Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-07-29
The Awakening

passing hold upon old Wheelock.
Seldom had the office force expert
enced two such nerve-racking. trying
weeks. Naturally a spirit of consci-
entiOus application to business per
meated the outer office atmosphere
each time a step or the erealklns of
the inner office chair became audible
to the industrious subordinates.
Frank is late again." whisper ed
the invoice clerk to Enslie as he
passed him the ledger.
I'm afraid it's a hopeless case, re-
piled Enslie. Il stopped In on my
way home last night; she's pretty
low"
A step was heard In the outer cor.
ridor; the door Of the office opened
and Garside stepped in Just at the
moment when old Wheelock's form
appeared, watch in hand. on the thres-
hold of his private office. Il needed
but a glance of the busy clerks to dis
cern the impending storm. and Frank
iRvOluntarily turned toward his SUI
perior with a look which would have
penetrated the heart Of the average
man. But the look faded from his
face and his hand reached out for sup
port as he met the managers gaze.
Let this be the last time. young
man, If you appreciate your position.
I'll stand for no excuses" as Frank
stammered out two or three inaudi-
BILE words.
Somehow Enslie and his fellow
workers imagined themselves trans
planted to some alien land The hum
drum of business life had for many
years been co-ordinated with congen-
ial companionship between manager
and stan. The familiarity which
breeds the proverbial contempt was
utterly lacking in the friendly rela-
tions which existed between the work
ers and their superior.
Since Morley's sudden transfer
away from an Office wherein he had
been familiar figure for nearly eight
years, a new epoch seemed TO have
begun. inaugurating a reign of uneasi-
ness and even trepidRtion lest the
boss" should become angry at this
or that mistake unconsciously made
by the unsuspecting clerk
Mankind seeks ready vent for its
displeasure. Hence Wheelock, who
had twice accidentally discovered Car
side coming into the office half hour
late. poured upon this unfortunate in
dividual the sourness OF a temper
acidulated by weeks Of chafing discon-
tent
Garside, on the other hand, buried
his feelings beneath an exterior which
lily concealed the perturbations of
spirit sorely tried. His wife had been
wasting away for months. The mea'
gre pittance which obviously had been
named his income" barely suf1ced to
meet the expenses which a sick wife
and a seven months old infant neees-
STATED.
Under ordinary circumstances he
could have explained the cause of his
tardiness to old Wheelock, but the lat
ter's temper, exploding as 1t did each
time the former had been guilty Of
transgression, forced him 20 keep his
own counsel and suffer each incident
to pass of as best 1t may.
Garside's chair held no occupant
late that afternoon. The boys spoke
in hushed undertones which strangely
contrasted with the raspy tones which
emanated from beyond the sacred in
closure"
A subscription paper had gone the
rounds, and Enslie had even ventuIed
to risk old Wheelock's wrath by send
ing il through the various workshops,
from whence 1t had been returned,
grimy, indeed. but bearing the tokens
of many benevolent hearts which had
quickly responded to the needs OF a
distressed fellow being.
And now he was determined to
beard the lion in his den. But his
resolution failed him as he approached
the forbidding door, and he returned
to his accounts after carefully placing
the crumpled paper in the drawer be-
fore him.
A few moments later a golden op-
portunity presented itsek in the shape
Of a telephone call which took the
manager down into the sample room.
Enslie, awake to the opportunity.
slipped quickly into the inner office
and placed the soiled slip OF papei
upon the pad of old Wheelock's desk
and as quickly returned to his labors.
The hour was late when old
Wheelock returned The office had
been deserted save for the ianitor's as
sistant, who was busily engaged In his
daily task.
A few stray beams from the fnst
disappearing sun played upon the
daintily-framed photo which stood
upon the old mans desk. He paused
q moment in his reflections; and the
sunshine penetrated his soul as his
eyes gazed upon the features Of the
wife whom he so dearly loved.
He unconsciously raised the photo
to his lips, when his eyes suddenly
fell upon the grimy paper before him.
The spark OF reborn love was kind
led into flame, and with trembling
hand be raised the crumpled sheet and
deliberately scanned It's contents.
Poor. unfortunate fellow The
| soliloquy was suddenly interrupted by
the busy scratching OF a pen. The
check book was replaced IN the draw
er. A note bearing only these four
words. with my sincerest sympathy"
was placed. with the check, into a
dainty envelope, the envelope sealed
and addressed. and old Wheelcck
arose. beauty born of benevolence IL
Illuminating his countenanee, and he
had come into his own again.-MRa
] EMMY A BRACK.