The Winslow mail., 1899-05-13
On His Dignity
4 RE you going up to town to-day,
~ DaDa?" asked Muriel KenDard

A RE you going up to town to-day
~ papa?" asked Muriel Kennard
addressing her father as they sat at
the breakfast table on this crisp and
sunny September morning.
NO, dear. have several matters to
attend to here; the estate accounts and
so forth. which will occupy me for the
greater part of the day"
How is your new secretary get
ting on?" she inquired, after short
pause.
Hes not fool, but he seems to
have somewhat inflated opinion OF
his own Importance"
Mr.. kennard was a tall, masterful-
looking man, with keen dark eyes and
Il hard and severe type of face. Fifty
five years of age, the banker. for that
was Mr.. Kennard's profession, still pre-
served the hale and vigorous appear
ance of comparatively young man.
us his manner Objectionable, then,
papa?" she asked, as she rose from
the table.
Yes, it's Objectionable in the sense
that he is rather off-hand and a trifie
too self-assertive for a person of his
position. After all. a secretary is only
a clerk. and clerks must be kept jn
their proper place"
In a few minutes the banker left the
breakfast room and went to the IL
brary, where his secretary, Mr.. Hope,
frank and refnedlooking young man
with keen, blue eyes and dark, curly
hair. was hard at work.
Have you finished that statement
relative to the rental averages?" he
asked in snappish tone, as he seated
himself at his table and proceeded 10
glance at sundry documents which the
secretary had placed before him.
Not yet, Mr. Kennard. You only gave
il to me last night, you know. and it
will take several hours to finish"
Nonsense! a junior clerk in my
bank would get through it in an hour.
You really must bestir yourself little
if you wish to remain here. Get on
with that settlement at once. Do you
understand? At once!"
An angry flush mounted the secre-
tary's pale face, and, looking steadily
at his employer, he said in voice, Vi
brating with suppressed Indignation:
"Mr. Kennard, must really ask you to
desist from treating me in this fash
ion. / am desirous of doing my duty,
but"
''Go on with your work, sir! How
dare you attempt to handy words wit h
me?"
II really cannot put up with this sort
of treatment any longer" replied the
secretary, emphatically. Il have been
here month. and have patiently sub
mitted to your bullying and browbeat-
ing airs, but"
But" angrily interrupted the bank
er, as he started to his feet, you shall
not have the satisfaction of giving me
notice, young man. You shall go, sir,
and at once. The idea of a paltry
fellow such as you, 4 man in receipt
Of two pounds a week. and not worth
even that, daring to"
At that instant Muriel kennard en-
tered the room and an expression of
pain and regret clouded her face as
her eyes fell upon the two men.
This precious secretary of mine.
Muriel." continued the banker. turning
TO his daughter, !''wishes TO reverse our
positions. lie thinks he knows the du-
ties of an employer better than do, so
! have"
ST merely resented, and now re esent,
Mr.. Kennard, your gratuitously insult
ing treatment of me-" said the secre-
tary, in a tone of firm and manly pro-
fest.
Miss Kennard hurriedly retreated
from the room. evidsntly much dis
tressed by the painful scene.
"You quite understand that after to-
here?" continued the banker address
ing Gerald Hope, who had quietly re-
sumed his work at table at the oppo-
site side of the room.
The secretary bowed, and with a
snort of petuanee and impatience his
Quilted the room.
GCss,d Hope blamed himself for
what had occurred, feeling that if he
had taken an earlier opportunity of
protesting against Mr.. Kennard's often
sive bearing. he might have succeeded
in bringing the choleric gentleman tc
his senses.
In the evening, when the secretary
was on the point of leaving to return to
his lodgings in Kelverton, small VII
lage in the neighborhood, Mr.. Kennard
entered the room and handed him q
check for eight pounds, saying: That
I terminates all business transactions
between up, And now take my advice
] cultivate a roSnpnffnl affif Id &