The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-05-06

W, well-dressed lady, whose face was
rather vacant, except for an express
sion of Impotence. entered the store,
and Marston hurried forward to meet
her.
She did not seem to want to purchase
anything. but conversed rapidly and in
a low tone with Marston, and departed
alter he handed her some money.
She looked utterly unlike any ordi-
nary business creditor, and l suspect
some wonder expressed itself in my
face, for, as the proprietor rejoined me,
he explained, very quietly, in just two
words: "
Mrs. Marston."
Then | saw in an instant that Marstor
had made very unfortunate marriage,
but. after the. untruthful manner of'so-
.ciety, i complimented him ON his good
fortune in having so slightly a compan-
ion, and he acknowledged my felicita-
tons with fine dignity, but not a sign of
enthusiasm.
1t was very evident to my mind, as l
sauntered homeward that evening, that
Marston's wife must be extravagant and
unreasonable, and that her husband
would never save money with which to
enter a better, business, unless Re had
some help; so, for several days L sys-
tematically tortured publishers among
my acquaintance to make q place for
our newsman. But soon learned that
Marston's present position was not that
in which he had begun business. He
had been respectable bookseller in the
interior, where he married a beautiful
girl who longed to live in New York, so
he sold out and re-established himself
in the metropolis. Everybody liked
him. but everybody said he ruined his
credit, and then his business, by failing
to pay his bills promptly. L found a
general supposition that he secretly in
dulged passion for gambling; one solid
old fellow, though, suggested that no
man could maintain his business if he
gratified all the whims OF woman like
Mrs. Marston.
"Then why doesn't he explain to
her?" l asked.
The old fellow gave hard, dry laugh.
Peace is cheap at any price," said
"But any reasonable woman -"
began, when was interrupted with:
/" Such women are not reasoning be-
lngs. No woman is who loves self first
and husband afterward."
This seemed hard language to use
about SO pretty a woman as Mrs. Mars
ton, but could not deny that the old
fellow was right. -t,
Occasionally afterward ] met Mars
ton, sometimes at his shop, where he
always was glad to have me and cigar
drop in unexpectedly; oftener, however,
/ saw him at the door of the theater or
opera-house waiting for his wife. He
once explained to me that he could not
afford to close the shop and accompany
his wife.
One night, however, returning from a
club dinner at an hour when many peo-
pie were already awake, L met Marston
on a street-car, with an immense load
of newspapers from Printing House
Square, and without an overcoat, al
though the weather was bitterly cold.
He seemed somewhat ashamed of his
appearance and work, but chatted about
books more brilliantly than ever before,
and as we got off the car at the same
street, insisted, when we reached my
door, that he had been very imprudent
my overcoat for the rest of the night;
indeed, he must keep it, if he would, for
rough work, and save the better one
that had seen him wear, for mine was
old, and too tight for me, who was much
stouter than he. Then l went to bed
and lay awake for an hour wondering if
there was no possible way of doing any
thing for Marston. l-'-..'
soon found that there was. His bill
came in on the first day of the month,
and that evening very fine-looking boy
of about ten years, and Enthusiastically
Marston's son, called to say father was
quite sick, and would be glad to have
the amount of the bill that evening if
convenient. r -
AS had never been able to learn that
Marston had any friends, sent him,
with the money, note expressing re-
greet at his illness, and asking if / could
be of any service to him.
Within an hour the boy returned with
note expressing Marston's thanks for
my sympathy, and saying that if 1 had
an hour to spare, and would not object
to chatting with a sick man, who, new
ertheless, would promise not to talk
about himself, he would be very CRATE
full. His wife was going to the theater,
and his son was temporarily in charge
of the shop, so he would be quite alone,
and would not object to tobacco smoke
if would excuse him for not smoking
with me.
1 accepted his invitation, and found
Marston on a lounge in the parlor of a
little flat in an questionable street, but
everything about the room indicated
comfort and good taste,
Marston told me that he had suffered
by a sudden attack of pleurisy. but be-