The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-08-17

like an introduction TO my country
friends, and really anxious lest he con-
slider their presence in his Office an In
trusion. He stood little while in the
door, looking upon the strangers In sur
prise, then, casting an inquiring glance
at me, walked forward TO his desk.
was puzzled and embarrassed, not
knowing what TO do under the circnm-
stances. But, fortunately for me, Mr..
Cornell solved the difficulty. Walking
up TO Mr.. Bernard, he said:
"You ith the gentleman that ownth
thith thstore, / reckon?"
Yes, sir; am" Mr.. Bernard replied,
little stifiy.
"Wuli, I'm glad TO meet you, thure.
My name ith Cornell, Aaron Cornell,
and thith ith my thon Charleth. You
don't know nothing about nth, of
courthe, but NTH 0wenth doth. Thshee
ith friend Of ourth, and, being In
town, we thought II wathnt no more
than neighborly to call and thee how
thshee wath."
l noticed that Mr.. Bernard fixed a
searching gaze on Charles Cornell the
moment his name was mentioned, and
/ saw, too, that look of displeasure,
amounting TO almost a frown, swept
over his features lie saluted the two
men rather coldly, l thought, making
them scarcely perceptible bow, but
deigning no word Of welcome. Mr..
Cornell apparently took no notice of
this, but Charles Cornell did, | knew,
for he flushed up instantly. ..
"Charleth itb going to remain in
town day or two" Mr.. Cornell re-
marked to me, ''and he will thee you
again; but I'm going back this after
noon, tho when go out / muth thay
good-by. I'm very glad you're we'll and
happy; and Thuthan will be glad TO hear
it, too, though thee would be much bet
ter pleathed If you would come out and
thspend few dayth with her."
"She would not be better pleased
than would" returned. "I know Of
no place I'd rather go, and no one I'd
rather visit"
"Then juth thay the word and we'll
thend down for you," he cried, eagerly.
81 cannot now" replied.
why canth you2' he questioned.
"Tm thure Misther Bernard would
thspare you little while"
Mr.. Bernard heard this remark, which
was addressed 10 him rather than 10 me,
but he took no notice Of It, continuing
to ignore the visitors entirely.
After little moro conversation the
Cornells withdrew from the office,
Charles arranging, however, to comd
for me in the evening and see me home.
l resumed my place ut the desk imme-
diately, and took up my work where
had left Off ut their entrance. An hour
or 80 passed in perfect silence, save for
the scratching Of Mr.. Bernard's pen, he
never once looking up from the page on
which he seemed uncommonly intent.
At last he threw his pen down, closed
his ledger, and turning his chair about
sat facing me. glanced up for an
instant, then went on with my writing.
"Are you done with those letters?" he
aslsed, directly.
Very nearly" answered
"Well, rest awhile, and finish them
afterwards"
Ishould have preferred finishing them
then, but was in the habit Of obeying
my employers commands explicitly In
aal matters of business, so l laid down
my pen and pushed the letters back. I
was sure he had purpose In his action,
and ! believed that purpose had TO do
with the Cornells; and was not mis-
taken.
$50 those are your friends from whom
you had the letter, sh2" he remarked,
rather abruptly.
eyes, SIR" I replied, ''that was Mr..
Cornell and his son."
"well, the old gentleman appears TO