The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-03-12

shae be appeared absenrmindcd end
preoccupicd. but two or three IL N,
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. by tho 8:lj, who were
N tho same market, told the story q,
ms capture by the pretty girl In The
train, and 50 accounted Tor his pec,l.
liarity. lie himself, however. was in q
state u anxiety 20 which he had lonn
been stranger. Tuesday, "Wednesday
Thursday passed. and no answer from
the mysterious Mr.. Fleming arrived.
Perhaps the old lady had forgotten "a
forward his missivc Old ladies. 50
strangely mindful Of long-past occur
rences. were, he knew, often obliyious
about matters present. Perhaps hut
no shuddered ut the thought, aud cast
y from him-for Phyllis was too good,
too honest. too much 81 lady, 10 be
70 base and cruel; on the other hand,
possibly Mr.. Fleming was instituting
inquiries. II was natural that an AZ
fcctionate father should do so. and
every time Penn brought in visit
ors 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 +:
- have something Of Importance TO
speak 70 you about"
Mr.. Penn obeycd. and anxiously in
spccted his employers face.
MIR. Penn" began the merchant,
with preliminary clearing Of the
throat, ''you have been in nv service
for some years, and you have given me
very general satisfaction in the perform
ance Of your duties"
PENIS face frightened. Certainly a
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 Grcysark, II have
been thinking the matter over very
seriously lately. and ! have arrived at
the painful conclusion that must dis
pcnse with your services at the expira-
ton Of month from this date
The poor clerk gasped and clntched
the table for support, and would have
spoken. but for a magistcrial wave Of
MIR. Greysark's hand.
lit is very evident to me-, continued
his employer. ''that some fresh blood
is needed in this business. In fact,
propose to take a partner. and by SO
acting to do away with the necessity Of
paying a handsome salary to head
clerk"
Mr. Greysark.'' almost shrieked
poor Penn. "Do hear me. i have
helped you to make this business.
have been in this Office for more than
twenty years. You have never once
had cause to find fault with me. and
may conscientiously say that / have
never given you occasion to. For more
than one reason l am prccluded from
the possibility Of getting another situa-
ton. 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, ! am not fitted to occupy a
clerks desk in any other business.
Think, sir. | implore you to think.
With 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.. Grey
sark. but at such a crisis rs this am
forced to remind you that but for me
you might possibly not have found
business matters work SO smoothly as
they have. II you discharge me with
the notion Of introducing new blood
into the house you will have to
MIR. Penn" interrupted the mer-
chant, with wave Of the hand. 1--WE
must in this world be men Of business
first and humanitarians afterward. I
have given your case my fullest con-
sideration. and in acknowledgment Of
your services. as well as by way Of
propose to make you
. weekly allowance until you get en-
ployment. But that YOU must 90 /
have made up my mind. You will.
please. make no further observations
upon the decision at which have ar
rived. or ! shall be obliged to request
You TO leave my presence. | think it
but fair to tell you, however. that the
reason for my deciding to
take a partner is that am going to be
be marricd-that Is. when the consent
Of the young lady's father has been OBJ
well, sir" said the clerk, ssof all
periods in life. surely the eve Of mar
riagc should most naturally inspire
kind actions. You are about to make
yourself as happy As human can pos
sibly be, yet YOU wish to inauguratc
that period BY reducing to want and
ruin an old and tried servant. l know
you too well. sir--or, rather, think
too well Of you-not to be sure that IL
YOU carry out this latter intention your