A RISE FOR HILL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 469, 29 May 1912, Page 7

A RISE FOR HILL.

FOR WHICH HE IS INDEBTED TG HIS FELLOW CLERKS. This story has several morals. Also, it has three heroes, a heroine, an eccentric philanthropist, and a score of supernumeraries of too little importance, so far as _ this incident is concerned, to be mentioned by name. The heroes are Mr. Harris, Mr. Harper, and Mr. Hillthe heroine is, or was, Miss Balsam. The eccentric philanthropist is Mr. Warren. So much for the introduction ; now for the story Harris, Harper, and Hill work for Mr. Warren. On September 1 last the three young men held an important interview with their employer. "What do you want ?" said Mr. Warren to Mr. Harris. "A rise," said Harris. '"'And you ?" to Harper. "A rise." "And you V f to Hill. "A rise." "Can't have it," said Mr. Warren "You get 25 dollars a week now." "I know we do," said Harris,, "but that ain't enough. We are worth more than that. We want 30 dollars." "'Too much," said Mr. Warren. "Still I do not wish to discourage you. You are worthy young men, and I like you. I do not wish to leave you without hope. I will increase your salary on one condition. If you get married I will pay you 30 dollars a week." Harris, Harper, and Hill turned pale. "Married ?" they said. "'This is very sudden. We must have time to think."

They retired into an adjoining room and thought. After due deliberation they reported their decision. "Sir," said they, "we refuse to accept prosperity on such onerous terms. Twenty-five dollars a week, according to our calculation, will go further for one than 30 dollars for two. We prefer positive to potential evils. We will not get married." Then Harris, Harper, and Hill v, r cnt back to their desks and continued to work for 25 dollars a week, always bearing in mind the opportunity for advancement should they care to purchase promotion at such a cost.

Harris, Harper, and Hill are good friends. Usually they lunch together. Last Monday that amicable arrangement would have been satisfactory to Harris a nd Harper, but when they got ready to leave the office and looked around for Hill they found that he had already gone. They saw him at the restaurant, but they did

not join him. Hill was not alone. Miss Balsam sat opposite. Miss Balsam beamed upon Hill, and Hill beamed upon Miss Balsam. They were happy. Harris and Harper were not happy ; they were envious. "Ungrateful dog," said Harris. "So that's why he left us ? He has treated us most shabbily. But we'll get even. We'll have revenge." Ho called the waitress.

'"Jennie," he said, "do you see our friend over there ? Well, he has deserted us. He's married." "Married?" said Jennie. "Sure?"' "Sure," said Harris. "Married last night. My friend and I were at the wedding. Weren't we, Ben ?" "Uh huh," grunted Harper.

"'You don't say," said Jennie. "Was it a church wedding ? I hope so. I do love church weddings. They are so swell and so awfully solemn." "No," said Harris, "this was not a church wedding. It was just a home affair, but it was swell enough and solemn enough, just the same. Go and tell the rest of the girls the old chap is married. It'll make him

(eeL good tor yon to tauo :-omo notice ,of him." Jennie told the other the other girls told the proprietor, the proprietor told the patrons, and the patrons told each other, it was an exciting time. Everybody looked, everybody talked. "See the bride and groom," they said. "Don't they look nice." But Hill and Miss Balsam did not look nice. They were too red for that. They heard, they saw, they blushed, they felt very uncomfortable. Also they looked very silly ; nevertheless they talked earnestly. Harris and Harper tried to make out what they said, but they could hsar nothing. However, they found out all about that next day. Early on Tuesday morning Hill engaged Mr. Warren in an animated conversation. "Sir*" said he, "I want my 30 dollars a week." "Married?" said Mr. Warren. - "'Yes, sir." "When ?" "Yesterday."

"Good," said Mr. Warren. "I am glad. I am an advocate of domestic tranquility. I like a man who has lome ties. I shall do well by you. You deserve more than 30 dollars a week. You have set a good example. [ will promote you. Times are hard, Dut you shall have 40 dollars a week with the prospect q£ 50 dollars the first of the year." Harris and Harper nearly fainted. When they came to, Harris asked "Say, Hill, were you married at lunch time yesterday ?" "Not on your life," said Hill. "Hadn't thought of it then. Little »irl just come down from Worcester to spend the day. You put the notion into our heads. Congratulations you know, and gossip and dishes of rice and wedding cake. _ Seemed like the real thing. Little girl awfully nice. Known her long time. Liko each other tremendously. " 'Why not ?' says I. " 'Why not ?' says she. "So we did. All due to you. Thanks awfully."

"Good Lord," said Harper. "Good Lord," said Harris. Harper addressed Mr. Warren timorously. "Sir," said he, "are there any more jobs of the same kind where this came from ?"

"No," said Mr. Warren, "no more promotions in sight. Even if you two fellows should get married now you'd have to peg along on the 25 dollars basis."

"Forty dollars, you know," mused Hill, maliciously, "and the little girl's old man was so delighted that

tie planked down 1000 dollars in cash as a wedding present." "Good Lord,"> said Harris and Harper again.—New-York "Times."