The Irish standard., 1886-06-05
"ONE OF MY CLERKS

.'.fi.g i-1
There was much speculation aud sup
pressed 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 man
agement Of affairs had thus devolved up
On Mr.. Golding, who was now sole partner,
and also nephew and executor to the de-
ceased. The event had caused in the Of
flee feeling of unanimous regret.
While by nature q just man, Mr.. Crags-
by had been an unusually kind one-so
far, at all events, as those whom he en-
ployed were concerned. A man of high
principle and strict probity, he never made
his own uprightness and rectitude an ex-
cuse 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 a cause
for it.'' This necessarily ensured him the
respect and liking of those who were un-
der his authority.
Another circumstance which added to
his popularity was the fact that he dis
liked making changes in the arrangements
of the firm. Having once employed a
man and found him trustworthy, Mr.
Cragsby preferred to retain him, even
though the salary paid continuously in
creased. This gave feeling of security
to clerks and warehousemen, which re-
NAMED undisturbed till the death Of the
chief rudely awakened them when they
remembered 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 very different scale
Each, in his eyes, had s;s market vai1,e."
That was his phrase. 4 man might have
served the firm we'll and faithfully for
twenty Or thirty years, but this, in Mr..
Golding's estimation, 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 as
perity softened into mildness, by the de-
sire to please and this person was the
daughter of the late partner, and conse-
quently his cousin, Elinor Cragsby.
For some years, MIR. Golding had cher
ished in his inmost heart-or perhaps it
would be better TO say mind than heart
a liking for his fair relative, and had set
himself to gain her favorable regard AS
yet, however, he had not achieved any
marked success, but he was Of u dogged.
persevering nature and did not despair.
The match would be very advantageous
one, for Elinor was, by her fathers death,
placed in possession of considerable for
tune, which would be Of use in extending
and improving the business.
.fFor," as Mr.. Golding was wont to say
to few friends, .'Cragsby was q good fell
low enough, but slow and old-fashioned-
couldn't keep pace 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 at
fractions, which had in reality at first cap
tivated him, would have been almost sufi-
cient to induce him 10 seek the alliance {;
but Elinor's wealth was Irresistible.
x * is y 4
"Renshaw, the governor wants you,"
said one of the seniors to a young man
who, bending over his desk, appeared SO
intent upon his occupation that the other
had to repeat the words, and in g. louder
key, before any notice was taken.
Then Gilbert Renshaw, with a brief
4eThank you, Brown" put his work care
fully in his desk, and locking it. turned
and walked quietly across the office to
the private room. Mr.. Brown looked
after him.
'.He's a queer one," he soliloquized.
t.Hes been here four or five years, and
he takes things as coolly as if he had been
here all his life-more coolly, i'll fact.
Half of us would have gone to Golding full
but not he; catch him hurrying. I pelt.
can't make him out" and with this candid
admission, Mr.. Brown turned his attention
to his letter-wriCing.
Meanwhile Gilbert Renshaw had entered
the private room where Mr.. Golding sat
alone
.sYou have kept me waiting, Mr.. Rem
shaw
III regret to hear it, sir" was the quiet
reply.
The chief shifted in his chair, and
looked up at the young man. OF all
his clerks, apart from the important ques-
tion of their s'market value" Gilbert Rem
shaw was the one whom he most disljked.
Il have sent for you, Mr. Renshaw," re-
sun1ed the chief, E'to point out all error of
yours in these papers--an error which
might have involved grave consequences"
Gilbert Renshaw bowed, but said moth
ing The error thus magnifed into so
much Importance, was in reality q trifing
oversight, and was for the most part the
fault Of junior. This, probably, Mr..
Golding well knew; but as the papers
would come before Renshaw for revision,
he chose to assume that the entire blame
rested with him. The young man was at
once too high-minded ard kind-hearted to
excu] pate himself by accusing his Junior,
and in a few words expressed his regret
stlt must not occur again, Mr. Rem
shaw
Gilbert bowed, but made no reply, and
then, after taking his principals direc-
tions, left the room.
Mr. Golding looked after him with an
annoyed expression on his face.
"If catch you tripping again." he
muttered to himself, 'you shall suffer for
it, my friend"
But the days went by, and for time
his yindictiveness remained without an
to exercise itself.
He was shrewd enough, however; to wait
his opportunity. And that was not long
In coming. One Saturday afternoon he
happened to want Gilbert for some pur-
pose and sent for him. The young man
could nowhere be found hr. Golding
glanced at tbs clock and frowned angrily.
1t was just ten minutes to the time at
which, their work being done, the clerks
We're entitled to leave. Some were already
closing their desks, and making prepara-
tions for departure, but the sudden ap-