Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-01-22
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Jo"i %Shoidcter, ana L Know you to be
a truly honorable and reliable man. 7
nave not beer unmindful Of your faith
ful services, nor am | indisposed to
reward them. l am getting old; I am
now e~ighty-four years of age, and.
In the ordinary course of events. T
cannot live much longer. Since nv
dear son died l have been entirely
alone In the world. What l want to
say is this: l wish to give you full
charge of the store; l will take YOU
into partnership, and you can have
one-half of the profits. All 1 ask is
that you take me into your family, for
L am weary Of living alone. When 1
die | shall leave you all l possess, in
Guiding an insurance on my life of
twenty thousand dollars. Does that
suit you?"
Mr.. Alden, who knew his clerk well,
was not surprised that he did not
speak; 1t was, indeed, and he knew it,
a most alluring prospect. Josiah was
so stunned that he could not speak
coherently. Through his mind rushed
a picture Of his past life; how he had
always pinched and calculated to make
both ends meet; the continual whirl
about money, which had become so
much Of a second nature that he
scarcely noticed it, but which, in his
retrospective glance, under the bright
illumination Of this magnificent offer,
weighed on his spirits like a pail.
What! He an equal partner in the
firm! He an equal sharer in the profits!
He the heir of Mr.. Alden! 1t seemed
Incredible.
well, Josiah, what say your?
He reused himself and said:
81 don't know what to say, the Of
fer is so unexpected and undeserved.
l have never done more than my duty,
and why you should be so generous
l do not know; really 1 do not know
what to say or do"
There is nothing you need say, Jo-
siah, and but one thing to do-allow
me to have my own way. My decision
is not a thing Of the moment; 1 have
thought of it long and often. The store
does not pay very much-about four
thousand dollars a year-still it has
enabled me to lay up a snug fortune,
and to place upon my life an insur-
ance of twenty thousand dollars"
Josiah listened to the old mans talk
only with external application; he I'M
derstood what was said, but each word
conjured up a picture. At first his
mind did not wander beyond the year
" income of two thousand dollars; this
sun. in contrast with his beggarly
fifteen dollars a week, seemed mex
haustible. He thought of the many
things he could do now. Maria, his
wife. should have a silk dress, ana
should rest from the labor which had
been wearing her out. Martha, his
Oldest daughter, should have the wish
of her life granted, and should study
music. Alfred should go to college;
the other children should have their
dresses when they grew up-and ne
oh, he would get a new coat!
With such roseate pictures did the
tvo thousand dollars fill his thoughts;
but when he allowed his mind to con-
template the time when he should pos
sess Mr.. Alden's entire fortune, it af-
fected him as a flash of lightning does
the eye.
"Well. JOSIAH" said Mr.. Alden, let
us 90 and have the partnership papers
drawn up; then, as it is your birth
dov. Won can take a holiday, some
thing YOU have not had in many
years."
"Just as you say, sir" said JOSIAH
meekly. -
Soon the business was transacted
Josiah signing all the papers In a
dazed manner, unconscious Of their
contents. Then he fastened home FOR
he was anxious to conide to some one
the 10y that filed his heart; and 70
whom more properly than to her VINO