The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-08-21
THE Loss OF HARRIS.
By WIN. S. HoRNER.

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THE Loss OF HARRIS.
BIZ WIN. s. HoRNER.
The natural inference from the fact
that Henry Braidwood wore a small
shoe and large hat was more than
justified by his business success. al
though the impression of keen firm
ness made by his cleft chin and shrewd
eye was not always SO fully borne out
in his face-to-face dealings with his
fellow man. On paper, or through
his subordinates, he was as hard as
nails; but in personal intercourse
whether through the goodness of his
heart or on account of his digestion
he was generous and easy going.
1t was this last trait, perhaps, that
was responsible for his neglect to
mark the fact that Harris, his corre-
spondence clerk, was past master in
the art Of doing the least amount Of
work possible while continuing to re-
tain both his job and the good. will of
his employer. Conformably, under
the influence of the clerks subtly in
gratiating manner, Braidwood had
grown accustomed to accept good ex-
cuses as good reasons for delin-
quency.
Still, it cannot be denied that the
death of ones wife Is good reason
for requesting a leave of absence.
And thus it was that Braidwood. on
that particular June morning, received
Harris's doleful-visaged solicitation
for four days exemption from duty.
IT am indeed sorry for you, Harris,
and of course / will make 1t conven-
lent to get along. Do not come
back for week-we will manage
here"
'sYou are very kind, sir; but I'll
be back at my desk on Saturday morn
ing. I dom needa week the funeral
Is to be on Friday at 2 O'Clock, if-if
can manage it," answered Harris,
furtively wiping his eyes.
The way In which the mans voice
broke during the utterance of the last
words moved Braidwood to look up
quickly.
Perhaps small advance on your
salary would be an accommodation at
this timer" he said considerably.
THANK you kindly, sir. ] do
need money-very badly indeed"
said Harris, still plying his handker-
chief. "I've got to raise forty dol
lars more-though how, God knows, :"
he added, his broken voice and bowed
head testifying to the reality of his
need.
Braidwood could not resist such an
appeal.
II will loan you the money" he
said. "You may pay it back when
and as you are able.''
A moment later, amid many effu-
sive protestations of gratitude-and
of early repayment-Harris, one hand
still holding a handkerchief to his
eyes, the other tightly gripping the
money, backed his way out of the
Office. Braidwood again turned to
his desk, with the sense of inward
well-being that comes to one who
has acted beneyolently, and, in the
pressure of business, he promptly for
got his clerk and his clerks grief.
1t was not until Friday morning,
three davs later. that the subject re-
Cured to him, and then only incl
dentally. He was to run out on Long
Island after lunch on that day, to
join a weekend party. This was
the prompting for his stop, on his
way to business, at florists, for the
purchase Of a propitiatory Offering
such an oblation implying, in the
present case, a shrine and a divinity.
A psychologist might explain how,
through the association of ideas, the
flowers suggested the divinity; the
divinity, matrimony; matrimony,
married life; married life, its terrui-
nation by death and death, the
funeral of Harris's wife. No part of
this chain of reasoning, however,
passed through Braidwood' S conscious
thought; it simply occurred to him
that to send few flowers would show
a kindly spirit toward his afflicted
employee. So it was that he invest.
ed moderate amount in an appro-
priately lettered floral piece, which,
in his ignorance of Harris's address,
he ordered delivered at his own Office,
thinking to send it by the porter.
It was not until the two boxes of
flowers were brought to his desk,
shortly before noon, that he again
thought of the matter.
Here" be called to one of the
clerks, ''give these flowers to the
porter, and have him take them to
Harris's house, wherever that is.
Let him start at once, for the funeral
is at o'clock this afternoon"
"I am sorry, sir, hut the porter is
out on an errand, and won't be back
till after I o'clock. l am afraid it
will be too late for him to reach the
place in time; Harris lives out on
Elmfeld street."
Braidwood studied moment.
"Never mind" he said, ct will
take them myself; 1t Is not so far out
of my way. Mark the address on the
package and give it to my chauffeur. "
1t was nearing o'clock when
Braidwood's car drew up in front of
the Harris domicile, and Braidwood,