Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1878 — JOHN, JUN. [ARTICLE]

JOHN, JUN.

John Basil Ximines, Greek merchant, 'of Mincing Lane, London, was in trouble. Not financial trouble, for the old house stood on a firm foundation; and no one knew this better than Sam Postlethwaite, confidential bookkeeper of the firm, and the trusted friend of the Greek merchant. Therefore, when he saw John Basil in so anxious a mood, he resolved to know and to share his annoyance. “Master,” he said, “you’re in trouble. What is it?” “John, Jun.,” was the prompt reply. “ He takes no interest in the business, and if he comes to the office, grumbles and blunders till we are glad to see him leave things. You know it is so, Sam.” “John, Jun.,wants'an object to work for, sir. If he thought the firm was in trouble now, he would be full of energy and interest. No doubt of it, sir.” “ He has lost interest in everything; hunting, yachting, shooting, travel, everything is a bore.” “Any ladyinthe easeP” “There is a governess at Sir Thomas Oakes’l don’t like—a tall girl with red hair, and a wonderful figure and color.” Why don’t you like herP” “She is poor; beside, John is to marry Leanora Zeiton. I bought the estate with that view. The two united will make the finest in Middlesex. You can put them together in a ring-fence.” “ If you have told John, Jun., this, he will never marry her.” “ I have said nothing to John yet. Zeiton and I have talked over the matter, but tho girl Leanora is yet at school.”

“The two men sat thoughtfully a few minutes, and then Sam Postlethwaite made an astounding proposal. “John Basil,” he said, decidedly, “if you wish to make a man of your son, give up the business to him awhile. You so to Zante for a year or two, and let im feel his feet. Put him in your place. I will see no harm comes either to him or the business. Drop a few hard words about Zeiton before you go; it may help your plans for Leanora.” And naif an hour’s further conversation made the old clerk’s plans clear to the father. That night he said to his son, “John, there are serious changes in hand. I must go to Zante, and the business in Mincing Lane will need your severest attention and industry. It is a great charge for a young man, but Sam says I may trustjou.” John rose at once to the occasion: “To be sure you may trust me, father. If the old house of Ximines is in danger, I will work for it night and day.” “John, thank you. You make me very happy and-hopeful. If We tidethings over this year, we may not only keep our standing, but also add greatly to our influence. And, John, don’t let this placo run down. I don’t want Zeiton to get the better of me in this matter; but don’t have anything to do with them —nothing whatever.” John readily promised. The next day his father left for Greece, and he went at once to the front in the daily fighti n Mincing Lane. He was a man suret o fail and weary in small routines, but n whom great trusts developed great resources and untiring energy; and Sara made him believe that the very existence of the house of Ximines depended upon his personal oversight and influence. It was about a year after his father’s departure for Zante that Sam said, one warm evening in June, “Mr. John, you had better run down to the country and see after the place. A change will do you good, and now that you have got the better of Zeiton about those olives, there is nothing pressing for a week.”

So John wentto the country, resolved to lie and dream under the blossoming lilacs, and throw all care away. He was fully carrying out this intention one warm, sunny afternoon, when he heard a little stir of oonversation, and the rippling music of girlish laughter. This side of the garden adjoined a little wooded park, through which ran a rapid brook famous for its excellent trout fishing. As it was strictly private ground, he wondered who were the trespassers, and quietly moved aside the foliage to look. The picture that met his view was a very pretty one. Upon a rocky elevation, shaded by a drooping birch, stood a beautiful girl, with a fishing-rod in her hand, and at her feet reclined the splendid-haired woman whom he had known as governess to the daughters of Sir Thomas Oakes. She was reading, while her charge whipped the babbling waters with a grace and skill John, Jun., had never seen equalled. John looked and wondered and admired. He knew the governess, and had one? been half in love with her beauty, but now he thought her hardly wqrth looking at in comparison witn her companion. Who could she be? His recent contact with life had taught him to be prompt and self-reliant, and he soon decided that it would be a very agreeable thing for him to join the ladles upon the rocks. There WM a little wicket further down. He opened it and at once faced thd intruders. There was no retreat for them, even if they had wished bile, butthe-gareroesa was gladto: seedier old admirer. She same to him with outstretched hands, and the little maiden with the fishing-rod stood in beautiful and blushing confusion. Then he heard her name—Leonora Zeiton—and for a moment his father’s charge Hashed across his mind; but in the next he had looked in Leonora’s face and forgotten it. r

bueh «charmed afternoon as that was! John prolonged it by every possible device. He induced the ladies to come into the garden and eat strawberries; then they rambled through the' greenhouses, and got lost in the hazel maze, and forgot the hours were flying, till the governess, in alarm, pointed to her watch, and said there was barely time to reach home before the dinnerbell rung.' Without any definite arrangement, these pleasant meetings occurred every day for a week. John was so deeply in love by this timo that he put Mincing Lade out of his thoughts altogether. He did not write to Sam, and he hoped that Sam would not write to hlriiV at least for a month. But one morning, just eight days after he had met Leanora, there came that disagreeable large blue letter. Sam said s‘ ha ttiust come to Londou at once; everything was needing him; there was an important consignment from Greece, and some Custom-House business which

