours"
s.Mr Renshaw,' said the other, 'sproba-
bly, has good reasons for his friendship.
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