The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-13
gan TO turn over the leaves then he sud
denly started hack ne IL he had roce;vad n

gan 20 turn over the leaves: then he sud
denly started back rs II he had received
blow 'lmpossiblcl" he mu,,ered as h
sank down In chair. completely over
come There must he some mistake"
For several moments he sa: thus in deel
thought. the volume resting on his knee
Then, rising. he put ii back with a sigh
He then picked up his cane and left thu
house
"A most fortunate discovery. he NUT
tered. as he walked away Poor lad
when Mrs Price returned home {
few minutes later she found the library
unoccupied
Uncle Asa is always impatient
Surely he could have waited a little
longer. she said
lie promised to wait ten minutes, but
I'm sure he wasn't here more than five,
explained the servant
Il am very sorry that ! missed him.
said Mrs Price
She did not know what Fred had missed
by that early call of Uncle Asa's
Fred wondered why he did not receive
the promised books. but concluded that
his uncle had forgotten them He had
greater cause for wonder when, after the
June graduation. lie heard that his cousin
Henry had been taken into his uncle
store
II cant make it ont, he said to his
cousin Il was sure Uncle Asa intended
to give me the place lie always appeared
to like me better than he did You"
ut was "A great surprise to me, con
fess.. Henry said lie seemed SO vexed
with me about that old book chose. you
remember lie hardly spoke to me the
next time met Ism, but he is very pleas
ant TO me now
IL wish the matter could be explained
would like to understand It.
Fred understood it very soon One day
in the beginning Of July lie received a
summons to his uncles office The inter
view did not last long but perhaps Fred
suffered more during the ten minutes his
uncle talked to him than be had in the
whole OF bis life before
1t is only right you should know why
my choice fell on Harry. said the old
man, for intimated to your father that
should choose you The knowledge may
be of permanent benefit to you and influ
ence you for good in a similarcase should
one ever occur gave you book two
months ago with which you seemed i'm
mensey pleased Meeting you on the
street a week later asked YOU if you had
read it You said you had, and praised it
highly was pleased with you, aud con
ciuded that | had better settle az once the
matter Of your coming here, after your
graduation, TO learn my business Invent
to your fathers house and your mother
being out spent few minutes in the
library There saw the book had given
You. Some impulse led me to open it.
Frederick. you know the discovery made.
The volume was roughly bound and
cheaply printed and the leaves were un.
cut Do You understand? | knew at
once that you had rot only been guilty of
deceit, but of deliberate falsehood.
want in my employment no one whom
cannot trust. and my trust in you was
destroyed forever when left your fathers
house that day.
Fred tried to speak. but there was
lump in his throat which prevented his
doing so
You may 60 now, said his uncle
but remember, my lad, that 10 matter
at what apparent cost. it is always better
to stick to the old proverb, Honesty is
the best policy"
As Fred walked out of the Office he felt
the truth of his uncle's words -Philadel
phia Call