Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-04-27

and the suggestion tn6t tne leIIci chouiN
! be forwarded through her instead OF to
q direct address was rather unusual.
Perhaps Fleming was a strange sort
OF man. under O cloud, or Of eccentric
habits.
At any rate Phyllis was lady, as was
her aunt, and his ardent affection for the
slmple-minded, bright-faced girl over
came his little doubt.
He called Mr.. Penn In, gave him In
structions to show nobody into the pri-
vate room for an hour, and settled him
self down to indite the epistle to Mr.
Fleming.
After much destruction OF paper, he
produced an exact account OF his court
Ship, with statement of his position in
life, and the request that MIR. Fleming
take a week to consider the vital ques-
ton embodied in the letter.
Mr.. Greysark placed This in an envel-
ope addressed to Robert Fleming, Esq,
and that again in an envelope which he
purposed to hand to the lady at
Brighton.
The week seemed interminable to the
enamored Jonathan. He was in g state
Of anxiety to which he had long been a
stranger. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thurs
day passed, and no answer from the
mysterious Mr.. Fleming arrived.
On the Friday afternoon he called In
Mr.. Penn.
Kindly shut the door, he said: Il
t have YES something anea9 of Importance to speak
Mr.. Penn obeyed and anxiously 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"
At these words a feeling almost of
hopeful expectation possessed the POOR
clerk. Was it possible that his long and
faithful services to his employer were at
last to be rewarded?
But continued Greysark, II have
been thinking the matter over very SER
iou5ly lately, and have arrived at the
painful conclusion that I must dispense
with your services at the expiration of
month from this date.
1T is very evident to me that some
fresh blood is needed in this business.
In fact, / propose TO take partner, and
by 80 acting to do away with the neceS-
sity OF paying q handsome salary to
head clerk"
" Mr.. Greysark, almost sbrieked poor
Penn, do lear me. l 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 l may conscientiously
say that have never given you occasion
to. For more than one reason am pre-
Guided 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 brother who
had been In the police dock; moreover,
am not fitted to occupy clerks desk
in any other business. Think, sir / ill-
plore you to think. With one word you
arc turning an honest man into the
streets to beg, for no fault of his own.
do not wish to p'tt myself forward
unduly, Mr.. Greysa!I, but ut such
crisis as this Cam forced to re-
mind you that but for me you might PCS
so smoothly as it has. If you dis
charge mo with the notion Of introdrr-
Ing new blood into the house you will
have to"
Mr.. Penn" interrupted the merchant.
l have given your case my fullest
consideration, and propose 20 III,
you a weekly allowance until you s,
employment.
But that you must go I have mad,
my mind
Il think it but fair to tell you tha
the principal reason for my deciding t
take a partner Is that / am going to b
married-that is, when the consent Q
the young lady's father has been OBJ
tained,'
well, SIR" said the clerk, of al
periods in life, surely the eve Of mar
riage should most naturally inspir
kind actions. You are about to max
yourself rs happy as a human bein
can possibly be, yet you wish to inaut
urate that period by reducing to wan
and ruin an old and tried servant.
know you too we'll, sir--or, rather.
think too we'll OF you-not to be sure
you carry out this latter intention you
conscience must prick you in afte
| life."
"Mr. PENN" saio Greysark severely
~ told you not to handy words with me
so let me hear no more. l am going I
Brighton. Do not omit to forward a
letters to my address there. You wi
please be particular in this.
Il must say, Mr.. Penn, that am
iIteiC ootNhlohSuB Ohot, a
you must, what I have done for yol
and how with your furnished name yo
might long ere this have been begin
your bread but for me, you should rr,
sumo to offer me advice on III
own affairs. But I will say Ii
| more"
The clerk fingered on in the room. the
he said:
"Mr. Greysark, you observed Just no
that the fact Of your marriage depend
upon the consent Of the young lady
father"
Those were my words. Mr.. Penn,
replied the merchant.
If he should refuse his CONSENT" sal
Penn.
Refuse, Mr.. Penn! Rcsuse!" e,
claimed Greysark. "SuCh a thug
simply impossible, simply too ridior
lous to be entertained for momeI
The head Of the house Of Jonathan Gre
sark d Co., should imagine, was a
match for any one
$50 you may think, sir" said PEN
quietly, "but fathers sometimes ho!
strange opinions"
Mr.. Penn, you are ins0lent, sir" a
most roared the merchant, rising In h
chair, and glazing ut his clerk with fur
Gus eyes.
Penn fumbled in his p"ckcts, and CO.
tinued. still quietly: q
III L