Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-05-02
AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY
BY ARTHUR Z. cLEssoN.

Nettie Percival was an employee in
the large dry goods. establishment of
Ward, Wilkinson & Co., In the city of
Caskville.
Her position of book-keeper was no
sinecure, for old Mr.. Bragg, who had
grown gray In the service Of the firm,
and was principal book-keeper, did not
allow those under his supervision to be
idle much of their time; and more than
that, he thought the employment of fe-
male clerks an innovation on the rights
Of his sex, to which he submitted with
very Ill grace, and allowed no opportu.
nifty to pass whereby he could demon
strate their inefficiency for positions of
such importance.
Here Miss Percivalw called the
rough voice of Mr.. Bragg, one morning,
as he arrived at the store unusually late,
and evidently in an unpleasant frame eff
mind, with all persons and things
around him. "Your footings of this
column of figures are incorrect. wish
you would be more accurate In such i'm
portant matters"
The young lady looked up in astonish-
ment, not merely at the gruff speech of
Mr.. Bragg, but that those figures over
which she had spent so much time and
care should prove incorrect at last.
1t was useless to argue with the stub
born old man, SO she took the papers,
saying mildly:
= am sorry. Mr.. Bragg; | will go
over the work again"
He muttered to himself something
about "carelessness and waste of time"
but it reached Miss Perceval's ears, as
he intended; and a red flush came to
her check as she thought of Mr.. Bragg's
estimate of her abilities, and her de-
pedence on this situation for the com
forts of life.
81 obtain the same result on re.ex-
animation of the papers, Mr. Bragg"
said the same gentle voice, but this time
with little more of firmness in the
tone and just little pard onabe accent
of triumph.
Well, well, lay it on my desk; / will
look at it directly" was the reply.
"Mr. Baagg was in no haste to discov
er his own error, and when he did dis
cover himself in the wrong, did not
mention the fact to his assistant.
Miss Percival was the oldest daughter
of kind, indulgent parents, who died
year before. She had Two little brothers
tn care for and protect.
The little available property left to
Nettie melted away in the hands of her
fathers will, and the gentleman APP
peared to expect the Utmost gratitude
for his efforts in obtaining the position
she now held.
80 Nettie toiled on, while the rose
bloom faded from her cheek, and her
bright blue eyes were often dimmed I
{ with disappointment and utter wearri-
ness. But when she returned to her
neatly kept apartment and the care of
her precious charges, all the light of
love came back to her face as she kissed
little Harry and BERTHE before preparing
their evening meal.
The firm of Ward, Wilkinson & Co.
was well known in all the country
around about Cashville and was estab.
lished before the recollection of the
Oldest inhabitant of that region. The
original partners had long since passed
away, and the business was conducted
By parties who had fallen heirs to the
establishment.
There was many employees connected
with the establishment, but the princi.
pal owner was Mr.. Walter Wilkinson,
young man now completing his edu-
cation in Europe.
Three months more were added 10
the year Nettie had passed as assistant
book-keeper, when another clerk was
appointed and assigned to duty In the
establishment of Ward, Wilkinson &
Co., by name Arthur Middleton.
The new clerk was an intelligent, well
educated, affable young man, and withal
very handsome, and seemed quite out Of
place among prints, silks and muslins
but he came highly recommended, per.
formed his duty faithfully in all depart
ments of the store, and had a smile and
kind word for all with whom he came
in contact
Nettle was the recipient of many an
act of kindness from Mr.. Middleton.
which served to smooth down the rough
expressions of Mr.. Bragg, and she felt
that away down in the recess of her
heart-so deep and SO dimly defined
that she dared not cherish the sweet
thought herseli-was kindled feeling