The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-24

OF such courage would have cost him five years
penal servilnde. lie was never seen again in
England.
Ten days afterward or so, ! was summoned
from my desk TO The partners parlor 1t was
not generally pleasant invitation, but rather
resembled what is called at Cambridge being
convened; 10 guilty conscience II meant
something very serious, but though my con-
science may be thought pesdiar 1t was not a
guilty one.
There were four partners whom 1 scarcely
knew by sight, and Mr.. Apsley, who completed
the quorum and was the speaker
!" Mr.. Ackers, we have sent for you to congrat
ulate you upon your conduct the other night
win respect to our late manager. You showed
yourself aware of what was due to one who had
held position of trust with us for many years.
and also TO your employers interests. You said
neither more nor less than you ought to have
said. Ii nothing was wrong with him you did
no harm, II there was anything amiss you put us
on cur guard 1t Is owing TO you that certain
very grieyOuS losses incurred through this mans
dishonesty, and Of which we had had hitherto
no clew, have not been very seriously increased.
L am Instructed by The firm to thank you. (Here
four most respectable heads bowed TO me af-
fably9 II Is very unusual 10 ind so young man
endowed with so much discretion. You will
take Mr.. Roberts place as third clerk In this es.
adjustment. Good-mo nlng."
IL was very Pheasant quarter OF an hour
What have often Thought of since was the az
futeness with which that excellent old gentle.
man concealed from me that night the suspicious
which myself had awakened. He of course
perceived the necessity OF not arousing those OF
Mr. Jones by communicating them to me- An
other thing which has always puzzled me is my
own behavior Oh that occasion; my conscience
was clearly eOmmendable, since Its workings were
so well rewarded; but how very near II was TO
going wrong in-sO 10 speak-both ways
About Miss Apsley and her conduct, as have
described IL. with relation to the absconder? o,
l can make that clear. IL the reader feels any
portion OF my Interest IN that young lady, by
writing OF how l went 10 her house a few even
ings alter my interview with the finn. l had
dfeamt OF her by night and unused OF her by day,
untll L lad good reason 10 regard myself as a
half-daft lover, when one morning l found on
my desk neat, square, femininey addressed
envelope, bearing the mark OF baving passed
through the mall i opened il and read that
" Miss Apsley would feel honOred by the pres
ence OF Mr. Ackers'' at small and informal
dancing parry to be held at her residence on an
evening nall week ahead. rubbed my eyes
and read II through several times. No; / was
not dreaming. Miss Apsley really invited me to
be guest.
Need say that my mind was not much occu-
pled Win ONCE dulles in the interval; or that
when 1 presented myself at The Apsleys', resi-
dence l looked as well as a careful toilet ana
preafanged good manners could achieve. The
young lady received me graciously, introduced
me 10 The other guests. and soon made of me a
happy and, trust. congenial participant in
the evenings diversions. l was her partner In a
waltz, and then, inciled 10 IL by her agreeable
ness, asked for a second dance ana got 1t.
You are very good indeed to me-" said to
her In quite heartfelt way, as we were circllng
about III this latter waltz.