Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-03-13
Select StO9'y.
mark MERIDEM.

Come, Mark Meriden don't settle down
into an old grandfather before your time-a
pretty wi1es pretty thing, Mark, and a pretty
house is pretty thing, but hang it! one must
have little Of life! %
Mark Meriden stood at his desk, giving a
last look at his books, while Ben Sanford
the roguish, the merry the song-singing, the
Ben of all Bens, was thus urging on him the
claims of projected frolic that evening Now,
Ben was precisely the messenger for such an
embassy. There was fun in the magic twinkle
Of his blue eyes, and world of waggery in the
turn OF his head, and pair Of broad roguish
dmples that went merriiy in and out OF his
cheeks every time he spoke, and he laid hold
Of Mark arm to drag him away. But Mark
shook off his hand, and finished summing up
column of figures, put the blotting paper into
the book, and the book into it's place, wiped
his pen, and, at last, turning to Ben, said:
. [ think [ won't 60 this time |"
'Now, why not?' said Ben eagerly.
"Becausse-because, " said Mark smilingly,
"because have an odd fancy that [ should
like the pleasure of Mrs Meriden's company
better this evening.
Hang Mrs. Meriden-beg pardon, Marx
hang myself for saying so-but one don't like
to see fine fellow like you buried alive!-
come take Il real wake up with u.s.
''Thank you, Ben, but haven't been asleep,
and don't need to. So III go home and see
my wife, " and thereat he turned resolute step
homeward, as 2 well trained husband ought.
Now, says one OF our readers, who was
Mark Meriden?" You would not have asked,
good reader, if you had lived in the town Of
--- when his name first appeared on the
outside of one Of its most fashionable shops,
MARX Meriden," surrounded by those having
en- igns Of grace and fashion SO that young bellies
need not have their eyes turned off from be-
holding it. Everything in the tasteful estab-
lishment told of q well arranged business, and
Max himself the, mirror Of fashion, faultless
in every article Of costume, quick, attentive, po-
lite, was every day to be seen there winning
golden opinions from all sorts Of people. =
Mark shop became the resort for high ton
the fashionable exchange, the promenade OF
beauty and wealth who came there to be en-
lightened as to the ways and meaps OF dlsposlng
of their surplus revenue-to see and be SEEM
So attentive, polite and considerate was Mark,
SO profound his bows, so bright his eyes, so un-
exceptionabe bis whiskers, that it might have
proved dangerous resort for ladies, had not a
neat tasteful house going up in the nelghbor-
hood been currently reported as the future res
idence of an already Mrs. Meriden, and in a
few months the house, neatly finished and
tastefully furnished, received the very lady who
called herself to that effect. She was as truly
refined and lovely woman as ever formed the
centre flower in domestic boquet, and Mark
might justly be pardoned for having as good
again an opinion of himself for having been for
tunate enough to secure her
Mark had an extensive circle of business and
pleasure acquaintances, for he had been one OF
the social companonable sort, whose money
generally found its way out of his pocket IN
very fair proportions to the rate it come in. In
short, he was given to clubs, oyster suppers,
and now and then wine party. and various
other social privileges for eevating ones spirits
and depressing ones cash that abound in en-
lightened communities
But nevertheless, at the bottom of Mark
head there was very substantial bump of a
certain quality called common sense, a trait
which, though it was never set down in any
S aeuv IT and one too @ wbo Hy n maRes 0s dsa srea}
difference as the world goes. In consequence
of being thus constituted. Mark, when he found
himself in love with, and engaged to. very