Year: 1865

sW eston, SAID MIR. Dayton 10 ohe VI h'e
clerks, as they were alone in the spacious
counting room which was attached to the large
store of which Mr.. d. was proprietor, give
me leave to say do not think you dress suf-
fciently genteel to appear clerk to a fashion,
able store


A deep flush suffused the face of the young
man, and in spite of his endeavors to repress
it, tear glistencd in his full black eye. Did
not know your salary was sufficient to pro-
cure more genteel habiliments, would in
crease it,


My salary IS amply large, SIR replied
Weston, with q modified air. but with that
proud independence of feeling which even
poverty had not been able to divest him.


.Oblgc me, then, by changing your appa-
rel, and presenting a different appearance in
the future. You arc wanted in the store
Western turned and left his employer, who
muttered to himself as he took up the paper.
How dctcst these parsimonious fellows


Mr.. DAYTON was q man of immense wealth.
He was widower and had but one child, a
daughter, who was the pride of his declining
wears. She was good as an angel,
and as beautiful as she was good
She was simple in her taste and appearance.
|
first became an intimate friend at her fat her $
house, and what wonder that he soon learned
to love her with deep and ardent affection.
Though their tongues never gave utterance to
what their hearts felt, yet the language OF
her eyes was not to be mistaken. Weston
was the very soul of honor, and although he
perceived with pleasure that he must not be
dtistasteful to her, still he felt he must conquer
tide passion that glowed in his heart.


/ must not win her heart he said to him
self. Il am penniless, and her father would
not consent to our union Thus reasoned,
and thus he manfully cndeavored to subdue
what he considered all ill-atcd passion


Laura had many suitors, and some of them
were worthy of her, but sue refused them all
with gentle yet decisive frmness.


Her father was in the decline of life, and
wished 10 see her happily settled ere he de-
parted from this world. 1t was not long be-
fore he surmised that young Weston was the
cause of her Indifference to others The
pleasure in which she took in hearing him
praised the blush which mantled her face
when their eyes met, served to convince the
old gentleman that they took more than a
common interest in each other. He foreborc
to make any remark on the subject, and was
not so displeased at the thought as Weston
imagined he would be.


Weston May had now been three years in
his employ. Mr.. Dayton knew nothing of
his family, but his strict integrity, good NOR
ais, and pleasing manners, conspired to make
him esteemed. He placed unbounded conf
dence in him and was very proud of him
He wished him to dress as well as others.
| a,al 81, ne 10
wardrobe-for although Weston dressed with
the most scrupulous regard to neatness, his
clothes were almost threadbare, which old MIR.
Dayton thought proceeded from niggardly
disposition, and, addressed him on the SUBJ
ject as before related.


Soon after this conversation Mr.. Dayton
left home on business. As he was riding
through pretty village he alighted at the
door Of cottage and requested drink Of
water. The mistress, with an easy politeness
which told that she had not always been the
humble cottager, invited him to enter. He
complied and a scene of poverty and neat
nsss met his gaze which he had never before
witnessed. The furniture consisted Of moth
ing more than was actually necessary, was SC
clean and neat that that it cast an air of COM
fort around A venerable old man sat at the
window with his staff in his hand. His
; clothes we're old and so patched that they
seemed counterpart of Joseph's coat Of
many colors.


This is your father, I presume said be-
addressing her:


1T is, SIR


He seems quite aged


He is in his eighty third year, and has
survived all his children but myself.


Have you always resided here 2"


No sir my husband was once wealthy
bu. endorsing ruined him, and we were re
duced to this state. He soon after died, ant
two of his children followed him.
Have you any children living?'


'One, sir, who is my only support. Ny
own health is so feeble that | cannot d.
much, and father being blind and deaf need
great deal of attention. My son will no
tell me how much his salary is, but I am sur
he sends me nearly all Of it,


Then he is not at home 2


mo. sir; he is clerk in New York
8 'Indeedl Pray what is his name?
E Weston May


Weston May Is it possible? Why be i
my clerk l left him in charge Of my stor'
, two weeks ago.


Explanations followed, and Mr.. Daytol
left, promising her to call some other time