Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-12-23
JOHN P0STMAN'S SECRET
AN INTERESTING STORY.

II there was one quality more than
another, ia WnIch Mr.. John PofthIan.
solicitor, 0i Bytern Buildings, LIN
cons Iuu. WAS deficient. IL was seHti-
n,rDt. HIS most malignant enemy
would NOT have accused hlm or lhiS
weakness. his drtraCturs--belng II
prosperous man, he had q course pieil-
ty-raiIed him vary cold ana unieel-
inp: his fIiend5 modified this oplninn.
somewhat, aud said that lie was 'prAc-
tiCal." There's no nursence about
John Portmam, - was a flvorlte phrase
with them aud they raeaut To he com
pllmcntary.
4 stern. InarXibIe man, marking
out his path IN lie with Il rigid, un-
beuding barrier of duty, plying no
wrakness-lo nfirnllry OF poor hu-
manity. such iaiiln8s were foreign 10
his nature, and he had 40 sympathy
yith them. 70 all outward seeming
he was man OF whom love, pity,
chariry-all the softer and tender emo
tious. that like bright flowers beautI-
fvlmg the rugged path Of lille had II"
existence. 49,.
II was considered an eXqisite piece
of drollerv on the part OF the JUNIOR
clerk iu Mr.. POrtmaH' otnct, VINO
WAS also by unau'muuS consent oi MS
fellows cle,lei arch wag.' ot mead Jo-
kcr.' of the Establishment. Iof mat
,.o,,,,,, ,rr,,f.4llaH go WuI-prr behind
his hand ;lS n,. PASSED to ms employ
a,'- ,r,v.,i, yuunl with the morn :
letters. there's some more Gll,et- douX
scented Also about the epoch OF
81 Valentine lie would cOnVulse his
brother clerks by flpwery descriptions
of a gorgeous combination Of paper,
lace and flowers that Ep had seen in
Mr.. Pnrtman : room, coupled with YER
ees remarkable amatOry and idiotic.
The humor of these jeStS lay, of
course. ia the apparent impoSslhiiity
and incumgruity If connecting Mr..
Portman seriously with the tender
passion.' He was 20 nard, and stern,
and cold, that the bare idea would
! have provoked smile from the grav-
! pst Inns. Yet the time had been and
not so very many years since, either,
when John Portman had loved and
! tended on a woman.
! DeeD in the innermOSt recesseS of his
private cabinet there was a secret
drawer, the spring of which was stiff
and rusty from long disuse 1t held a
copy of married certificate, few let
/ ters tied with tiny blue ribon, a min
/ iature portrait of fail young face,
| with dark violet eyes, set in gold
! brown hair, and which. even in the
smile it wore, had naughty, willful
| look. and a tiny wedding ring.
! Deep in the inn6TmoSt TecesseS OF
John PortmaH's heart lay the secret of
| which the cabinet held the silent re-
cords. Wlether its memories were as
! still within his bosom. none but him.
! self could tell; but his grave, calm face
/ no more betrayed itself than did the
| Impassible. insensible mood.
Ten wears before John POrtman had
/ heen. in his grave, quiet way, happy
man He had fallen in love wItho the
/ nrininal of the miniature which fky
/ f,diuU in his secret drawer, and after
/ snn,a little opposition, his suit with
Edith Gray had prospered.
The opno,ition came not from Mr..
! Gov lint from the young lady herself.
! .Thar4 wa some foolish boy and
: girl affection. The father eNPiaiheu u
/ 1obu norman. which had existed ne
! tween Edith aud u pr"tilsate cousin o.
hers: hut 1t was of no consequence II
shOuld be put stop To. Henry LOT
rains disappeared from the nvig moor
hood aud shortly after@ard Edith
GRAY gave cold. constrained assent te
! Iobn Portman's proposal.
At that time he was thirty years Oia
tall and we'll formed. and even hand
.orup. but for a stiffness m his motion
and cold immobility of feature, "illci
never seeal9d TO unbend or warm ia'I