San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-08-18


shrewd as he was successful. according
to the verdict Of those whose sayings |
overheard. He was not very often in our
Office, and | was glad to see that no in
timacy existed between him and Mr..
Prime. Hints dropped in my presence
by some of our less Eighty looking Gus
TONERS revealed to Inc the fact that there
were those who predicted for him a fall
as rapid as uad been his rise. But could
not help feeling little of my former
jealousy return as | noted how slack
and improbable our business was COM
pared with his.
tried my best to make myself of use,
and my efforts were quickly appreciated,
tor new and more important work was
Entrusted to Inc, under the pressure of
which felt at first completely tired out
at night, and thankful to get to bed. As
regards my domestic arrangements, de-
cided finally not to change my lodgings,
but by dint of explicit instructions to
my landlady and maid | managed to-
have my presence in the house concealed
from those of my acquaintances who
called. There are always certain num-
Der of people who do not hear one is in
town until after one has left. 1t was
against such that | needed to take pre-
cautions; and after the impression was
duly established that was really gone
breathed freely once more, and gave
myself up to my business with little con-
Germ as to the discovery of my innocent
deceit. | had to frame such replies to
Aunt Helen's letters and questions as the
sensitiveness of my conscience would
permit.
Mr.. Prime, in his efforts to build up
his business, was evidently most diligent
and painstaking, and, as l had observed
during my early investigations, usually
staid at the Office until late. Of course
never left before him, and perhaps it
was not unnatural that after time we
got into the way of walking up town to-
gether. One day he happened to come
back for something Just as was setting
out, aud he walked along by my side.
Our ways lay in the same direction, and
it was the habit Of each of us to walk
home for the exercise. 1t seemed to me
in no way dangerous or uniting that
should be otherwise than at ease in my
conversation with Mr.. Prime; indeed,
was soon conscious of desire to nystify
him by giving him glimpse of my &C
quirements. | branched off from the
current events of the day to poetry and
art, and to my qualification found that
had touched sympathetic chord in
ny companion which not even wonder
could restrain from responding. After
this it became Mr.. Primes won't to wait
for me occasionally, and by the time |
had been in his employ six weeks this
became his daily practice.
Our intimacy was curious one, for of
course we avoided all personal and social
topics-l from necessity, and he doubt
less because of the difference in our posi-
tons which he supposed to exist. But
on this very account | got truer i'm
pres sion of his real self, for he did not
feel the hamper of conventions in our
talk. and hence was not affected. He
said freely what he thought and be-
lieyed; and underneath the tendency to
regard everything in a mezzo-cynical,
mezzo-humorous light there cropped out
from time to time evidences of his ear
nestness and enthusiasm, which as our
friendship strengthened were less and
less subordinated to raillery and chatf.
Not a whit inferior in cultivation to my
self, he possessed besides keen analytic
sense which | envied, especially as felt
that it did not steel him against ideal
considerations.
Meanwhile my usefulness at the Office
was constantly increasing, for my EN-
ployer now made me devote my time to
various sorts of financial matters, and
could see plainly that he was puzzled at
my aptness. He expressed the belief that
must have had experience elsewhere,
for | acted, he said. as if had been ac-
customed to handle large sums all my
life. He offered presently to raise my
salary, but | declared that what | re-
ceived was sufficient for my needs. Much
of the time | could see that Mr.. Prime
was worried, for business, though active,
was in an unsettled state, and | knew
from the books that already his capital
was somewhat impaired. AS have men
toned, he was studiously devoted to his
work, and the only recreation he allowed
himself was his daily walk with me,
often heard Mr.. Slayback. our bookkeep-
er, into whose good graces managed to
ingratiate myself at the end of a fort
night, sigh over the un"emitting indus
try of our employer, and declare that he
would break down in health before
twelvemonth was past.
He will succeed first, and then he
can afford to be an invalid" answered,
but acting on the old mans solicitude,