Our Novelettes.

Western Star, Issue 1055, 12 June 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

Our Novelettes.

THE EIGHT EORTY-EIVE. no _llj — ■s+J. — •' ■.. i"'"'■•<>' "<'''' « ' LONDON TBUTH."' -" !; ; '■' , Everybody oubside. the offico ofJonabhan Groysark &, Co., East Inda morcbants, of Rood-Jane City, knew Mr Greysark simply as a very well-to do bachelor of five and forty—, fresh-faced, well'dressed, genial and aflabloas a man, tolerably .well fitted out withbhe good things of this life, and unhampered'by ties and encumbrances should be. Bub Mr Phillip Penn, whose days were passed within the office, regarded his wealthy and popular employer from a different point of view. Mr Penn had, by his steadiness and business knowledge,, in ,no email degree . helped Jonathan Greysark to his enviable ppsi'ion in the commercial world; he had served the house faithfully for 'upwards of twenty years, yet he was still simply a Clerk, in which posi-, tion, despite frequent prayers and petitions, Mr Grey sark was apparently determined to keep himi until the time came for dispensing entirely with his services. Altogether, poor Penn's life was by no means a happy one,'for, in addition' to, hid ! oammeroial troubles, Ihe had an eternally, grinning domestic skeleton,; in the shape .of a blackguard brother, who; had stood in 'the felon's dock on a charge of. extensive forgery, had passed many years in I prison, and who now could only be kept in the background by the allowance which the unfortunate Penn made him out of the exceedingly moderate allowance which he drew from the Rood-lane office. ' Greysark knew this, and was also aware that' a tarnished name was an almost insuperable bar to his clerk's advance in any other line of life, so he meanly took advantage: of the fact, by getting a most unfair amount of work out of Penn, anil paying him a miserably inadequate salary for it. ."7 i; '- : :■-? "

I Jonathan Greysark lived : at -Brighton, and ; came up to town every-morning! by the 8.45. express. In;; (this famous train he had acquired from long usage a prescriptive right to a particular seat in a particular compartment of a particular carriage, and the guard suffered a considerable reduction in his weekly largesse if) he allowed a stranger to Usurp this place. -■, •;.;,. a 'i'Pdi ■•■- ' li ■■■ft '" ! '■;■••'» ■ . But the, iold, guard ".having .been shunted elsewhere, and a new official who knew not Jonathan having been substituted,'it so happened that one-morning Greysark, his' rug on his arm and his paper, on his band, swaggered gravely and magisterially up to the carriage, only to find; his'., particular compartment—and, in fact his very seat~occupied. Under: ordinary circumstances he would have resent-! ed this unwarrantable intrusion in an unmistakable manner; but upon this occasion, as the occupant was a pretty, mode.sllyrdreßsed: girl of eighteen, or thereabouts, he could,only! vent his ifeelings by grunts and scowls', ahdj betake himself to another seat. But when, the next morning, he found his place suriilarly,occupied,' his!position became,somewhat embarrassing, and only the { girl's pleasant face'checked audible expression of his d«'conteht." The same' thing,occurred thei morning after, and the morningatter that, and/the young 8.45. bucks, who, of course, regarded the affair,as a capital joke, remarked that the great man,' instead of ramping and'raging away to another carriage, not only contentedly went into the same one, but passed a much greater part, of the hour and a quarter's journey in looking at the"girl over' the top of his newspaper than in studying' the city article;; In a fortnight's time it-was observed' .that he handed her out> carried her little par-; eels, and,saw hersafelyjinJOi an omnibus for the Mansion House"j and 'ih.three weeks' time it'was 'noted that he chatted as easily and { familiarly with her'as if -he' ] had known her ;• foryears. h il< o »aw oii :!•■>! hi . "vr:' ! . I.- In shortj it becameiivery evident that, the; .wealthy bachelor of Bopd-lane was enamoured, .of the young lady.' When his attentions first became marked, she assumed the proper' attitude of unprotected virtue, and confined; •her answers to rather ourt monosyllables; but' when her feminine perspicuity assured her that her admirers behaviour wap inspired by the most honourable intentions, she unbent and told him that her name Was Phyllis, that she was a student at the South Kensington School of Art, and thjfc she resided at Brighton withheraunt. . . , "Miss Phyllis/' said Greysark one morning,. as they walked along the London-bridge platform, "as some sort of assurance that"l only; entertain the most genuine feelings of respect and —and admiration for you, X; think I! should mention that my name is Greysark, that I am the head of one of the most respected houses in the city of London, and that, 1 as i I am quits aware that an acquaintance of this casual nature is apt to give rise to erroneous impressions in the minds of people who only i judge by appearances, with your permission,; nothing would give me greater pleasure than to call upon your aunt in Brighton." - At the mention of the name Greysark, the girl's colour deepened somewhat, and she raised her eyes to his faoe for a few seconds. Then she said: • <,' . •• I am sure my aunt will be delighted to make your acquaintance, Mr Greysark."' Accordingly on the following Sunday, Mr Greysark, instead of performing his usual weekly duty to; society by an afternoon lounge on the Green, betook, himself to Begency'; Bquare, and was ushered iuto the presence of j a smiling, grey-haired lady, whio might have stepped from an ancestral picture frame, and who received him with the stately urbanity of a courtier of the old, school. Being a man of business, Jonathan Greysark lost no time in heating about the bush, but plunged at once in medias res, described the origin of his acquaintance with Phyllis, expressed, himself in such happy language, blew his own trumpet in such a pleasant, unassuming manner, declared his devotion in such fervid phrases, in -fact, put;' matters before the old lady in such an attractive light, that she was completely won over. •

