The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-07-12

And clvllity is civllity,' retoYted
North in q mental aside, but you have
behaved toward me like 0 baclswoods-
man and boorl"
Nevertheless he smiled with superb
cial amiability and glanced nervously
up the street and wished devoutly that
Warner would really hurry.
Its fine, ba'my day, on the whole"
continued old Mr.. Archer, as he gazed
upon the clear skies and the radiant
sunlight with the condescendingly ap-
proving air of a competent critic giving
his opinion of a fine effort that nature
had intended expressly for his benefit.
"'Business is business" thought
North, magnificently, "and it forms the
only conceivable connecting link be-
tween yourself and me. You will
please confine your observations to that
one subject: it is the only common
ground upon which we can possibly
meetv
Nevertheless he bent his stately head
to the inexorable yoke Of policy" and
uttered the most suave acquiescence.
"Pollytics seems to be pretty much
the order of the day, just now," pur-
sued Mr.. Archer, probably with the
benevolent intention of drawing out
Mr.. North's conversational powers,
which at that moment appeared to be
somewhat limited; as with the point Of
his stout ivory-headed cane he indus
triously knocked the loose stones and
pebbles off the pavement with as ear
nest application to the task as If 1t had
been his regular occupation In life. ''I
hear that your prospects is mighty
good, Mr.. North"
"Ah! Here's my opportunity to dis
tinguish myself" thought North, with
a sudden inspiration of reckless nom
sense. "I'll make this simple old voter
think that I'm model of disinterested
patriotism!"
Therefore, assuming an air and atti-
tude of stilted dignity, North answered
with a slight wave of his hand as II he
thus rejected all political ambitions and
honors:
"oh, have scarcely considered my
prospects, Mr.. Archer. The truth is, /
do not desire office unless l should be-
come convinced that 1t was my duty
thus to serve the public interests; and
as to the present canvass, / may say
that have been the least active Of all
the candidates now In the field. II !
am elected, shall accept my election
as the unmistaltable call Of duty, speak
ing through the still small voice Of the
ballot but in the meantime / shall
give myself NO concern, and TO the
probable issue very little thought. I
am perfectly content to be the humble
instrument to execute the will of the
people. Duty, sir, duty is the grand
pivotal point on which all my desires
and ambitions turnv'
Mr.. Archer stared and nodded with
an air of being very much impressed;
and before North had time TO recover
from the severe mental exhaustion con-
sequent upon this effort, hand was
placed lightly on his shoulder.
Turning around quickly he saw War
ner convulsed with laughter.
81 say, North, don't put II quite so
steepl Too much allowance for stage
perspective for an audience Of onel'
were his low-spoken words Us, thrust
ing n roll OF crisp banknotes into
North's hand, he hurried off before
another syllable could be spoken.
North looked after him with an
amused air; then turning to Mr.. Archer
he said courteously:
"If you will accompany me to my
Office now, Mr.. Archer, we will con-
clude this business at once"
Mr.. Wescott, elaborately disposed in
an easy chair after his own peculiar mo-
tions of making himself comfortable,
was reading a newspaper in the quiet
inner Office when North and Mr.. Archer
entered.
Good morning, Wee. Take n chair,
Mr.. Archer, over here by my DESK"
said North, airily, tossing his gloves
down on the desk and nodding gracious
ly to the junior partner. 81 will count
these bills, Mr.. Archer, and you may
run over them after me, II you will,
just TO see that there u no mistake"
And as he sat down at the desk, APP
absorbed In the business in
hand, North said TO himself with keen
sense of enjoyment, as he accidentally
pair Of eyes raised with
IN expression of contemptuous surprise
from the paper that Mr.. Wescott was
not reading:
"Poor Wecl I'm afraid this may give
him conclusion of the bralnl wonder
II he will not fall on my neck and weep
when old Archer is gone? Gle will at
least think better of that rash determi-
nation TO dissolve partnership"
"Wall, Mr.. North" said Jonathan
Archer, as, having finally disposed Of
his business, he stood for few mo-
ments beside North's desk hugging his
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