The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-05-14

StCIh, lOOkC(l Ill.
Stanley went home sick yestor
day." he said land his folks have jus
sent word that he's down with typhoid
Don't know what in the world we ar
going to do without him. Worst time
in the whole year he could have takel
to be of, and not another young fellow
worth " picayuno in this ~good-for
nothing little town." -
That all ?" asked Mr.. Sherman
with shrug Of his shoulders. " Busi
ness is rather driving, admit, but
hardly think tho whole establish
mont will have to shut down bccau &C
We Shall manage somehow, Ashton
we always have. Ah---gOod-mOrn
ing ~
Some one else had appeared at the
open door, young man OF perhaps
Twenty-Five or three, though he might
easily have been taken to be ten on
even fifteen years older, he looked sc
utterly worn and helpless.
81 just stepped in to inquire if you
needed any hclp," he said.
Mr.. Sherman and Ashton involun
tarily exchanged glances, ther looked
at the inquirer, who stood waiting q
reply, in an apathetic way, apparently
not expecting a favorable answer
Are you q good accountant and pen,
man ?" asked MIR Sherman.
/ write plain hand, and | am said
to be very quick at figures"
Some other questions were asked
and answered satisfactorily.
We have temporary vacancy
through the sickness Of the junior
clerk. You are probably looking for
snn,ma, g more InGnaIive Sna5i, posiHon'" said Mr.
lGnlE Io
reply. Haif u loaf is better than no
bread. If you will try me, / will do
my best to satisfy you"
The result was that an hour later
he was busily ut work in the sick
Stanlcy's place.
81 cannot imagine what we should
have done if Henderson had not come
along" Ashton remarked TO MIR. Sher-
man woek or two later. And he is
worth q dozen Of Stanley. Hos the
best wor ker we have, and you can de-
pend on him every time"
We shall not be obliged to shut
down, then on account of Stanlcys
sickness? | believe I told you we
should probably manage in some way"
replied MIR. Sherman, with a smile.
AS you say, Henderson is doing woll.
am much pleased with him myself"
Time passed. swiftly, and the weeks
grew into months.
Stanley was back again, but Hendcr,
son had made place for himself.
Worth more than all the rest put
togethcr,' Ashton often sud. Never
had anybody take holE SO before and
be so Thoroughly reIi4ble. But i'm
frce to confess | don'Uwant anything
to do with him out Of business hours
1t Is well | don't, for you can't g ct him
to stir from that little 10xI2 room al
Mrs. Dole's on any pretext. Why on
earth doesn't he go round and have a
good time ?"
Ashton fairly growlcd in his vcxa-
tion. Mr.. Sherman looked troubled
He, too, had tried to make it pleasant
for Henderson. He had taken strong
liking to him, and his faithfulness in
business had won his respect.
He invited him to his home, and
tried to have him become acquainted
with some young people of his own
age, but to all invitations Henderson
replied politely, but firmly, in the
negative.
Five years passed, and, impossible
as it may seem, Henderson had not an
acquaintance in town, except those
he had made at his boarding place and
among his business associates, and
these found him utterly inaccessible
save with regard to business matters
Mr.. Shcrmans only son, Roy, had
taken an unaccOuntablc f3ncJ to his
fathers grave clerk. Two people
could hardly be more unlike than they.
Roy was q pleasure-loving youth, witt
neither tastC nor inclination for bust
ness Of any sort. One would never
think Of his caring to consort with
one who seemed to have 20 other ain
in life than business bu' rIr once he
did.
"Bother it all, Henderson," he sait
impatiently one day, whom for the hun
drcdth time his invitation to join some
frolic WAS refused, "you may be al
high and mighty as you please, but
will have my way yet. never per
sisted in anything SO before. The Pate
is quite encouraged He says | have
got some stamina, after all. Whether
| have or not, I've taken a. fancy tt
you, ana | want you for my friend
Pm not going to give up until yo'
are"
81 am your friend now," rcplic
Henderson, with moro feeling than h
had ever shown before.
"Then come up to the house t(
night, like good fellow"
81 can't Sherman, truly ! can
now, but perhaps | will sometime.
Wltn tnLt, WnlCn was MOI encourage
mont than he had ever had before
toy was compelled to be content.
twas not long after this that q chang
IN henderson was apparent to eve
the most casual observer.
" ne grew ter years younger in or
night" Ashton affirmed ''I shoul
hardly know that he was the Same fe
low, and l actually saw him at the CO..
cert last night. ] hope he won't 6
and lose his head, and be good f
nothing at business !"
" Ashton" said Mr.. Sherman, lang,
ingly, "was there ever q time vile
yon weren't worried about somethino
Here yOu have been fretting becan
Henderson was so gloomy and wouidr
go anywhere, and now that he
Frightening up you are fretting {
that. DO be satisfied for once ana n
prognosticatc evil"
"Woll, you know yourself, Mr. She
man, that folks are very apt to 90 fro
ono extreme to the other"
"No, ! don't, not when ono has
good Lowell head like Henderson. s
cheer up our right hand isn't goil
H., Co., IL