News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-01-25

every night for years.
What's that, what's that?' he
cried
Rogers was astonished, but too
well trained to show it.
"Anything more tonight, Mr.. Den
ham,"
"Ah, quite so. No, Rogers, thank
you; nothing more"
Good night, Mr.. Denham."
"Eh? Oh. yes. Good night, Rog-
ers; good night.
When Mr.. Denham left his office
and went out into the street every
thing had an unusual appearance to
him. He walked long, unheeding the
direction. He looked at the fine resi-
dences and realized that he might
have q fine residence if he wanted it.
He saw handsome carriages; he, too,
might set up an equipage. The salts
faction these thoughts produced was
brief Ofwhat use would q fine horse
or an elegant carriage be to him
He had no one to invite to the house
or to ride with him in the carriage.
He began to realize how utterly alone
in the world he was. He had no
friends, no acquaintance even. The
running dog with it's nose to the
ground sees nothing of the surround
ing scenery. He knew men in busi-
ness way, of course, and doubtless
each of them had a home in the
suburbs somewhere, but he could not
take a business man by the shoulders
and say to him, "Invite me to your
house; | am lonesome; L want to
know people"
If he got such an invitation he
would not know what to do with him
self. He was familiar with the count
ing-room and it's language. but the
drawing-rOOm was an uneXplOred
country to him, where an unknown
tongue was spoken. On the road to
wealth he had missed something, and
it was now too late to go back for it.
Only the day before he had heard one
of the clerks, who did not know he
was within earshot, allude to him as
''the old man." He felt as young as
he ever did, but the phrase so lightly
spoken made him catch his breath.
AS he was now 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
off. He thought of a girl he knew
once, who perhaps would have mar
ried him if he had asked her, as he
was tempted to do. But that had al
ways been a mistake of the Denhams.
They had all married young, except
himself, and so sunk deeper into the
mire of poverty, pressed down by a
rapidly increasing progeny. The girl
had married banker, he remember
ed Yes, that was a long time ago.
The clerk was not far wrong when he
called him an old man. Suddenly an
other girl arose before his mental
visiOn-a modern girl-very different
indeed from the one who had married
the banker 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 sonata q
one note on his office typewriter
Miss Gale was pretty of course-al
typewriter girls are-and it was gen.
orally understood in the office that
she belonged to a good family who
had come down in the world. Hel
somewhat independent air deepened
this conviction and kept the clerks al
a distance. She was a sensible Cir
who realized that the typewriter paid
better than the piano, and according
ly turned the eXpertness of her white
fingers to the former instrument
Richard Denham sat down upon a
park bench. "Why not?" he asked
himself. There is no reason against
it except that he had not the courage,
Nevertheless, he formed a 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 hesitated. He
felt vaguely that a business office was
not the proper place for a proposal
vet he knew he would be at a disad-
vantage anywhere else. In the first
place he had no plausible excuse for
calling upon the young lady 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 a moment, Miss Gale, .
he said at last; 81 wanted to con-
suit you about matter-about a
business matter"
Miss Gale seated herself and auto
matically placed on her knee the
shorthand writing pad ready to take
down his instructions. She looked
up at him expectantly. Denham, in
an embarrassed manner, ran his
fingers through his hair.
81 am thinking" he began, so
taking a partner. The business is
very prosperous now. In fact, it has
been for some time"
"Yes?" said Miss Gale interroga-
lively.
eyes. | think | should have g
partner. 1t is about that | wanted
to speak to you"
Don't you think it would be bet
ter to consult with Mr.. Rogers? He
knows more about business than |.
But perhaps it is Mr.. Rogers who is
to be the partner"
"No, it is not Rogers. Rogers is a
good man. Butt is not Rogers" >"
"Then l think an important mat
ter like this Mr.. Rogers or some one
who knows the business as thorough
Iy as he does would be able to give
advice that would be of some value.
81 don't want advice exactly.
have made up my mind to have &
partner, if the partner is willing"
Denham mopped his brow. 1t was
going to be even more difficult thar
he had imagined.
ais it, then, a question OF capita
the partner is to bring in" asked
Miss Gale anxious to help him.
mo, no. | don't wish any capital
| have enough for both. And the
business is very prosperous, Miss Gal'
-and-and has been"
The young woman raised her eye
brows in surprise.
"You surely don't intend to share
the profits with a partner who brings
no capital into the business"
"Yes--yes, l do. You see, as said
| have no need of more capital"
"Oh, if that is the case, thinkyou
should consult Mr.. Rogers before yoJ
commit yourself"
"But Rogers wouldn't understand.
"I'm afraid l don't understand
| either. 1t seems to me foolish thinl
to do-that is, if you want my ad
vice "