The Brother Clerks; A Tale of New-Orleans.

every cent I earn; but I'll not have a blight upon my reputation, even in your opinion, sir.'

His words fell upon empty air; for Mr. Delancey had already left the high desk, and was striking his cane heavily down with each step, as he stalked down through the store. Arthur sank upon a chair, and buried his face in his hands.

'A hard fate,' he murmured, bitterly. 'First to suffer the loss, and then to be accused, or at least suspected, of appropriating it. Heavens! it is too much; I will not and cannot stand it.'

'Be calm, Arthur,' said Wilkins, in his full deep tones; 'look up, and tell us what has happened.'

Arthur raised his head, and told his story unhesitatingly.

'This is a bad business, my young friend. I am extremely sorry; but the only way for you is not to mind it. This is Mr. Delancey's way. Intercourse with the world has rendered him suspicious, and you'll never convince him that you don't know something about the money. No one else that knows you will ever think so, though; and you will stand just as high as ever. Yours isn't the first case of this kind.'

'It is too outrageous, Wilkins, and I won't bear it. Do you think I'll tamely submit to be called, or thought, a thief?'

'What can you do? It is useless to talk or feel thus; say nothing, go steadily on, and Delancey himself will forget, after awhile, his suspicions. As to replacing it, I feel that you have been unfortunate through my means, and I will assist you in that.'

'I don't wish you to, thank you, Wilkins. I don't care so much for my money as I do for my good name. To be robbed of it in this manner, is more than I can possibly endure.'

'Let me beg of you to think no more about it. Follow my advice, and all will yet be well.'

Arthur sat moodily down, and gave himself up to thought. He fancied there was no possible way to extricate himself from the difficulty, and that it would be useless to argue with such a man as his employer. With flushed cheek and thoughtful air he rose and took his place behind the counter.

Wilkins watched him anxiously, and then, as though Guly were the elder, instead of the younger brother, he sought him for a consultation. He was busy with a customer, and Wilkins noticed that he was displaying some of Blanche's new work, and wondered whether it was that, or interest in his brother's behalf, which brought such a bright glow to his cheek.

'It is very beautiful,' said the lady who was buying, examining one of the collars closely, 'Very beautiful; is that your lowest, Master Pratt?'

'The very lowest, Madame. I have been gratified in being able to show these articles to you first. They are quite new, and I know how well you like the first choice.'

'No one else, then, has bought from these before?'

'No, Madame.'

'It is high, but I'll take it.'

'Yes, Madame.'

As the lady left the store, Guly turned to Wilkins, with a bright smile:

'You see I have kept my promise to Blanche, and have sold her work to a 'choice customer.''

'I see,' said Wilkins. 'A word with you, Guly.'

Guly stepped toward him.

'Arthur has-'

'Poor Arthur! true enough! how could I forget him; what was the matter, Wilkins? I have been so busy, you know.'

'He has got into sad trouble; I feel very sorry for him; but I can't help him an iota, that I see; it's too bad, I declare.'

Wilkins then gave Guly the details, as far as he knew them, of Arthur's misfortune.

'Well, Mr. Wilkins, this is outrageous!' exclaimed Guly, with a vehemence unusual to him. 'It would require the virtue and forbearance of a saint to bear up under such things. It isn't the money so much, though I'm very sorry he lost it, but it is his good name; to have that sullied, even in thought! It is enough to drive any one to desperation.'

'Don't tell Arthur so, for the world,' said Wilkins, very earnestly.

'No, no, I'll not-can I go to him?'

'Of course.'

'Dear Arthur,' said Guly, beckoning his brother a little one side, 'I know all. You know how I sympathize with you, my brother; but cheer up, we can live through it all; and you will be, in the end, thoroughly acquitted of what Mr. Delancey suspects you of, even in his own heart. The only way to convince him of his error, is to show him by your future course how much such an act would be beneath you.'

'Oh, there's no use, Guly; I never could convince such a flint-hearted man in the world, of my innocence, if he chose to think me guilty. I was horrified at first, but I've thought of it, and thought of it, till I don't care much. It's my fate, I suppose.'

'Don't give up in this way, Arthur; think of your own proud self, of how much depends upon you, of our dear mother, and all that. Don't allow yourself to be crushed.'

'Guly, just think of it-a thief!'

'Only so in the opinion of one who will not reflect upon it long enough to see its utter impossibility.'

'And all this year's labor lost, Guly; and nothing to send home now to mother.'

'We'll try what we can do with my salary, Arthur.'

'Pooh! the whole of it just covers the amount lost; and how are you going to live?'

'Don't give it up so, don't! There is One who will never desert those who trust Him. Remember that, Arthur, and look up.'

'It is my fate to be forced to look down. It is useless for me to try to struggle against it. I can't be otherwise.'

'You are too desponding, Arthur; many a man, now rich and happy, if he could tell his experience in getting so, would no doubt relate a harder life than yours can ever be. This should only serve to make you stronger.'

'If Mr. Delancey was only a different-tempered man, perhaps I could do better. If he had sympathized with me, and assured me kindly of his belief that it was all an accident, oh, I would have felt so differently, so happy in comparison! There is no pleasure in serving such a man; it is only rigid duty, rigidly performed, for one you cannot but hate. He is never so happy as when mixing gall with the honey of one's happiness. I am miserable, Guly, miserable! and I can't rouse myself. I wish I was as meek and forbearing as you are, I could be happier; my pride, my strong unbending pride, has been, and ever will be, my curse.'

Arthur's tones seemed to struggle up so heavily in his sorrow, from his heart's depths, that Guly felt strongly inclined to tell him there were very few, however meek and charitable, who would submit to an insult of this kind quietly; but he remembered his promise to Wilkins, and refrained.

'If I could reason with Mr. Delancey, if he would talk with me as it is his duty to talk with me, I am sure he would think differently upon the matter; but for me to stay here for the ensuing year, as I now am forced to do, whether or no; and for me to feel that every time those cold eyes are turned upon me, they believe themselves to be looking on a thief! Oh, my God! Guly, it is too much!'

Arthur was intensely excited, and the veins in his forehead stood out like cords, so swollen were they, and his face was deeply flushed.

Guly's heart ached for him, and he was trying to think of something which he could say to comfort him, when he was called away by a customer, and, with a kindly pressure upon his brother's hand, he left his side.

Arthur also stepped back to his place; but every attitude he assumed, every changing expression of his handsome face, told the restless misery of that young heart, and the crushing weight upon that lofty spirit.

Guly waited anxiously for night to come, that he might talk to, and try to encourage, Arthur. When the lamps were lighted, and the customers had gradually thinned out, he was about to cross over and speak to him. To his surprise he saw that his place was vacant, and he was nowhere to be seen. A sharp pang went through the boy's heart, succeeded by a sickening faintness; and he leaned against the counter for support, filled with undefined fears of sorrow, and danger, and unhappiness.

With a blush at his apparently causeless emotion, he stepped to the clerk who always stood next to Arthur, and inquired if he knew where he had gone.

'No,' the young man said; 'he went out about half an hour ago, and Mr. Quirk was with him.'