St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1899-04-22
On His Dignity

A RE YOU GOING M 10 town +o-day

Ai9 ou Bo3L4S uEIO Town Today
II papa?" asked Muriel Kennard
| addressing her father as they sat a
| the breakfast table on this crisp an,
sunny September morning.
No, dear, have several matters tt
attend to here; the estate accounts ane
T so forth, which will occupy me for tn,
greater part of the day."
How is your new secretary get
| ting on?f she inquired, after a short
| pause.
Hes not a fool, but he seems tc
have a somewhat inflated opinion OF
his own Importance
Mr.. Kennard was tall, masterful-
looking man, with keen dark eyes and
= 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
too self-asserTIyr@ Ieee1.e.-4d and a +rifa
position. After all, secretary is only
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-1ooking young man
with keen, blue eyes and dark, curly
hair, was hard at work.
s'Haye you finished that statement
relative to the rental averages" he
asked in a snappish tone, as ne seated
himself at his table and proceeded to
glance at sundry documents which the
secretary had placed before him.
mot yets Mr.. Kennard. Youonly gave
It to me last night, you know, and il
| 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
E.farys pale face, and, looking steadily
at his employer, Ire said in voice, VI
bratine with. suppressed Indignation;
.tIr. Kennard, I must really ask you te
E.aesist from treating me in this fash
ion. am desirous of doing my duty
/ but--'a
| | go on with your: work, sir! How
| dare you attempt to handy words witt
I me?''
Il really cannot put up with this sor
of treatment any longer" replied II th'
secretary, emphatically. 4 have peel
| 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 shal
| not have the satisfaction of giving M
| notice, young man. You shall go, sl1
/ and at once. The idea of a paltr.
| fellow such. as you, a man in recelp
/ of two pounds a week, and not wort
4 even that, daring to-"
AT that instant Muriel Kennard en-
| tered the room and an expression Q
pain and regret clouded her face q
her teyes fell upon the-two men.
eThis precious secretary Of mine
'f,MIfriel. continued the banker, turnini I
to his daughter, wishes TO reyersesou
positions. He thinks he knows the dr
ties Of an employer better than / do, $
I have. -. -gss
: "I merely resented, and now resent
Mr.. Kennard, your gratuitously insuh
ing treatment of me" said the secrt
tary, in tone of firm and manly Pre-
test.
Miss Kennard hurriedly retreate
from the room. evidently much di:
tressed by the painful scene.
You quite understand that after K
day your services will not be neede
here?. continued the banker, addres!
ing Gerald Hope, who had quietly r
sumed his work at table at the oppt
site side of the room.
The secretary bowed. and with
snort of petulance and impotence b
irritable and overbearing employe
Quilted The room.
/ Gerald Hope blamed himself fc
!. what had occurred, feeling that if 1
had taken an earlier opportunity I
! protesting against Mr.. Kennard s offel
sive bearing. he might have succeeds