The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1878-11-13
nc aIarbIehead,s secrei.

ciose man every way, keeping HIS
money, his opinions and his affairs
all 10 himself.
There was an atmosphere Of mys.
terry surrounding him like a London
fog, and his neighbors, worthy peo.
Pile, were very anxious to see
through it.
His career in Pittsbnrg as a store.
keeper had been profitable and With.
out reproach, but his friends, con.
scientiously microscopic asall friends
are in their judgment of one anoth.
er, discovering no stain on his char
acter, were reasonably angry and
talked vaguely about the cloak Of
religion hiding very shabby under.
garments; for Ike Marblehead attend.
ed divine service twice on Sundays
with the regularity of clock work.
Although his lank figure, long,
sharp fnce, and prolonged yowels
stamped him a Yankee, there were
those who said his drawl was affecta-
ton, that he was one of those com.
pulsory patriots who leave their
country for their country's good, and
that he was son of perfdious Eng
land. His want Of communicative.
ness was prolific source of aggrava-
tion.
OF his anteccdents prior to his set
Ting in the city Of cannon and Goals,
nothing was known, and in theopin-
ion Of those about him some youth.
full error, banishing him from his
birthplace and relatives, accounted
for his silence respecting'the past.
In a business point of view he was
a good man. Hischecks were always
honored and his orders always filled.
Without wife and without chill.
dren, Ike Marblehead seemed to care
for naught beyond money and a
strict observance of the forms Of re-
ligion perhaps esteeming the latter a
capital investment of time. The
owner Of many tenements, occupied
by poor people, he did his duty as
a landlord to the very letter, but he
never gave to the poor and would
have his rent at the proper time
Nay, he was once heard to say that
the man who fails to meet his mon
ctGfy obligations ought topbe put in
prison.
Well, tits evident that Ike Mar.
blchcad was on no account better
than he ought to be. People in large
cities care little for one another ex-
cept commercially or politically, and
are much too busy to indulge in the
amusement of picking holes in the
coats of their neighbors unless their
neighbors happen to be prominent
men and calumny serves a political
ly profitably or commercially profita-
BILE purpose. In small places like
Pittsburg, years ago, gossip Is a break
in the monotony of daily life, and if
it is highly spiced with unfavorable
reports and remarks about this or
that individual, warranted or other
wise, the employment is ccnsidera-
bly, enhanced.
One fine morning in May, Kehoc's
groggery was full of its usual fire.
quenters, loaters, local politicians,
travellers stretching their legs"
tiffin.taking business men, and grim
colliers.
"Tim," said a secdy individual to
the barkeeper, "guess Ike Marble
heads made an Improbable invest
ment this time"
"What in2' asked the busy dispen-
ser of tamarack.
ain u woman," returned his Gus
tomor.
The company pricked up its ears
and the seedy chap, assuming an air
of great importance, took up a posi-
tion in front of the empty stove,
elevated his coat.tails and proceeded
TO unbosom himself
"In a woman" he repeated, "she
amt a woman, noither-I'm kinder
wrong thar-she's a gal, and-thun'
der!-ain't she bootifulH"
"Who is she2" anxiously inquir-
ed all.
"I'm in the dark about that thar.
Oceans Of kerosene and miles Of wick
amt no use to throw light on that
,L,r suhinckn y