WEALTH WITHOUT WINGS. 89

 

“Pleasantly enough, I will own,”’ was answered ;
“as to the profit—if you mean in a money sense—
there is not much to boast of.”

‘“¢ You are still with Melleville ?”

“Yen;*

“¢ At what salary ?”’

‘Five hundred.”

‘Ts that all? How much family have you ?”

‘Three children; or, I might say four ; but the
fourth brings us three hundred @ollars a year for
her maintenance.”’

‘‘' That is something.” ‘

“Oh yes. It is quite a help.”’

“By the way, Edward—the new store we just
past reminds me of it—your old friend Jasper has
just given one of his clerks, named Parker, an in-
terest in his business.”

“So I am aware.”

“‘ Jasper is doing first-rate.”

‘“‘ He is making money, I believe.”

“Coining it. The fact is, Edward, you never
should have left him. Had you kept that situation,
you would have been the partner now. And,
by the way, there was rather a strange story afloat
at the time you took it into your head to leave
Jasper.”

“ Ah! what was it ?”’

“Tt is said that you thought him a little too close
in his dealings, and left him on that account. I
hadn’t given you credit for quite so tender a con-
science. How was it, Edward ?”

“T didn’t like his modes of doing business, and,
therefore, left him. So far you heard truly.”

8*