The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-05
BROUGHT TO HIS SENSES
BY FRED F. FOSTER.

BY FRED F. FOSTER.
The day was drawing to close, and in
the Office of Durant Brothers there were
only two persons, Thomas Durant, tho
senior member of the firm, and John Craw-
ford, the confidential clerk.
The former sat at a table writing; the lat
ter stood, with his elbows on the window
sash, and his hands supporting his chu,
watching the people pass to and fro IN the
street.
"JackY' dropped from MI. Durant's lips
as he laid aside his pen.
eyes, sir" responded the clerk, Familiarity
known as Jack, turning his face toward
Mr.. Durant.
"Ah--Rm-howP was the stammering
reply. .oy
rant repeated
Really. l have not given the matter much
consideration"
Il am convinced that marriage is adYlsa-
bic on the part OF any man"
Mr.. Durant was a fifty-year-old bachelor
and Jack ventured:
''Do you intend to renounce Single-bleSsed-
neSS?" smiling o S he spoke.
Il may do so by and by" Mr.. Durant
dependent upon you for support he con-
tinued.
81 have only myself to support" said
Jack.
"Your salary has enabled you to lay by
something each year during the i've years
you have been with us?"
u have about $1,000 at my command"
Sufficient to begin housekeeping with
comfortably. You would prefer home to
boarding Dla3e?"
shD
Il have no doubt there is some young
lady whom you incline TO regard with espe-
cial favor" Mr.. Durant remarked, iuterrog
atively.
"Edon't-kuow," Jack reioined, blush
ing to the roots of his hair.
If you entertain such regard for any
lady whom You believe to be truly womanly
and to reciprocate your kindly feeling, ask
her to become your wife without delay
You will excuse me for advising you
with reference to so vital a matter, as L am
influenced tG do it by my interest in your
welfare; the interest Of friend rather than
OF an employer"
Certainly; and l appreciate your mo-
tive
Presently Mr.. Durant left the Office and
Jack muttered:
a. verify believe he does intend to marry,
and the woman whose husband he becomes
will have reason to be thankful. as he is one
Of the n0blest men in the world.
Soon after, passing the table at which Mr.
Durant had been writing, he saw upon il q
note, which began, My dear Miss Ben
ton" and ueQr il an envelope addressed,
Miss Alice Benton, 276 Washington ave-
nue. city"
AS the addressee was lady whom he in
Clined TO regard with especial favor" whom
lie really loved with his whole heart, the af-
fectionate beginning of the nIissiVe so aroused
his curiosity that regardless of propriety, lie
read 1t in its entirety as follows:
Ny dear Mss Benton; shall call tomorrow
evening Tor your answer 10 the question which
asked you a short tine ago and trust II Will be
spch as 10 coufer upon me the happiness that 1t
alone can afford ME. Yours sincere sincerely;
Having read it;
''Can II be that she has been receiving the
attentions Of that curmudgeOn, old enough
to be her father?' he calculated, trembling
ike a leaf. And can it be that she has
been merely Stimulating love for me?" he
continued.
lie may call upon her tomorrow even
ing, but l will see her before that time and
come to an understanding with her"
A few minutes later Mr.. Durant re-entered
the Office, saying:
- forgot to take with me for posting the
most important communication which l had
written, doubtless owing to our interesting
discussion"
"Ah! was Jacks sole response, as he
kept his back toward Mr. Durant, who, hav-
ing folded the missiye to Miss Benton, placed
it in the envelope and sealed 1t, again went
from the Office.
That evening Alice Benton, a very pretty
young lady, was busily occupied with piece
of nGndescript work when Jack, WHO sat on
stool at her feet with one hand in her lap,
said:
How much do you care for me?"
"Well, that is rather difficult question
to answer" was the reply.
Enough TO marry me?" he nervously
asked
Possibly, if you desired to have me do
so'
Il have long loved you, and your consent
to become my wife will make me the hap
| piest of men"
1t is yours"
They sealed their engagement with a kiss,
| and then made arrangements for their mar
riage in the near future.
| The following morning he said to MI
| Thomas Durant:
a. have acted accordingly with your ad
vice Of yesterday afternoon, and shall be
married one month from to-day"
please accept my congratulations and
best wishes for your happiness, Mr. Durant
returned, Grasping his clerks hand.
Thank yUu," returned Jack, looking
| down.
~ think it advisable for newly married
couple to begin housekeeping as soon as pos
slble," Mr.. Durant observed. Il have
| very desirable tenement on Adams street,
which is vacant and you may occupy it, free
Of rent, as long as you wish"
Jack managed to articulate Il thank
| you, but the generous offer from one whose
| confidence it seemed to him he had shame
fully abused made him feel decidedly IN
comfortable.
perhaps" he said, after momentary
hesitation, your kindly regard for me will
cease when you learn the name of my aft
! anced"
1T is Alice Benton. is it not?"
I" l think it will be an excellent match"
Jack was amazed at Mr.. Durant's words,
| and presently. with tears of modification in
his eyes and quivering lips. confessed to
having read the note which Mr.. Durant had
written to Miss Benton, aske d forgiveness
for the unmanly act, adding:
I" 1t was contemptible for me to ask her to
become my wife, last evening, when / knew
that you intended to ask her TO marry you,
this evening.
Mr.. Durant shook with laughter. and then,
Supposedly, everything is fair in love and
war" he said. placing his hand On jacks
shoulder.
LAS you have never known" he con-
tnued, Alice is my ward. dearer to me
than whom sister could not be-"
" For long timesl have been aware of
her intense love for yon, believed that Won
fully recprocated it. A thorough acquaint-
ance with your character assured me that
you would make her a desirable husband.
and planned to have you propose TO her
sooner than you we're likely toby reason
of your 5ashfulness.
MY matrimonial chat yesterday was In
| tended TO convey to you the impression thar
| proposed becoming benedict; the note to
| Alice-which went from my pocket into the
fire-was left on my table that you might
get glimpse of it, which would lead you
to read it in full, and, having read, to think
her the object of my alteration, and fore
stall me in securing her for wife.
Il slightly feared that you might suspect
the part | WAS playing-as q man of my
years and presumable crcumspection is
| not likely to allow such q missive as the
note apparently was to careleSsly remain
! where his rival can see it-and you prob
ably would have done so but for the excited
mental condition in which you were.