''Of course, Mr Greysark," she said, ia reply, "as,l am .only...the girl's aunt, I have no direct authority in the, matter. But if Phyllis regards your suit as favourably as I do, I can only recommend that you should address a letter to her father in London, state the case as you have.stated it to me, and abide by his decision." '' Bu,t it is an extraordinary phase of our acquaintance," said the merchant, " that I do not know your neice's surname yet." Perhaps the old lady was struck by the .strangeness of the avowal, but at any rate Bhe hesitated a moment, seemed a,little confused, and then replied t " Her name is Fleming, Mr Grojßarkj a letter addressed to Mr Eobert Fleming and given to mo will ensure its safo : despatch"; '' .; ' ' ; :; "But Would it hot bo better for me to call upon Mr Fleming myself ?" said Greysark. "My business experience has taught me that one personal interview is worth' a dozen letters/' " So it ia, as a general rule, Mr Greysark," replied the old lady. "But Mr Fleming's movements are bo uncertain,' his business taking him bo frequently away from home, that the course I have suggested would, I think, be the better." After a little general conversation, Mr Greysark took' his leave, resolved that he would without delay formally propose to Phyllis, and if her answer, should be favourI able, who had not tlje slightest reason to'

doubt it would be, indite his letter to Mr Fleming. . . Accordingly, the next morning, on arrival at London bridge, instead of handing Phyllis into a MansionjHouse omnibus, ,as usual, he insisted that she should walk there with him. And, by the time they had reached King William's statue, he had poured out bis soul to her, and received her: ready assent : to his proposal, conditional upon the approval of her father. ~,,(, .. ~.

One or two little circumstances connected with his visit to Regency square, on the previous day, Btruck Jonathan Greysark as being curious, as he sat in his room at the office playing listlessly with the heap, of unopened letters before him.. Of course he had observed the old lady's hesitation in giving the name of Fleming; and her suggestion that the letter should be , forwarded through her instead of to rai direct address seemed rather unusual. Perhaps Flemiug was -a; strange sort of a man—under a cloud or of eccentric habits. At any rate, Phyllis was a lady,'as was her aunt; the- "surroundings of the room, in Regency square showed refinement, if-flob opulence j and* although - money-with a. : wife was no object with him, he preferred that the: lady honoured by his choice shpu'd, nob be an utter stranger to the style/of life to which asj Mrs Greysark she would be introduced. He j himself was in a state of anxiety, to which hej had long been a stranger. Tuesaay.'We'dnes-j day,Thursday passed,.and'no answer from! the mysterious Mr Fleming arrived. 5 Pe»«j haps the old lady had''forgotten to forward his missive. Old ladies, so strangely' mindful' of long-past occurences, were, he knew; often, oblivious about matters present. . Perhaps—but he shuddered at the thought, and cast it from him—for Phyllis was too good, too honest, too much of a lady, to be so base and: cruel; on the other hand possibly Mr Fleming was instituting inquiries.. It was natural that an affectionate father should do so, an 1 every time Penn brought in a visitor's name he expected to hear "Mr Robert Fleming," announced- On < the -Friday' afternoon he; called in MrPerin, " Kindly shut the door," he said, " I have something. of | importance to speak to you | about.",,,. ~:.,' .-..,■.■.■.,. •-'•,£:■•; Mr Penh obeyed, and aox'ously inspected his employer's face. , "Mr Penn," ; began the merchant,"with a preliminary; clearing of the throat, " you have been^ ll my,service now for some years, and you have given me very . general. satisfaotipn in the performance" of, your duties." ". j P.inn's face 'brightened. !! Certainly a rise, in salary was coming, perhapß'sdmeihing more: substantial. j But all was dashedjto the ground: with the firsb word of bhe gi eat mana nexb sentence.,/.' , • •,; ■ ~-, ;',''!' " But," continued Greysark, "lhave been: thinking the mattter over very seriously late-i ly, and I have arrived at bhe painful: conclusion that!must dispense with your services; at the expiration of a month from this date." ; : The poor clerk gasped and clutched the: table for support, and would have spoken,! but for a' magisterial wave of Mr ! Greysark's hand. • '•■■■' '■•■ ; ... .; ,';".' .'"'•' . - : ' ;; ' !

