Evening star., 1897-03-13

| quite fathomed Sartwelrs somewhat grim
| style Cf humor.
| The four houses that had been leased.
| to form a temporary annex to the works
| during the erection of the new wing, were
! kept on, and never in the long history of
| the firm was so much profitable business
| done nor so large dividend declared as
! during the months that followed the com
| pletion of the new building. The firm had
| good cause to be grateful to its manager.
Both Monkton and Hope recognized that
| their constantly increasing prosperity was
due to this resoute, self-reliant man. and
they rewarded him as capitalists usually
reward those who serve them well. Not
only was his already large salary increased,
without any demand on his part. but, when
the business was formed Into a private
limited-liability company. they allotted him
a block of stock of the nominal value Of
a thousand pounds. the income from which.
, should the welfare of the company con-
| tinue at its then level. would be sufficient
to make Sartwell independent for life:
and at the first meeting Of the new board
he was made managing director.
This meeting took place little more than
a year after the new wing had been open
ed. and Sartwell. addressing his fellow
directors said:
Il am not good at returning thanks-by
words. at least; but. as you know. 1 shall
try to make the stock you have given me
good investment for the new company.
1t might seem, under the circumstances,
| that ought to be well content: yet human
nature Is hard to satisfy, and 1 am about
| to ask for further powers. / want un-
cerstanding that am to have free hand
in case we should have another strike. 1
| also want the power OF increasing the
! wages of the men-not to exceed. say. 10
! per cent-at any time. without the neces-
| sity Of consulting the board
''Why?" asked Mopkton. The board can
| be conveLed at any moment
''As matter Of fact it cannot BY your
| articles of association there must be seven
| days clear notice, and the object OF the
| meeting must be stated when the call Is
made. Now it may become necessary to
| act at once, and l want the power to do
| So
Surely. there Is no danger of another
| strike. said Mr.. Hope anxiously. The
| men had such a severe lesson"
| "A lesson lasts the workingman just so
| long his belly is empty. and rarely in
| nuences him after his first full meal. The
| union is already working up to a demand
J for increased wages. Times are good, and
! they know 1t. We must face an increase
| of wages and / want that increase to
| come voluntarily from the company. and
not under compulsion. You may depend
| upon me to do nothing rash. but 1 want
| the power to announce such increase at
| any moment"
The power to act promptly was given
! him, and he was assured that, in the event
of another strike. the whole strength Of the
company would be behind him. but he was
| besought by Mr.. Hope to avoid trouble If 1t
| were possible to do
After the meeting Sartwell went down to
| a long walk on the breezy downs.
We'll grille" ne said, after telling her
| Of the firms generosity, you are an heir
ess now on small scale. 1 have made
| over that thousand pounds to you. and,
| as 1t Is really worth ten thousand. think
| 1t is a good deal of money for little girl
like you to accumulate before she comes
Of age"
But I'm not going to accept 1t, father"'
cried Edna; 'I'n make 1t all over to you
again."
Then we shall play battledore and shut
| tlecock with the stock. 1 generally have
| my own way. Edna, you may as well
give In gracefully to the inevitable Be-
sides. this comes as sort of windfan: 1
| penny poorer than l was a month ago
| I've laid by a bit Of money in my time, and
| have at last got rid of a fear that has
| haunted me all my lfe--the fear of a pow
such deep. satisfying breaths of this splen-
| did air from the sea- Gray hair came, Ed
ma. before the goal was in sight, but it's
| in sight now, my girl"
I'm so glad, father" she said, drawing
| down his head and kissing him.
Then you will take the windfall. Edna?'
| Il Will take 1t on one condition, father"
| And what is the one condition.,
| THAT II ever do anything you disap-
prove Of you will let me give it back to
| you"
The girl was gazing Tar out at the line
| where the blue sky and the bluer sea met
Her father glanced at her sharply for q
moment.
Put into English, what does that mean,
| Edna?"
You never can tell what O woman will
do. you know"
! Granted. my dear. But you're not a
| woman: you're merely my little GIRL
The little girl sighed.
| old sometimes"
"Oh. we all do at eighteen. Walt I'LL
you're forty; then you Will know what real
youth is. If you were a boy now. instead
Of being . girl, you would have serious
doubts about the existence Of the Deity
| and the most gloomy ideas regarding man.
kind generally. Why should / disapproye
| Of anything you dor
"Oh. ! don't know. Mother always pre-
diets that our stubborn Wills will cross
some time. and"
"Of course. Of course. And false proph-
cts shall arise. Don't let that trouble you.
Edna. II our Wills become seriously op-
L NE vii her h. lcs..x