The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-01-02

hneW even MI. BURTON duu MI. lIoS
themselves might have been glad to
receive. The only solution he could
imagine was that. as he had been the
shipping clerk who had had charge
of the packing of many costly articles
for the Ware mansion, this might be
meant as a token of appreciation for
his services-but this explanation
vas anything but satisfactory.
However, he presented himself at
the Ware mansion at the time APP
pointed, and was ushered into a large
room that was already filled with
guests. Mrs. Thorndyke Ware re-
ceived him g~raciously, but, as he
thought. with a slightly surprised ex-
preston on her face; then he drifted
away from one group to another.
At first he felt ditfident and out Of
place, but as this wore off he found
himself talking with men whose
names he was familiar with as being
leaders in the financial world. And
little by little they began to listen to
him with interest, and then with def
renee. John Williams had not
passed much of his time in idleness,
and, besides thoroughly familiarizing
himself with the various makes and
trade marks and other intricate de-
tails of the goods in which his en-
ployers dealt, he had stored his mind
with a vast fund Of miscellaneous in
formation. And it so happened hat
rare and unique makes of earthen-
ware was just now the subject in
which the fashionable world was in
terested.
But as the evening wore away his
face began to look puzzled, then
questioning, then grave. At last he
made his way across the room to his
hostess.
81 am glad you have come" she
said. while the guests were arriv-
ing I could only just bid you well
come. Now, how is Agnes and how
are your sisters?'
ut is about them 1 wish to speak,"
he said, bluntly. MI. Ware asked
me if my people were well, and one
of your daughters just asked me ii
my sisters were coming to the city
soon. Now. I am alone in the world,
My mother has been dead ten years,
and | never had any sisters. There
has been a mistake"
Aren't you John Williams, at Bur
ton & True's?!"
"Yes."
She looked puzzled.
us there another clerk of the same
name in the establishments"
Not that I know of. There are sew
eral Williamses, but I do not think any
of them are named John"
ut is curious. Agnes Williams
wrote me that her son was coming to
the city to engage with Burton &
True, and that she hoped I would look
after him a little. She is an old school
friend of mine. I thought that you APP
peared rather older than her son
could be-"
We'll. my being here is a mistake"
he said, gravely. But you must allow
me to thank you, Mrs. Ware, for the
p~leasantest evening of my life. 1 will
go now. I am sorry for the person
whose place Ihave usurped, but I can
not help being a little glad on my own
account. It has given me something
to think about and hasshown me there
more sides to life than a narrow
minded man sometimes sees"
But, really, you must not go until
the end of the evening"" Mrs. Ware in
terposed, pleasantly. ct has been a
mistake, certainly; but I hope you will
not make that a reason for leaving us"
He shook his head. =
Il would better co. he answered.
Il do not like to take advantage of mis-
When he saw the new man come in
next morning he left his desk with
sudden presentiment of the truth.
What did you say your name wasp"
civilians, sir"
"John?"
eyes; John Williams
"H'm!"
Il am Mr.. Burton's nephew" the new
man continued, blandly, 'and am
learning The routine of each depart
ment, with a view of entering the firm
IN January. I would have told you this
Yesterday if you had given me an OBJ
p%ortunity. But lam afraid Ishall have
to ask you to excuse me from handling
the heavy boxes. I am not particu-
larly robust, and must content myself
with the lighter work."
every WELL"
Head of Department Williams creed
to view the world as a huge ma
chine, of which he and his fellow
clerks were cogs. Emotion of any kind
vas looked down upon by him as un-
so now he turned stoical-
y to his desk, and his copy clerk
bought he had merely been giving
ONE orders to the new man.
But all through the day there was a
PECULIAR light in the matter-of-fact
yes of the chief, and when he went to
us boarding house that night he did
lot turn to his books, as usual, but
gazing out across the twinkling {
lghts OF the great city, thinking. {
In the main Office a few weeks later
VIZ. Burton suddenly laid down his !
ZEN. y
ktr 4gaseH .9.NaH. fUreh =