The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-03-12
my work was finished and I had

an important engaSeiiieLC'
Indeed" answered his employer.
"But | do not allow any one Of my
clerks to keep important engage
ments till the office is closed, and as
0 have thought fit 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 a
Slip of paper, bat Gilbert made no
movement to take 1t.
II understand you, MIR. Goidlng
and | am as ready to leave your ser
vice as YOU are 20 require me to 40
so. Technically, vOu are in the right,
and / therefore opolOgizeforhaying de-
prived you of ten inmates on
Saturday. Ny 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 wlIlnot
be of my seeking. GoOd-dSy, gentle
men," and with q comprehensive
glance and bow 10 the amazed OnlOOk-
ers, the young man turned and quilted
the office, leaving his employer stand
ing. 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 4 while the elder lady
looked up from thebOokshe was read
ing.
"A penny for your thoughts, Nell!'
The girl started at the voice, and
the words had to be repeated before
she seemed to understand them.
"Tm not sure" shesaid meditative-
Iy. that they are worth the sum-"
Then" said herfriend with a smile,
without wishing to be uncompll-
mentary to the subject OF tHem, l
think ! can guess their direction"
81 wish | could make him see how
useless it is" the girl broke out, APP
parently ir]releyantly. -.
He doesn't wish to see that" said
her companion. As have often told
you, it appears to M that he has de
kberately resolved to succeed IN the
attempt to win your regard, and he Is
not a mau of fine feelings. Nothing
short of absolute disCourtesy or rude
ness would repel him, unless indeed, it
were the presence ofa successful rival"
she added in q lower and a meaning
tone.
There was something in the last SEN
tence that brought q flush to Elinor
Cragsby's face. Sherose from her seat
and moving toward the window, stood
looking out. Suddenly she uttered an
exclamation OF annoyance. Herfriend
looked up.
"Here he isl said Elinor, as if in
answer to the look.
| A smile played for a moment around
Mrs, Seaforth's lips, then vanished.
shall leave YOUR she said, half
rising.
"No-on no aGGo{iht2, and Elinor,
smiling herself, in spite OF her yexation
recrossed the room, and with gentle
force pushed the elder lady into her
seat again and then resumed her own.
Scarcely had she done so when the
servant announced "Mr. Golding,"
and that gentleman entered, all bows
and smiles.
Ellen" he said, attemptingto take
her hand, ''you must know how long
and how devotedly / have been at
tached to you, how / have longed for
the hour that sh8nld enable me to
approach you and offer myself as a
sutton for you hand"
He paused to note the effect of this
declaration which, 10 reality, he had
carefully prepared before he reached
the house that evening. But he learnt
nothing from the contemplation of
the face before him. 1t was slightly
ayerted, as was natural, but In no
wise cid It's fair owner seem discom-
posed. Mr.. Golding began to feel O.
little uneasy, and a new idea for the
first time flashed upon his mind.
Could there be another? IL seemed
too absurd, but it would not be dis
missed. He rose from his chair and
bent over her for a last appeal.
ssCan it be?' he murmured half re-
proachfully. "Have / rival?"
As the words left his lips, the room
| door opened, and a voice announced
| "Mr. Renshaw.v At the sound Mr..
Golding, with q sudden start, faced
round, and to his utter establishment
beheld before him, smiling courteous
ly, and with outstretched hand, the
man whom he had dismissed from his
service, whom he had even spoken OF
contemptuousIy to Elinor herself as
lone of my clerks"
IA friend OF yours?" he said inter
negatively, but in q tone that sounded
strange In his " ears, and caused
the other three to look curiously at
him.
The girl blushed, smiled, but didnot
answer; and Mrs. Scaforth, who had
risen and approached them, came to
her rescue.
sMr. Renshaw was q friend OF Mr..