The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-11-28

thought Rush. 81 never noticed So be- !
fore"
Enoch drew his fingers along the |
desk a few times, and looked carefully |
to see whether they gathered amy dust
"Well," ne sighed. 81 suppose this
had 20 come some time Have you
spoken 20 John about it5'
mo / thought / ought TO speak 10
you first / am going 10 invite him
TO come over to my room al the hotel
81 wish you would be kind enough
to ask John to step here 10 the desk
before he goes But Enochs heart
sank as he saw John coming brislly
toward him.
John" he began, 81 understand that
Mr.. Rush has a very attractive offer
to make TO you to-day. 1 am not try
ing to forestall him or to compete
with him, but / thought that / would
just tell you what It was in my mind
to do. 1 have been looking over the
sales and considering the territory we
have to work In. / think | am justified
in Offering you a salary OF $500 year
1 did think OF saying something TO you
about partnership, but somehow to-day
! feel as if 1 was getting too old for
that, but I could make It easy for you
to take over the whole business in a
few years"
There was 4 wistful look in the old
mans eyes as he laid his wrinkled
hand on Johns shoulder, and his voice
was broken as he continued:
you have been like an own son to
me, John, aud it is hard to think of
having you leave me, but l know there
is a grand future before you, and l
don't want to stand in the way Of your
highest ambitions"
"Mr Rice" said John, eagerly. you
cannot realize how grateful 1 am to
your generous offer! I-I-there is
something else that I want to say to
you, but l win talk with Mr.. Rush
first"
In about an hour Mr.. Rush and John
came back from the hotel. For once in
his life Mr.. Rush looked detected, but
Johns face was glowing.
"Rice," said Rush quickly, this
young man is either a fool or else he
is very wise. In either case you have
my hearty congratulations. The mail
train is due now. I'll be around again
in six weeks"
AS soon as Rush was gone, John
turned to his employer and said very
/ earnestly:
''Mr. Rice, I am not going to leave
you. l am going to stay here in River
dale. You and Mr.. Rush speak about
my ambitions l have had just one am.
/ bition since 1 entered this store, and
! that was to become so successful that
l could begin my home life here in
5 Riverdale with comfort and respect
Now, by your generous offer I can real
e izethat ambition. AS soon as the Oak
e burn place can be put in order, Alice
S and l intend to be married, and We
e shall make our home here among the
S scenes and the people that we love *
1 WELL"
S At that moment Uncle Josiah entered
the store with a broad grin on his face
n and a Boston paper in his hand.
Il Il just happened in to Sherman
e when the noon train come in" he said
y land thinks l, I'll take Johns daily t.
g him, and I just happened to see thi
e piece Of news that 1 guess you're in
terested in"
>. Marked by a grimy thumb-print job
II found this item:
s "Bradfeld, May 27th.-Last night tn
II trustees and faculty of Bradield Acad
envy voted to appoint Miss Alice Ray
e mond as musical director OF the sen
a. mary. The position carries with it
e! large salary. Miss Raymond's success
y as a musician and as a teacher is we
y known"
at John smiled as he said, "They wi
have to find new director as 500
Id as Alice gets my letter"
Mr.. Rice had begun to look anxior
Id again. "Will she--will she be willin
Id to give up such a chance as tina
&c John?"
80 Mr.. Rice, don't you understand
ne 1t was Alice who gave me this ami
tie ton for a happy, useful home 81
has kept my eyes fixed upon it wht
y, 1 was almost discouraged. You Dug
ne to see the plans she has made for bea
ig- tifying the old Oakburn house, al
in she longs to get back to the church al
We take the organ again, and she h
ng plans, too, for doing something f
ay musical culture here, and she has ev,
90 gone so far as to pick out the pla