The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-28
BERTHE BHNCE,s BANK HOLIDAY

man. When his uncle. Thomas Bance,
prosperous surveyor and house agent I'm the
west End. had proposed to take him, al the
age of twenty into his Office, it had seemed
TO be an excellent opening for him. And
so indeed. as regards his ultimate pros
poets. it was. for the old mans business
was a valuable one, and there was every
hope that BERTHE would eventually succeed
TO it, But in the meanwhie-and a very
long meanwhile it looked like beihg-Bertie
simply occupied the position OF a clerk in
the office at a by no means extravagant
salary which. even after the lapse of two
or three years, his uncle made no offer to
increase; and Berthe was too much AFRAID
Of offending his relative to dare TO ask for
a raise.
II the old gentleman had. made up for
shabby pecIniary treatment by behaving to
Rim nicely in other ways BERTHE would not
have minded so much. But the reverse was
the case. Thomas Bance was by nature a
cross grained, disagreeable, exacting man,
the aversion of every subordinate in the
Office. and on BERTHE more than the others
perhaps because of his relationship--he
seemed to take a special delight in venting
bis III humors. Nor was this confined to
business hours. BERTHE had the misfortune
this was part of the arrangement-to live
deuce was over his offices; and many an
evening, when he wished to be out enjoying
himself, was the young man kept at over
time work without overtime pay), to his
huge annoyance and disgust.
NOW, among his churlish relatives many
amiable idiosyncrasies has to be mentioned
a particular prejudice against holidays-es-
pecially bank holidays. He hated them and
was wont to inveigh against them in the
angriest and most venomous terms Why
had the act that created these abominable
carnivais of drunkenness and riot ever been
allowed 10 pass? Why should business men
be fned-yes. fined, by Jove, for that was
what it came toto the tuIe of four whole
working days profit in the year for the
benefit of their already overpampered en-
Iloyes? 1t was d piece of rank robbery
OF downright democratic despotism, etc.
lie himself always made point of spend
ing bank holidays in his Office and he would
doubtless have compelled his clerks to do
the same had he not known that he would
never have kept them, nor. indeed, any 9TH
ers, upon such conditions
For two or three years BERTHE had his bank
holidays like the other clerks lie mad come
10 look forward to them immensely, more
perhaps, than the majority of black-coated
slaves in London. And one of the causes
that made them so delightful to him was
Amy Warren. Who was Amy Warren?
Amy Warren was girl, a very pretty and
charming girl OF nineteen, who had inspired
IN Bertie a giande passion. In fact he wor-
shped her with all the devotion of his
Warm-hearted nature, and it was the darling
onJect or his existence to make her his
"lle. Beftle had cousin. girl cousin
sh! these girl cousinsl what ministe ring
Angels they arctic whom he had confided
The secret of his attachment. She promised
10 ald ana abet his amorouS passion. She
kept her word. On every available oppor-
lunity, but Invariably on bank holidays. she
got up little party for some picnic or ex-
Cursion, in which BERTHE and Amy always
happened to be included.
These We're days of intoxicating delight to
Bertle. he hoped that Amy found them
equally agreeable. But he did not know.
The fact is. he had not yet dared to ask
her. Indeed, 1t was difficult for man earn
lls such a pittance as he enjoyed to be
orcrtns marriage to a girl like Amy, accus-
toned as she was to every comfort and re-
Hhemeht; mis- diffiulty had tied his tongue
for nearly two years. But at last he had
MADE up his mind that he must speak out
This was only few days before the
august bank holiday. BERTHE had received
the usual invitation from his cousin to
make one OF a party on the approaching
holiday, with the intimation that Amy War
rem was to be included. The sender of the
invitation also was clearly of opinion that
II was high time for BERTHE to declare him
SER. Tor at the end of her note she had
added this significant postscript:
lie either fears his fate too much, etc., ETC.
Berue's heart jumped when he read the
words. Did they imply that his cousin had
ascertained that Amy loved him? Perhaps
Amy had even made a confidante of his
cousin Girls. he believed, often did make
conndantes of other girls about their love
aiatrS. There was more sympathy among
Elrls than among men in these matters At
any rate his cousin was right. 1t was high
time he spoke to Amy. He would make the
opportunity to do so at the forthcoming
picnic. If she loved him, she would not
mind his poverty; she would be content to
walt If she did not love him-well the
eooner this suspense and uncertainty were
over the better. Yes. he would follow the
advice contained in the etc, etc. of the
postscript
But fat has troublesome way of inter
Ierlng with our best and most sensible re-
~ h; =. AT me last mlnute Fate, in the shape
OF ms churIlsh Uncle Thomas, interfered
with BERTHE Banee's. On Sunday evening. at
supper. the elder man said to his nephew,
win disagreeable grin:
! hope you have not made any engage
ments for tomorrow. Herbert
W ell. yes ! have" replied BERTHE. "I
party Of friends" ' @
That's a pity. Herbert" rejoned his
j was evident from his tone. as well as
from his expression. that Bance was in one
OF -. ms 8 most els dlS;aagreeahle humors.
pause. that ] must ask YOU to cancel This
engagement. Herbert"
tori impossible s u l was the quick re-
tort made this engagement weeks ago
cannot disappoint my friends"
on! said Thomas Rance with an un-
peasant smile. But I'm afraid you will
have 10 do so. Herbert"
- But why? Tomorrow is bank holiday
1ou cannot want me for any business mr.
poses. And besides" f
But | dc want you for business mr.
roses. Now, listen to me, please Herbert
The work of the office. as YOU know IS
somewhat in arrears. / object to having the
work of my office in arrears Herbert And
! propose that YOU and / should spend To-
morrow-a convenient day, when we shall
De exempt from the calls of clients-in win
Ing the bulk of those arrears Off
Really. uncle" protested BERTHE s'this is
utterly HnreaSona bic. tt
4 am sorry you think so. Herbert" was
the sardonic rejoinder: for I mean to have
my way in this matter. You will. If Won
ard" -
Il can't. uncle
Can't Is strong word. Herbert You
must remember. sir. that your future pros
poets depend on your deserving nv good
W. | do not wish to threaten: but I tell
You distinctly that if you do go out to-
morrow, in the face of my wishes. YOU need
not trouble TO come back again at ali 10
my Office. There That will do. l do not pro-
pose 10 argue. My mind is quite made iip -
Having thus delivered himself Thomas
bdnce rose from the table and left the
room, smiling at his nephew a malicious
Parthian smile.
me young man was. naturally In a state
OF extreme chagrin and indignation Had
there been any reasonable grounds for maxi
n \ H.