The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-02-28

unusual. Perhaps Fleming was strange
sort of man-under cloud, or OF eccentric
habits. AT any rate Phyllis was lady, as
was her aunt the surroundings OF the
rooms in Regency Square showed refinement,
II not opulence; and, although money with
wife was no object with him, he preferred
that the lady honored by his choice should
not be an utter stranger to the style of life
to which as Mrs. Greysark she would be in
troduced. But his ardent affection for the
simple minded, brightfaced girl overcame
whatever little shades OF doubt or scruple the
above strange circumstances might have
awakened within him, and after having hur-
riedly perused his business letters he called
Mr.. Penn In, gave him instruction to show
nobody into the private room for an hour,
and settled himself down TO indite the epis-
tie to Mr.. Fleming. After much destruction
Of best creamlaid note he produced the fol-
lowing:
DEAR SIR: tits with no little dnidence that adj
dress one who is a complete stranger to me upon |
a subject Of such Importance as that which now oc-
%Sss win hs liberty FfnS
taking by the time you arrive at the end the letter.
In short, wish 70 obtain your consent to my mar
rage with your charming daughter, Phyllis. AS
this ia to some extent a matter OF business, may
inform you that made the young lady's acquaint-
fellow-passengers daily for some weeks past that
then obtained not only her consent to my proposal,
mad the pleasure of calling, with your daughters
am moi very young man, am IL he iai yisor Of
health and strength; that am the sole and respon-
sible head of one Of the best.kn and respected
business houses In the city Of London, aud that
please, by the most minute investigation, 10 main.
The entire happiness Of my life, and / dare add
that OF your daughters rests upon your decision as
pore you not to be Influenced in your opinion by the
somewhat peculiar circumstances under which our
HSf San a'qaa
II You will kindly take week to consider this to me
vital question, shall be lnexpressibly obliged; and,
which feel certain you Will accord, / am, my dear
JONATHAN GRRysARK.
Having read this two or three times over
to assure himself that he had not said too
much or too little, Jonathan Greysark
placed it in an envelope addressed to Robert
Fleming, Esq, and that again in an envel-
ope which he purposed to hand to the old
lady at Brighton.
The week seemed interminable to the
enamored Jonathan. Men remarked that he
appeared absent-minded and preoccupied,
but two or three of his fellow. passengers by
the s:45, who were in the same market, told
the story of his capture by the pretty girl in
the train, and so accounted for his peculiar
anxiety to which he had long been
stranger. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
passed, and no answer from the mysterious
Mr.. Fleming arrived. Perhaps the old lady
had forgotten TO forward his missive. Old
ladies', so strangely mindful Of long past CO.
currences, were, he knew, often oblivious
about matters present. Perhaps-but he
shuddered at the thought and cast 1t from
him-for Phyllis was too good, too honest,
too much of lady, to be so base and cruel
on the other hand, possibly Mr.. Fleming was
an affectionate father should do so, and
every time Penn brought in a VISITORS name
the merchant expected to hear "Mr. Robert
Fleming" announced. On the Friday after
noon he called in Mr.. Penn.
"Kindly shut the door," lie said 81
have something of Importance to speak to
you about"
Mr.. Penn obsyed, and anxiously inspected
his employers face.
"Mr. PENN" began the merchant, with a
preliminary clearing of the throat, "you
and you have given me very general salts
faction in the performance 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 Graysark, al have been
thinking the matter over very seriously
lately, and have arrived at the painful
conclusion that must dispense with your
services at the expiration of a month from
this date.'
The poor clerk gasped and clutched the
table for support, and would have spoken
but for magisterial wave of Mr.. Greysark's
hand.
at is very evident to me-" continued his
employer, "that some fresh blood is needed
In this business. In fact, propose to take
partner, and by so acting to do away with
the necessity Of paying handsome salary
to head clerk"
"Mr. Greysarkl' almost shrieked poor
Penn. 'Do hear me. have helped you
to make this business. have been in this
Office for more than twenty years. You have
never once had cause 10 find fault with me,
and may :onscentiously say that have
never given you occasion to. For more than
one reason | am precluded from the posi-
bility of getting another situation. My
name, a. You know, is against me, and peo-
pie would object TO me on the ground that l
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, implors 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.. Greysark, but at such crisis as is 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 intro
ducing new blood into the house, you will
have to -" i,'.".
, "Mr. PENN interrupted the merchant,
: with wave of the hand, "wsmust in this
, world be men of business first and humani-
tarians afterward. have given your case
my fullest consideration, and in aoknowl edg-
! ment Of your services, as we'll as by way oil
compensation, propose to make you a
) weekly allowance until you get employment.
But that you must 60 have made up my
mind. You will please make no further OBJ.
! servations upon the decision at which have
arrived, or shall be obliged to request you
, to leave my presence. think II but fair to
, tell you, however, that the principal reason
for my deciding to take partner is that
am going to be marrisd-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 marriage should
most naturally inspire kind actions. You
4 are about to make yourself as happy as 0
: human being can possibly be, yet you wish
. to inaugurate that period by reducing tc
D want and ruin an old and tried servant.
Q know you too we'll, sir-or, rather, think
Y too we'll OF yop-not to be sure that II you
: carry out this latter intention your con-
: science must prick you In after lifs.''
I "Mr. Penn" said Grsysark severely,
. told you MOTTO handy words with me. SO lei
I. me hear no more. | am now going to Bright
!, on. Do not omit to forward all letters to my
address there. You will please be particular
, In this. | must say, Mr.. Penn, that am
5 not little astonished that. remembering
as you must, what have done for you, and
how with your furnished name you might
o long ere this have been begging yonr bread
Q but for me, you should presume to offer me
{ advice on my own affair. But will say nj
! more"
Theclerk fingered on in the room, as If il
, hopes that some straw might still be left Il
. clutch at. Then he said "Mr. Greysark
you observed just now that the fact of YOU
r marriage depends upon the consent of the
l young lady's father"
"Those were my words, Mr.. Penn, replied
Q the merchant.
ar ba ahnnld rafusa bio oanaant a.