The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-01-12
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lS;SlN,yE Al XII dreading all the while
iISiSSiEssA&ssSM k8&nhYt the coming of the time
SssMl:z..1.....zz.z.s-zZst when it would gain
= the mastery and throt-
tie him-when such
man is told that he is rich it might be imagined
he wonld receive the announcement with hliar-
ty. When Richard Denham realized that he
was wealthy he became even more sobered than
usual, and drew long breath as if he had been
running race and had won it. The man who
brought him the news had no idea he had told
Denham anything novel. He merely happened
to say: You are a rich man, Mr.. Denham, and
will never miss it,"
Denham had never before been called q rich
man, and up to that amount he had not
thought of himself as wealthy. He wrote out
the check asked of him, and his visitor de-
parted gratefully, leaving the merchant with
something to ponder over. He was as surprised
with the suddenness of the thing as if some one
bad left him legacy. Yet the money was all
of his own accommodating, but his struggle had
been SO long, and he had been so hopeless about
it, that from mere habit he exerted all his
energies long after the enemy was overcome
just as the troops at New Orleans fought
fierce battle, not knowing the war was over.
He had sprung from such hopelessly poor
family. Poverty had been their inheritance
from generation to generation. 1t was the in
variable legacy that father had left to son in
the Denham family. All had accepted their
lot with accomplishing resignation, until
Richard resolved he would at least have fight
for it, And now the fight had been won.
Denham sat in his office staring at the dingy
wallpaper so long that Rogers, the chief clerk,
put his head in and said in deferentiai voice:
Anything more to- night, Mr.. Denham?"
Denham started as if that question in that
tone had not been asked him every night for
years
Whats that what's that?" he cried.
Rogers was astonished but too well trained
to show it,
Anything more o-nght. Mr.. Denham?"
"Ah, quite so No. Rogers, thank you; moth
ing more" f'os@
Good night Mr.. Denham."
"Eh? Oh, yes. Good night Rogers; good
night"
When Mr.. Denham left his Office and went
out into the street every thing had All unusual
appearance to him. He walked along unteed-
ing the direction. He looked at the fine resi-
denccs and realized that he might have fine
residence if he wanted it. He saw handsome
carriages; he too might set up an equipage.
The satisfaction these thoughts produced was
brief. OF what use would fine house or an
elegant carriage be to him? He knew no one
| to invite to the bouse to ride with him in
the carriage. He began to realize how utterly
alone in the world he was. He had no friends
no acquantances even. The running dog with
its nose to the ground sees nothing of the sur
rounding scenery. He knew men in a business
way, of course, and doubtless each of them had
home in the suburbs somewhere. but he could
not take business man by the shoulders and
say to him, Invite me to your house; i am
lonesome l want TO know people"
IL he got such an invitation he would not
know what to do with himself. He was famil
lar with the counting room and its language
but the drawing room was an unexpiored couH-
try to him, where an unknown tongue was
spoken. On the road to wealth he had missed
something, and it was now too late to 60 back
for it, Only the day before he had heard one
of the clerks, who did not know he was within
earshot, alude to him as 1.-The old man"
He felt rs young as he ever did. but the phrase
so lightly spoken made him catch his breath.
As he was walking through the park
and away from the busy streets he took off his
hat, ran his fingers through his grizzled hair,
looking at his hand when he had done so as if
the gray, like wet paint, had come oil. He
thought of a girl he knew once. who perhaps
would have married him if he had asked her,
as he was tempted to do But that had always
| been a mistake of the Denhams. They had all
married young except himself and SO sunk
| deeper into the mire of poverty. pressed down
bya rapidly increasing progeny. The girl had
| married n baker, he remembered. Yes; that
was long time ago. the clerk was not far
| from wrong when he called him an old man.
| Suddenly another girl arose before his mental
| vision-a modern girl-very different indeed
| from the one who had married the baker. She
| was the only woman in the world with whom
! he was on speaking terms and he knew her
merely because her light and nimble fingers
| played the business sonato of one note on his
off ce. type writer Miss Gale was pretty, of
course-all typewriter girls are-and it was
| generally understood in the office that she be-
| longed to good family who had come down in
the world. Her somewhat independent air
deepened this conviction and kept the clerks at
| distance She was sensible girl who realized
| that the typewriter paid better than the piano,
and accordingly turned the experiences Of her
white fingers to the former instrument. Rich
ard Denham sat down upon a bench
why not?" he asked himself. There was no
reason against it, except that he had not the
courage. Nevertheless, he formed desperate
resolution.
Next day business went on as usual. Letters
were answered, and the time arrived when
Miss Gale came in to see if he had any further
commands that day. Denham hestated. He
felt vaguely that business Office was not the
proper place for n proposal; yet he knew he
would be at disad vantage anywhere else. In
the first place he had no plausible excuse for
calling upon the young woman at home, and
in the second place, he knew if he once got
there he would be stricken dumb. 1t must
either be at his Office or nowhere.
"Sit down moment, Miss Gale" he said at
last; :" / wanted to consult you about matter
about business matter"
Miss Gale seated herself and automatically
| placed on her knee the shorthand writing pad
| ready to take down his instructions. She
| looked at him expectanty. Denham. in an
embarrassed manner, ran his fingers through
| his hair.
| - am thinking" he began, "of taking a
| partner The business Is very prosperous now.
| In fact, it has been f6r some time"
| Yes 2" said Miss Gale, interrogativey.
Eyes. i think should have partner. 1t
| is about that / want to speak to you"
Don't you think 'it would be better TO con-
suit with Mr. RogeYsy He knows more about
business than l. Batperhaps it is Mr. Rogers
who is to be the partner?'
mo, it is not Rogers. Rogers is good man.
| Butt is not Rogers. 'hh
| "Then ! think inian Important matter like
| this Mr. Rogers or some one who knows the
business as thoroughly as he does would be
able to give advice tliat would be of some
value" 60
| 81 don't want advice exactly. / have made
| up my mind to have q partner if the partner
| is willing" DsD3
| Denham mopped his brow 1t was going to
| be even more difficult than he had imagined.
SIS it, then, questions of the capital the
partner is to bring in? 'oasked Miss Gale. anx-
ious to help him.
"No, no. / don't wish any capital. l have
| A ft.2 l.,.s -,