could not bo managed without his per-1 gonal influence.” This summons, in spite of his disapCtrnent, flattered him very much. let Leattora's governess read it, for John knew that she would talk about It, and he was quite aware that women admire men who carry great trusts, and are at importance in the world. And the governess, in return for the compliment, was very kind that last afternoon to the lovers, so that they found plenty of opportunities to say to each other those few sweet monosyllables that mean so much. In fact, they parted as plighted lovers, and John went back to London with a new sense of Ms own Importance, and a very happy man. Bara looked at kirn quoerly. “The •ountry has done you a deal of good, Mr. John,” he said. “ Yea, Sam; I think I shall run down every Saturday. I found the gardens rather out of order. I can come back Monday.” “Yes, you con,”, answered Sam, doubtfully. The justice of Sam’s “ can” was soon proved. John went to the country very punctually Saturday mornings, but Sam had generally to write an urfent letter Monday or Tuesday to get im back to business again, and at the end of the summer he thought it well to notice this. “ I should think, Mr. John, the gardens are in order now, and I don’t see that you can be spared every week now. Business is very brisk again.” “Sam, I’ll work till midnight if yon wish, but I must go to the country Saturday.” “Then, Mr. John, it is not flowers that is taidng you.” “ Well, Sam, it is not. It is the loveliest little lady in the world—Leanora. Zeiton.” "Mr. John! What ever will your father say P And Old Zeiton! You know how ugly he was about that cargo of currants.”

Next Saturday John went to the country, but he did not see Leonora. Her father had discovered her engagement, and had threatened to send her to a German convent. The governess was full of grief, and could not conceive how Mr. Zeiton had found all out. John remembered Sam—but that was impossible : Sam and Old Zeiton hardly spoke civilly to each other; besides, Sam had professed so much sympathy with Leanora and him. It could not be Sam. But he went back sorrowfully to London, and told Sam that Leanora was to be sent away from him. “ I should not stand it, Mr. John,” said the old clerk; “ I should ask her to many me, and take her away myself.” “But you say the business can’t afford me more than £BOO a year, Sam?” “And if you love each other, and can’t live on £BOO a year, you don’t deserve to live at all. Take a little house in a quiet neighborhood, and ask her to come and share it with you.” Sam’s advice just pleased the eager lover. He was for taking it at once, and Sam did not oppose him, though John might have wondered if he had seen the - face that followed his footsteps. “ The lesson is pretty nearly learned,” he muttered, “It takes an old bachelor like me to bring up a young man properly,” and the good fellow dipped his pen in his ink with a selfsatisfied chuckle. John returned in high spirits. Leanora was an angel, she was willing to be his wife, no matter how humbly they must begin. She was coming to London next day on a visit to her aunt, and would meet him in St Pancras Church next Saturday morning. He would have a special license by that time, and Sam could be witness. Sam said of course he could. But Sam had no idea of doing such a thing. He put on his hat soon after aud went to Alexander Zeiton’s office. The two men did not meet like those who have a chronic quarrel about consignments, but like old friends. They clasped hands, and went together into an inner room, from which soon came sounds of pleasant good-fellowship. Then Sam telegraphed to John Basil Ximines, in Zante, thus: “Send for John, Jun., immediately After this piece of business, Sam was very busy all day, and kept John by -his side. They were eating a late dinner together, When a telegram was brought to Sam, which he quietly passed over to John: “Very important. Mr. John Ximines, Jmi., wanted in Zante at once."

“What am Ito do about Leanora, Sam? What am Ito doP” •< Write to her, and go to Zante at once; there is nothing else to be done.” Sam’s face was so impassive John saw resistance was useless; and indeed Sam was so urgent that be found himself by midnight on the way to Greece. V Very important” his journey might be to the house of Ximines, but very miserable for himself John felt it. Indeed, he was so evidently wretched that his father hurried back to London with bis son as soon as possible. But when they arrived John found that the Zeitons were in France, and would not return till Christmas. There was nothing to do but wait and hope, and he was encouraged by the fact that the houses of Zeiton and Ximines had lately had very large transactions together. Sam drew his attention first to this circumstance, and advised John, Jun., to make a confidant of his father, who oould then ask the old Greek its regular form for the hand of his daughter. This was three days before Christmas, and the letter was sent upon the 28d of December. Before the Ximineses could receive any answer to it, a letter from Zeiton, also dated on the 28<i, came to John “Our lands join, our business is intimately connected; why should not our families be happy together? Come and spend Christmas at Zeiton Hall." The concession, therefore, was as mutual as if it had been so arranged, aud Sam talkeij a great deal about this wonderful unanimity of feeling. But John, Juu., was too happy to have any suspicions, and this happy Christmas visit was only the prelude to that grand wedding which took place three months afterward in St. George’s famous Church, and when the handsome AngloGreek bride and bridegroom wero the theme of every tongue. “ A very suitable wedding, indeed,” said the magnates of Mincing Lane—- “ unites two fine estates ana two old firms.” “ A very handsome, loving couple,” said John Basil to Sam; “ and it is yout doing, old friend.” “ Yes,” said Sam, cheerily, “it is my doing. I have made a good merchant and a good match.”—harper’s Weekly, . ... \ No child can sleep soundly while suffering wJUi Gallo or from Teething. Remove the cause hy, using Dr. Bull's Raby Byrui>. Only 25 cents a bottle. . The right to be nonestr and decent is never taken away from a man..