Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-12-27
Hard Luck
BY W. Bert Foster.


HNJ oW. that's what call a down
IN right shame" exclaimed Milton
Hartley, to his fellow-clerk, Ned steele
cold Royes has more cheek than gave
him credit for. To think of his asking
Won 10 teach that young nephew OF ms
The business. which means your walk.
ing ticket sure, as soon as he learns
/ wouldn't do i'll"
at is rather hard luck, replied Ned
his voice trembling little lie knows
inst how much l need the money; ana
even If he were going to discharge me-
he needn't have asked me to spend
fortnight or more teaching Charlie
Page an / know about the work.
ITS taking the bread right out OF
vour mouth" said the older clerk, in
dignantly. young Page don't need it
either. III were you. Ned, I'd skip, and
LET the old man teach his nephew him
self. No one can do your work as you
do il, anyway
81 shall be on the lookout for another
lob. Works pretty scarce, you know
and it's hard enough living on six dol
lars a week now"
"You're right, Ned. ] don't see no"
YOU do it. Why, l can't live hall de
cent on $50 month, and I've no one
TO look after but myself"
"Yet mother and Nan and have got
along very well so far, and probably
theren be way opened" said Ned
cbeerfullv. as he turned to his desk.
"Well. you're a wonder to me, NUT
tered Milton.
Young Hartley could not, and prob
ably never would, understand the mean
ing of economy. He spent all he had
and found that far from enough, al
though his income was twice that OF
Ned Steele.
Hartley was head clerk when Ned en-
tered the employ of Bowes & Co, nearly
a wear before. and Ned had taken what
the BOYS call "a shine" TO the flashily'
dressed and careless young man of the
world. Not that Ned was led into the
the certainly questionable company in
which Milton Hartley shone; but he
admired from a distance.
Their lives were entirely different
and always would be, Ned told himself
He had mother and little sister &c
help support. and such pleasures as his
fellow-clerk INDUCED in we're not fol-
him.
Hard Iuckl that's what 1t is" he
thought, as he leaned over his books.
Only that noon Mr.. Bowes had called
his youngest clerk into the private Of
fee, and shooting a piercing glance
over his gold-bowed spectaeles at Ned
as was his habit when talking, said
sternly:
"Mr. Steele, my nephew, Charles
Page, will be here next Monday morn
ing, and / wish you 10 teach him yom
work thoroughly. I intend to max,
some changes here shortly. That is
az"
That was all; but IL meant everything
| to Ned-more than he had even let Nil
ton know; and now, as he bent low ovei
the page Of his ledger. two great tear
/ splashed down on the neat rows of FIG
ures. and he dashed his hand across hi
eyes, and bit his lip in vexation at thi
little weakness.
lizard luckl" he muttered. as he wen
home TO supper; and it was yer,
grave Ned Steele that entered the liz
tie house that evening.
When little Nan had been put 20 bee
Ned told his mother the bad news. an
received the comfort that kind. Chri.
tian mother always has for her boy.
keep up your courage, my son, sh
said. as Ned kissed her good nigh
maybe good will come out Of you
hard luck
! Il wish could think so, replied Ne,
True 10 promise, Mr.. Bowes intr,
/. duced Charlie Page into the Office n
: following Monday morning, and il ";
well he did. for Milton did not nal
his appearance all day, and even
J ~green hand was some help.
Mr. BoWes went about with a IA.
, like a thunder-cloud, and il vas MOI
the less dark when Milton came in u
next day, as cool and placid as ever. NJ
: Bowes' sharpest repriman6 never mi
fed the serenity Of his head clerk.
Charlie Page and Ned had been scho
; friends before Ned's father died: b
d Charles warmth Of friendship "
considerably chilled by his Ole scho,
mates very apparent coldness
n wonder what ID can b. tla'
changed Ned =" unused Charlie, e