Vlt is very evident to me,", continued bis; employer, that some fresh, blood is. needed in! .this business. In fact, I propose to take a; partner, and by so acting to do away with the necessity of paying a handsome salary to a head clerk." . ■ ;: ; ;.-! '.■■'■ ■.■'< • ii.-Ht] '

■ ", Mr Greysark !','.almost shrieked poor Penn. "Do hear mo. I have helped you.to make this business. I have been- in this office fori "more'than twenty" years. You ' have never once had cause to find fault iwith -me; and I : may conscientiously, say that I have never; once givenyou occasion itp. ; Jft» more than; one reason I am precluded from the possibility of getting 1 another ''situation.' My name, as; you kiibw] is 'against me/ and people would object tome on thß ground: that I had- a brother who had .. been in the j pojiqe.. dock ; : moreover, I am not fitted'; to, .occupy, .a clerk's desk in any other bhsiness. , Think, sirjj thinkl sir, I iihplore you to think.', With.bhe 1 word you are turning ah honest matWiitd the> street to: beg, for.no faultiofJ his lown. Ido not wish to push myself forward .unduly, Mr Greysark, but at such a crisis,as.this I am forced to remind you that, but for, ine jph ttight possibly' not' have found'business matters-work so smoothly as they have. s If: you discharge me with the notion of intro-' ducing now blood into the business you -will; have to—j >,'o :■;.;, .• .; j. ■ ; J ; I'/' ■ j i *' Mr Penn," interrupted the merchant, with; a wave of the hand, "we must in this world' be men of business firet and humanitarians afterwards. I have given your case my fullest: consideration, and, in acknowledgment of your services, as well as. by way of compensation, I propose to make you; a weekly allowance until you can get employment,, but that-you must go I have made up mind. You will, please,'make no further observations upon the decision at which I have, arrived, or 1 shall be obliged to request you to leave ray j presence. I think it but fair to tell you, however, that the principal reason for my deciding to take a partner is that 1 am going to be married'—that is, when the consent of the young lady's father has been obtained.'? ..." Well, sir," said the clerk," of, all periods in life, surely the eve of marriage should most naturally inspire kind actions. You are about to make yourself as happy as a human, being can possibly be, yet you wish to inaugurate that period by reducing co want and ruin an old and tried servant. I know you too well, sir—or, rather, I think too well of you--not Jto be sure that if you oarry out this latter intentbn your conscience must prick you in after life." "Mr Penn," said Greysark, severely>" I told you not to bandy words with me, so let me hear no more. ,1 am now going to Brighton. Do not omit to forward all letters to my address there. You will please be particular in this. I must say, Mr Penn, that I am not a little surprised that, remembering, as you must, what I have done for you, and how with your tarnished name you might long ere this have beeu begging for your bread, but for me, you should presume to offer me advice on my- own affairs. But I will say no more." ; The clerk lingered on in the room, as if in hopes that some straw might still be left to clutch at. Then he said;" Mr Greysark, you observed just now that the fact of your marriage depended on the onsent of the young lady's father ?'* ' " Thosa were my words, Mr Penn," said the merchant.

"Ifhe should refuse his consent f Baid Penn.

"Eofuse! Mr Penn! refuse!" exclaimed Greyßark. " Such a thing is simply impossible, simply too ridiculous to be entertained for a moment. The head of the house of Jonathan Greysark & Co., I should imagine, was a fit match for any one." " So you may think, sir," said Penn, quietly, " but fathers sometimes hold strange opinions." " Mr Penn, you are insolent,,sir!" almost roared the merchant, rising ia his chair, and glaring at hie dark with furious eyes. Penn lumbled in his pockets, and continued, still quietly: "Well, sir in this case the fathers opinion does happen to differ from yours; and ho refuses his sanction to his daughter's marriage" Jonathan Greysark started from his chair, hisiaco perfectly livid, his eyes and mouth wide opened. Penn drew forth a letter from his pocket, unfolded it,. find as if utterly unconscious of the storm ha had ritisedj resumed i

" YbU : have addressed this' 'letter'ld Mr Robert Fleming, the father of Phyllis, the young lady to whom you have been paying your addresses. J, for family reasons with which you are ..quite familiar, prefer to be known in my circle of acquaintance as Robert/ Fleming. Phyllis is my daughter, and I re . WII o?i-l /}}:'&*'[&>'> i:::-./-

";No! no! don?t go oh l*'j shouted Gceysark in a voice of supplication. ' : ••'; r, j, if. ._ , ,* *, ,#;;, * " * ,""* ! In the course of a few. weeks Phyllis Pcnn became Mrs 1 Jonathan Greysark, and the' style of the firm in Roodlane was altered to Greysark, Penn & Co. .: 'v... ;;>