The Southern herald., 1899-04-28
On His Dignity
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n papa?" asked Muriel Kennard,
addressing her father as they sat at
the breakfast table on this crisp and
sunny September morning.
mo, 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 OnP' she inquired, after a short
pause.
Hes not a fool, but he seems to
have somewhat inflated opinion Of
his own importance"
Mr. Kennard was tall, masterful-
looking man, with keen dark eyes and
a 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.
'Is 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 trile
too self-assertive for a person of his
position. After all, secretary is only
a clerk, and clerks must be kept in
their proper place."
In a few minutes the banker left the
breakfast room and went to the IL
brary, where his secretary, Mr.. Hope,
a frank and refned-looking 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 snappsh tone, as he seated
himself at his table and proceeded 10
glance at sundry documents which the
secretary had placed before him.
"Not yetp Mr.. Kennard. You only gave
it TO me last night, you know, and it
will take several hours to finish.'
Nonsense! 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. l am desirous of doing my duty,
but"
"Go on with your work, sir! How
dare you attempt to handy words with
me?"
Il really cannot put up with this sort
of treatment any longer" replied the
secretary, emphatically. II have been
here a 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, 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. He thinks he knows the du-
ties of an employer better than I do, so
| have"
II merely resented, and Inow resent, !
Mr.. Kennard, your gratuitously insult
ing treatment Of me-" said the secre-
tary, in a tone of firm and manly pro-
test
Miss Kennard hurriedly retreated |
from the room, evidently much dis
tressed by the painful scene,
"You quite understand that after to-
day your services will not be needed
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 petulance and impatience his
irritable and overbearing employer
quilted the room.
Gerald Hope blamed himself for
what had occurred, feeling that if he
bad taken an earlier opportunity Of
protesting against Mr. Kennard's often.
Sive bearing, he might have succeeded