Evening journal., 1898-12-23
HONEST GINGLY.
BY oPIE READ.
s'F''aRP'P'VH'E1'N,RN''''''Tp'Nssps

|
! n lNGLY had lost his job, and had
III begun 10 feel anxious. He had
come from the country and fora time
had been successful, that is as an nc-
eountant he had found work; but times
tightened. lie accepted regular en-
ployment at a small salary aud was
enabled to live, going back TO the coun-
try once in awhile to dazzle the eyes
Of his former associates. uewas some
times called Honest Gingly," not be-
cause he had ever done anything 10
stamp him as honest but because he
had failed TO make a success of himself,
which went far toward proving that be
must be honest He remarked one day
TO his employer in the city that in the
village he was known as Honest Cling
| ly," and after that he was viewed with
suspicion; and when the time came for
cutting down. he was told 10 90. lie
argued that il would be better not 10
return TO the village. Our home folks"
have great contempt for the failure OF
one of their set. They have II told
you so" on the ends of their wise
tongues; and village wisdom rips like
asaw. So Gingly decided not to return
until he could go with the appearance
of success. lie remembered that some
philosopher, had said that to keep up
appearances was a part of success, so
he left his cheap boarding house and
went to hotel, having money enough
to Aeep him there nearly three weeks.
He sat about the Office. falling about
big financial deals the prospect of
rise in wheat. and the honors that had
f5llen upon the great flag of his coun-
try.
"Are you on the board ?" man asked
one night.
well, no, not at present And then
remembered that he was once called
Honest Gingly," and rejecting that
It was well 10 be truthful along with
his honesty, he added: II say not at
present, but the fact is, never was on
the board"
"Then let me give you q piece Of ad-
vice, young fellow" said the man.
/ Don't talk so big Of greni deals
"Why not?"
"Well, IL might stand in your way in
the event you wanted to get situation.
Men would take You for a'gainbler"
Gingly thought over this and agreed
that the man had given him good nd.
vice. And now. instead OF talking
finance he talked labor. Money that
was not worked for had no value. Tho
great middle class was the backbone Of
/ nation. Spain had no backbone be-
cause she had no middle class.
by the way" said man one even
ing, ''you are n laborer. take IT."
'No, not exactly that" Gingly re-
piled, "but work whenever l have any
thing to do"
"Wen. if were you I'd stop talking
labor"
"Why SOP"
"Well, in case you were looking for
= employment it would go against you.
Men don't want 10 employ labor agi-
r tators."
Gingly believed that the man told
the truth, but he felt resentment, and
turning upon him demanded petulant-
lly; "But what the deuce can fellow
talk about?"
'Well. l dSn't know exactly
D wouldn't like 10 lay down rules, but ii
strikes me that to do less talking would
a be better for you"
This was another truth that could
c not be denied. So Gingly sat about the
Office, saying not a word. And one
S night he overheard man talking to the
clerk
p "Who is that fellow that sits about
and never says a word?"
"Oh, that fellow? His name is Cling
e ly.@
HAS he got any sense?"
= Smart enough for his purpose.
guess"
h But what is his purpose?"
"Well. you'll have to ask him
: When the young fellow went up Il
bed he thought over all his ups and
e downs. of all that had been said 10 him
and about him. and was not long in
reaching the conclusion that be was .
y fool. But he was still honest. That
= was some consolation. The principal
81 merchant in his village had called him
honest, and that mans word was as
n good as commercial paper, Still he
could not take 1t down to the clerk and
ie settle for board with il. He grew rest
less and could not sleep. He thought oi
Is girl in his native village, a sweet crea
/. ture who had an all-abiding faith "a
70 him. And she had expressed her will
q ingness to live in a fat, and she was tt
come 10 the city to select the furniture
" he groaned as he thought Of this. HI
saw the light from the front dool
e cleaning in her hair as she leaned upoi
the gate TO catch his last sweet word
2 Now he must tell her that there WA
TO be no fiat yet awhile. And the yillag'
d. paper had limited that he was soon e
come after her. II was a great joke
this hint Of the village paper. The boy
!