Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-04-04
THE EIGHT F0RTY-FIVE.


chants. of Rood-lane City, knew Mr.
Jonathan Greysark simply as a yer,
well-to-do bachelor of 45-fresh-faced
well-dressed. genial. and affable as MAJ
tole,ably well fitted out with the goot
things OF this life, and unhampered b,
tics and encumbrances should be. Blu
Mr.. Philip Penn, whose days were passed
within the office, regarded his wealth,
and popular employer from a somewha
different point OF view. Mr.. Penn ha6
by his steadinass and business knowledge
in no small degree helped Jonathan Grey
sark TO his enviable position in the com
mercial world he had served the house
faithfully for upward of twenty years,
yet he was still simply clerk. in which
position, despite frequent prayers and
petitions. Mr. Greysark. was apparently
determined TO keep HIM until the time
came for dispensing entirely with his
services. Altogether, poor PENIS life
was by no means a happy one.
Jonathan Greysark lived at Brighton,
and came up to town every morning by
the s:45 express. In this famous train
he had acquired from long usage pre-
scriptive right to a particular seat in a
particular compartment of particular
carriage, and the guard suffered consid-
cradle reduction in his weekly largesse if
he allowed a stranger to usurp his place.
But the old guard having shunted else
where, and a strange official who knew
not Jonathan having been substituted, it
so happened that one morning Greysark,
his rug on his arm and his paper in his
hand. staggered grayeiy and magisteri-
ally up to the carriage only to find his
particular compartment-and in fact his
very seat-cccupied. Under ordinary
circumstances he would have resented
this understandable intrusion in an I'M
mistakable manner; but upon this occa-
sion as the occupant was a pretty, mod
estly-dressed girl of IS or whereabouts, he
could only vent his feelings in grunts and
scowls and betake himself to another
seat But when the next morning he
found his place similarly occupied his po-
sition became embarrassing, and only the
girls pleasant face checked audible ex-
preston of his discomfort The same
thing occurred the morning after and
S:45 bucks, who, of course, regarded the
affair as a capital joke, remarked that
the great man instead of ramping and
raging, away To another carriage not
only contentedIy went into the same one,
but passed much greater part of the
hour and quarters journey in looking
at the girl over top Of his newspaper than
in studying the city article. In a fort
nights time if was observed that he
handed her out, carried her little parcels
and SAW her safely into an omnibus for
the Mansion house; and in three weeks
time it was noted that he chatted as cas-
lily and fainiliarly with her as if he had
known her for wears.
In short. it became very evident that
the wealthy bachelor of Rood-lane was
enamored of the young lady. When his
attentions first became marked she as
sumed the proper attitude of unprotected
virtue. and confined her answers to
rather curt monosyllables: but when her
feminine perSpicuity assured her that her
admirers behavior was inspired by the
most honorable of intentions. she unbent
and told him that her name was Phyllis,
that she was a student at the South Ken
sington school of art. and that she re-
sided at Brighton with her aunt.
Miss Phyllis" said Greysark one
morning. as they walked along the Lon
don bridge platform, las some sort of
assurance that only entertain the most
genuine feelings of respect and-and adj
miration for YOU, think that | should
mention that my name is Greysark, that
| am the head of one of the most re-
spected houses in the city of London, and
that as | am quite aware that an acquaint- |
ance of this casual nature is apt to give |
rise 10 erroneous impressions in the
minds OF people who only Judge by APP
pearances, with your permission nothing
would give me greater pleasure than TO
call upon your aunt at Brighton
At the mention of the name Greysark |
the girls color deepened somewhat. and |
she raised her eyes 10 his face for few |
seconds Then she said:
Il am sure that my aunt would be de-
lighted to make your acquaintance. Mr..
Greysarls."
Accordingly. on the following Sunday |
Mr.. Greysark. instead of performing his
usual weekly duty to society by an after
noon lounge on the green, betook HIM
self to Regency square and was ushered |
into the presence of a smiling, gray
haired lady, who might have stepped
from an ancestral picture-frame, and |
who received him with the stately ur-
banitv of 4 courtier of the old school.
D.. 4,
sark lost no time i'll beating about the
bush, but plunged et once in medias res,
described the origin of his acquaintance
with Phyllis. expressed himself in such
happy language. blew his own trumpet
in s,lch pleasant, unaSsuming manner.
declared his devotion in such fervid
phrases. in fact, put matters before the
old lady in such an attractive light, that
she was completely won over.
@Of course. Mr.. Greysark, she said. in
reply, las | am only the girls aunt, /
have no direct authority in the matter
But if PHYLLIS regards Your suit as favor
ably as do. l can only recommend that
you should address a letter to her father
in London, state the case rs YOU have
stated il TO me, and abide by his de-
cision."
BIT it is an extraordinary phase of our
acquaintance, said the merchant. that
do not know your niece's surname
yet"
Perhaps the old lady was struck by the
strangeness of this avowal. but nj any
rate. she heSitated a moment. seemed a
little confused. and then replied. Her
name is Fleming. Mr.. Greysark: letter
addressed to MIR. Robert Fleming and
given &c me will insure its safe dispatch.
But would il not he better for me Ia
call upon Mr.. Fleming myself said
Greysark MY business experience has
taught me that one personal interview is
worth : dozca letters ,
$50 ii Is. rs general rule. Mr.. Grey I.
sark. replied the old lady But Mr. :,
Jennings movements are So uncertain !,
his business taking him SO frequent.
away from home, that the course hav !,
suggested would think. he the better. /,
And, after little general converss =
ton. Mr.. GreySark took his leave.
The next morning. upon arrival :,
London bridge. instead of handin
Phyllis into Mansion house omnibus. a
usual, he insisted that she should wal 7
there with him. And. by the time Kin n
Williams Stats,a v-aS ra, .i,a; L., H.,