The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-03-30

" CGICl
Perhaps-but he shuddered at the
thought and cast it from him-for Phyl-
lis wastoo good, too honest, too much of
a lady, to be so base aud cruel; on the
other hand, possibly Mr.. Fleming was
lnstltuting inquiries. 1t was natural that
an affectionate father should do 3 =, and
every time Penn brought in a visitors
name the merchant expected to hear
''Mr. Robert Fleming announced. On
Friday afternoon he called in Mr.. Penn.
'Kindly shut the door," he said: II
have something of Importance to speak
to you about"
Mr.. Penn obcyed, and anxiously in
spccted 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
pretty general satisfaction in the
performance of your duties"
PENIS face frightened. Certainly a
rise in salary was coming, perhaps some
thing more substantial. But all was
dashed to the ground with the first word
OF the great mans next sentence.
But" continued Greysark, I have
been thinking the matter over very Sc
riously lately, and l have arrived ut the
painful conclusion that l must dispense
with your services at the expiration Of a
month from this date"
The poor clerk gasped and clutchcd
the table for support, and would have
spoken but for amagisterial wave of Mr..
Grcysark's hand.
''It is very evident to me" continued
his employer, 'that some fresh blood is
needed in this business. In fact, 1 pro-
pose to take u partner, and by so acting
do away with the necessity OF paying a
handsome salary to q head clerk"
"Mr. Greysark !" almost shriekcd poor
Penn. "Do hear me. I have helped you
to make this business. l have been in
this office for more than twenty years.
You have never once had cause to find
fault with me, and l may co~nscientiously
say that I have never given you occasion
to. For more than one reason I am pre-
cluded 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 I ] had a
brother who had been in the police dock;
moreover, am not fitted to occupy a
clerks desk in any other business.
Think, sir, / implorc you to think.
With one word you are turning an hon
Wv AASt AhIo AlC SllSClS " OCSs vi uO
fault of his own. I do not wish TO push
myself forward unduly, Mr.. Greysark,
but at sucha crisis as is this I am forced
to remind you that but for me you
might possibly not have found business
matters work so smoothly as thay have.
If you discharge me with the notion of
Introducing new blood in to the house,
you will have TO-"
tNr Daor S.p{o~,,{o5 &ho ,oorolonk
with c wave of the hand, 1--WE must in
this world be men of business first and
humanitarians afterward. | have given
your case my fullest consideration, and
in acknowledgment of your services, as
pose to make you a weekly allowance
until you get employment. But that
you must go I have made up my mind.
You will please make no further obser-
vations or the decision at which l have
arrived, or I shall be obliged to request
you to leave my presence. | think it but
fair to tell you, however, that the prin-
cipal reason for my deciding to take a
partner is that l am going to be married
that is when the consent of the young
lady's father has been obtained"
"Well, SIR" said the clerk, "of all
periods in life, surely the eve of mar
riage should most naturally inspire kind
actions. You are about to make yourself
rs happy as human being can possibly
be, yet you wish'to inaugurate that Pc
Rod by reducing to want and ruin an old
and tried servant. know you too we'll,
sir-or. rather, 1 think too we'll of you
not to be sure that if you carry out this
latter intention your conscience must
prick you in after life"
MIR. Penn" said Greysark severely,
81 told you not to handy words with me.
so let me hear 10 more. I am now going
to Brighton. Do not omit to forward all
letters to my address there. You will
please be particular in this. I must say,
Mr.. Penn, that I am not q little aston
ishcd that, remembering, as you must.
what l have done for you, and how with
your furnished name you might long ere
this have been begging your bread but
for me, you should presume to offer me
advice on my own affair. But I will say
no more"
The clerk fingered on in the room, as
if in hopes that some straw might be left
to clutch at. Then he said: "Mr. Grey
sark, you observed just now that the
fact of your marriage depends upon the
consent Of the young lady's father"
3'"Those were my words, Mr.. Penn"
replied the merchant.
eff he should refuse his consent9"
said Penn.
"Rcfuse, MI. Penn! Refuse ~ exclaim-
ed Grcysark. ''Such a thing is simply
impossible. simply too ridiculous to be
entertained for q moment. The head Of
the house of Jonathan Grcysark s. Co., I
should imagine, was a fit match foT any
one."
$50 you may think, sir" said Penn