St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-16


troduced. But his ardent affection for the
supplemented, bright-faced girl overcame
whatever little shades of doubt or scruples
the above strange circumstances might have
awakened within him, and, after having
hurriedly perused his business letters he
called Mr.. Penn in, gave him instructions
to show nobody into the private room for
an hour, and settled himself down to in
dite the epistle to Mr.. Fleming. After
much destruction of best cream laid note,
he produced the following:
Dear Sir: 1t is with no little diffidence that
address one who is a complete stranger to
me upon subject of such importance as that
which now occupies my pen: but am sure
judge you rightly when you will pardon the
liberty am taking by the time you arrive at
the end of the letter.
In short, wish to obtain your consent to
my marriage with your most charming
daughter, Phyllis. AS this is to some extent
a matter of business, 1 may inform you that
| made the young ladys acquaintance in the
Brighton train, by which we have been fellow
passengers daily for some weeks past; that
then obtained not only her consent to my pro-
posal, but the entire appreciation of her aunt,
upon whom had the pleasure of calling, with
your daughters permission.
For your satisfaction / may add that
although | am not very young man, l am in
/
am the sole and responsible head of one of
the best-known and most respected business
houses in the City of London, and that am
in position, which you may verify, if you
please, by the most minute investigation, to
maintain your daughter in q fitting position
as Il lady.
The entire happiness of my life, and 7
dare add that of your daughters, rest upon
your decision as to whether she should be my
wife or not, and implore you not to be in
huenced in your opinion by the somewhat
peculiar circumstances under which our
meeting took place and our consequent ac-
quaintance and in timacy were formed.
If you will kindly take week to consider
this, to me. vital question. l shall be mex
pressibly obliged, and, thanking you heartily
in advance for the sanction which feel GER
tain you will accord, l am, my dear sir, your
very obedient servant,
JONATHAN GREYsARK.
Having read this two or three times over
to assure himself that he had not said too
much or too little, Jonathan Greysark placed
it in an envelope addressed to Robert Flem-
ing, Esq.,, and that again III an envelope
which he purposed to hand to the old lady
at Brighton.
The week seemed interminable to the en-
amored Jonathan. Men remarked that he
appeared abSent-minded and preoccuped.
the S:45. who were in the same market, told
the story of his capture by the pretty girl
in the train, and SO accounted for his pecu-
liarity. He himself, however, was in
state of anxiety, to which he had long been
stranger. Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday passed and no answer from the
mysterious MI. Fleming arrived. Perhaps
the old lady had forgotten to forward his
misSlve. Old ladies, so strangely mindful
of long-pas occurrences. were, he knew.
often oblivlouS about matters present Per-
haps-but he shuddered at the thought and
cast it from him-for Phyllis was too good.
too honest, too much OF. lady to be so
base and cruel; On the other hand. possibly
Mr.. Fleming was instituting inquiries. 1t
was natural that an atfectionate father
should do so, and every time Penn brought
Ill visitors name the merchant expected
to hear Mr.. Robert Fleming announced.
On the Friday afternoon he called in Mr..
Penn.
Kindly shut the door, he said; 81 have
something of Importance to speak to you
abou.''
Mr.. Penn obeyed, and anxiouslv in
spected his employers face.
Mr.. Penn" began the merchant. with a
preliminary clearing of the throat, you
have been in my service now for some
years. and you have given me very general
satisfaction in the performance of your
dutieS.,'
PENIS face frightened. Certainly rise
in salary was coming perhaps something
more substantial. But all was dashed to
the ground with the first word of the great
mans next sentence.
But" continued Greysark, 81 have
been thinking the matter over very seriously
lately and have arrived at the painful
conclusion that must dispense with your
services at the expiration OF a month from
this date"
The poor clerk gasped and clutched the
table for support. and would have spoken
but for magisterial wave of Mr.. Grey
sark's hond.
1T is very evident to me-" continued his
employer that some fresh blood is needed
IN this business. In fact. L propose to take
a partner. and by so acting do away with
the necessity OF paying handsome salary
to head clerk"
''AIr. Greysarkw almost shrieked moor
fenn' DO you hear Inc. l have helped
you to make this business. / have bean in
tiiis ONCE Tor more than twenty years. You
nave never once had cause to find fanlt
with me- and L may conscientiouslv saw T
nave never given you occasion to. For
more IMAM one reason L am precluded from
the possibility of getting another situation
MY name, as you know, is against me. and
people would object to me on the ground
that had brother who had been in the
police dock; moreover, l am not fitted tn
occupy clerks desk in any other busi-
ness. Think, sir l implore you to think
w 18th one word you are turning an honest
man into the streets to beg, for no fault of
his own. do not wish to push myself
forward unduly, Mr.. Greysark, but at such
Crisis as this | am forced to remind Won
That but for me you might possibly have
hot FOUND business matters work so
as they have. If you discharge
ME with the notion of introducing new
blood INTO the house you will have to"
MI. Penn" interrupted the merchant. |
WITH a wave of the hand I'VE must in this |
World be men OF business first and humani- !
arIans afterward. l have given your case
ny fullest consideration, and in acknowI- !
'dgement OF your services, as well as nv |
way OF compensation, propose to make |
you weekly allowance until you get en- |
'loyment. But that you must 90 I have
nade up my mind. You will, please. make |
10 further observations upon the decision |
y winch L have arrived, or I shall he |
'pilgea 10 request you to leave my presence. |
thlnk 1t but fair to tell you. however. that |
ne principal reason for my deciding to take |
partner is that am going to be married.
nat is, when the consent of the young
aays Iather has been obtained"
III