The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1893-12-17
THE ATONEMENT.

For The Sunday st--(Copyrighted, 1873
IS S, ;. Mcclure, LimiteD'
The afternoon was as fogBy and damp
one as the old Waterman who TOOK
night charge OF Messrs. Neihrockers
premises could remember, and he had
been there for thirty years. The electric
lights shone dun ana suilenly. AZ Tor the
gas lamps. they had apparently aband-
onesi a useless task and gone out oi pusi-
ness The lights had been burning IN me
offices In the city all day. anu me lur-
nacgs ia the basement mad pevh hep'
glowing but still there was little comfort
AND O'clock was welcomed ny Aii, a,s
John Evans rose Us the others ulu,
and washed his hands, and put on nus
coat and sought his umbrella. tor hlleeh
years, ST q O'Clock punctually every even even
iue he had done The same thing, from
the day he had entered the service OF the
firm as q junior clerk, until tphlEht, Hhci,
he sat al a more honored desk, y uu is,t.,
and much thought Of veteran, VINO mlsht.
in fact was almost certain 10, soiht uAy.
reach the top. Tonight the tos had no
apparent effect upon his PLACID, grave
face. wherein the worry OF monthly bali
anees and the fret OF controlling, hnse
ledgers had left their lines. ic looked
around him expeotantly as he seited
himself in his coat and watched the
hustle OF the numerous clerks,
Has my nephew soneg ne asked OF
1 haven't seen him., he was answere1
Has my nephew gone, do You known
ne asked OF another. A
~ think he went little earlier imam
usual today, John" said the clerk.
He was not sick, was her
OH ! think not; We can az keep 70
the exact tick OF the clock Ike you,
john
Johns face clouded slightly: the tick
ing OF the clock was IN order TO regulate
the clerks movements. ~ rsined him
hat any 81 them, especially his Young
nephew should not accept It's mandates,
and be regulated accordingly.
HIS face Frightened uu again the
door Of the private office opened and a
man Of his own age came out,
lnplesasant nisht isn't ~ john the
every. Mr. Arthur. II you are not IN a
hurry, Mr. Arthur. may i speak TO you a
moment"
Come along then. Anything wrongY'
They passed out through the swinging
door together and down the muddy street
have never. said John slowly, and
with the air Of recIting a speech com
mitted 20 memory. II have never. since
4 have been with the nrm thought II
riEnt 70 take any step which might poa-
sihly effect my relations with the frU
without notifying your father or. since
his lamented death yourself"
= can not, John said Mir Welbr0ekEr
smiling ,,recelee. any very .ereai chrlge
IN your life since you have been with US
And my father and / also, hspl always
a perfect belief In your devotion " the
interests Of the firm
III p very. Kind of you 70 say so, sir
as you say been few changes In IT, But
] do contemplate AZ present making an
important change In fact, Mr.. Arthur,
] intend 10 marry"
MY dear John, congratulate you.
Nothing could be more pleasing When
Is 1t TO be? We shall all expect TO be
There J0ha."
You The very kind Mr.. Arthur. 1
have not as yet made any decisive ar
engagements. I have not, in fact. form
ally proposed"
oh oh. joint How can you be sure?"
- am poBitIye-it mays seem presunip-
tuous to say so-but | am quite positive
that my views on the rnftisr ara shared
by---by the other party MIR Arthtr I viii
net taks l up any more q your time, now
my Intention. Good night sir, and thapk
/, John you have survived somhow fronS
the earlier, more simple DAYS v,is3
mere were more Of your ancient hut trtlsl
~ calibre- BY the BY. your nephew, how
d9e zoe ne get on2 Does he like his work qi
!. Ike j.. NJ. Arthur ! feel sure he
t." D'u'' "' ought % be proud OF
Keep an eye on him. John. lie is very