Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-12-26


kind of life even though he should for a
time get the worst of it, and fear" with a
deep sigh chat that's what he is getting
now. You know have some cousins in
town, and have heard how hard it is for
them to get established in business, and
Jack knows no one there"
"Where are all his fine college friends9"
Mr.. Hartford asked
"Oh, they are young men themselves,
and each of them has his way to make
much the same as Jack. Mr.. Hartford, if |
were you should write 20 Jack and help
to keep his spirits up
81 shall, my dear, and all | have to say
is that if Jack doesn't do something big to
be worthy of such a good girl as you are,
then | am sure you won't get your deserts.
am much obliged to you for coming with
me-"
"Good-by, Mr.. Hartford" the girl said as
the horse stopped at the top of IA hill, and
before she jumped out of the buggy she
kissed the old man on his sunburned
cheek, thus giving to the father unasked
what she had denied to the son, though
much besought.
When Emma Rogers had finished her
simple little dinner she sat at her fathers
old desk and wrote this letter:
NEaRByE, Sept. 81.
DEAR JAcK-I promised not to write to you but
l trust you will forgive me for thus early break
ing my word. ! drove with your father after
church today far as the hill top. He is much
concerned about you, and think it is your duty
to write to him at least once a week so that
he may not feel uneasy about you Don't foolishly
wait until you have done something to he proud ~.
Write to him at once and write to him regularly.
Ifyou will do this you may also write to me
week, and l will answer your letters and
again, and | will also confess thar miss you
fully and often wish very much to see you and
continually wonder what you doing.
p S.-Why don't you look up all your college
friends who are living in New York?
Jack Harfords Sundays in town had
been particularly gloomy He had been
accustomed for two years past to spend the
greater part of each Sunday with Emma
Rogers, and the loss of this companion
ship was at this period grievous one The
Monday morning after the conversation
between his father and sweetheart at Near
bye he started out early to answer as many
of the advertisements printed in the Sun
day papers as seemed to him to be of any
promise The day had been a succession
of dreary appointments, and he return
ed to his boarding place in the evening
tired and utterly blue. On the hat rack in
the hall he found Emma's letter 1t bright
ened him up wonderfully. He at once
wrote to his father. He also wrote to En-
ma and thanked her most sincerely for her
kindness to his father and to him.
In reading over her letter for the first
few times he missed the significance of the
suggestion in Emma's postscript. There
were many old college friends in New York
He had intended looking them up after he
had become established in business. That
seemed far enough off now 1t could do no
harm to see some of them at once. The next
morning he dressed himself as carefully as
his limited wardrobe permitted and went
for n tour of visits. The first fellow he called
on was a clerk and a student in IA lawyers
office From him he learned of the Others
and continued his calls. He told each OF
them that he had come to town to seek EN-
ployment. and each of them offered to let
him know if anything suitable was heard
of Late in the afternoon he called on
William Caldwell who had for three wears
been his room mate. The last year at col
lege something had happened which had
strained, if it had not severed, the friend
ship between Hartford and Caldwell
These young fellows had not talked over
the difference between them, and had
parted sill misunderstanding each other.
Each of the fellows who had seen Jack had
asked if hc had seen Caldwell, and at last
Jack concluded to call. He got the ad
Dire and found the place very easily. He
met Caldwell just 1T the entrance of his
fathers Urge ostablishment-a commits
sion Aou,e which did "A most extensive
business.
al lio, Jack" said Caldwell, holding
a ~ ha ftxn H.
to see you"
IL am glad of that, for was just going
to see you. You remember we were not
very good friends when we left college two
years ago.
"The bigger fools we" responded Cald
well cheerily. Come in, old man. and tell
me about yourself"
, The two young men walked back through
the great ware house to the counting room
in the rear, and Caldwell took the young
countryman into his private office There
they talked over the college days, the diff
ference between them was explained, and
Caldwell learned of Jacks object in com
ing to town and of his lack of success.
"Well you have come TO the right shop
this time" Caldwell said, "fOr | have Just
been made IA partner, and | mean TO have
you here-that is, if you would like it,"
Nothing would please me better" IIar
ford said; but you don't really nee, u-
do you?"
I'VE did not know it, but | am sure we
shall know it in little while"
Jack opportunity had now come, and he
took advantage of it. The firm for which
he worked found him most valuable as
sistant, and from time to time his salary
was raised till in two years after he came
to New York he was getting $1,000 year
With young Caldwell he saw all that was
best and most novel of metropolitan life,
but his heart yearned all the while for the
dear girl who was waiting for him at Near
bye, and whenever he could he spent his
Sundays AT the old place.
One bright December afternoon toward
the end of Christmas week he took the
train for the Jersey hills and was soon at
the old farm at Nearbye. There were
many journeys made in the next few days
between the old homestead in the hills and
Emma Rogers neat little village cottage
At this time Jack was never reproached
for being blue. There was evidently nc
need for such reproofs, as there was an
oil i,,h h..i,r |, IN,