Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-04-27
OUR NEW WSMAN.
- LonUeHot0

by THE AUTHOR or HEbEv's BABIES. Z"
His name was Ellis Marston; this
learned without any special desire to
know it, from the bill which he rem
dered monthly for the daily papers that
he delivered at my house. The bill
itself, being for small amount, was
one of the sort that man last remem.
bers when in the humor for paying bills,
so saw its makers name several times
before paid it.
One morning our servant told me,
while was at breakfast, that gentle.
man, who desired to SEQ me, was in the
parlor; he had not given her his card,
and she had not fully understood his
name. I found the early caller to be
Ellis Marston, my newsman, but was
not at all surprised that the servant had
unhesitatingly admitted him, and an.
nounced him as a gentleman, for he
had refined face and good manners,
while his clothes, although far from
new. fitted him we'll and we're OF taste.
full cut.
In paying his bill / made as many
apologies as would have done TO any
gentleman whom had subjected TO de-
lay and annoyance. As while waiting
for me he had opened volume Of
Browning that lay upon tho table, and
had not closed it up to tho time that l
entered the room, promptly assumed
that he had more literary taste than the
generality OF men in his business, and a
moment or two OF conversation, begun
haPhazard upon the book in his hand,
satisfied me not only that 1 was right
but that he knew far more than [ about
modern English poetry.
At that particular hour my time was
precious, and my mind crowded with
interests temporarily moro precious than
poetry; so to express in some way. aud
quickly, the. respect which the mans
manner had exacted, / increased my
order by asking him to serve me with
several weeklies and monthlies that ]
had been in the habit Of purchasing al
Whatever ews.staud I first saw them
on, and his pleased expression as be
made note of my order and bowed him.
self out put me on very good terms with
myself for the remainder OF the day.
So seldom had / seen man who
seemed superior to bis position in life,
that Ellis Marston's face presented
itself frequently to my memory during
several days that followed; so one
evening, obtaining his address from his
billhead, l strolled out to crafty my
curiosity about the man.
1 found him ia a little shop fairly
filed with periodicals and stationery,
with q small circulating library or
shelves at the rear.
An order for foreign review was the
excuse for the visit, which prolonged
by offering him good cigar. which
he lighted with evident satisfaction
and We soon engaged in pleasant cha
about books.
looked over the titles OF the vol
umes in his circulating library, and e1
pressed my surprise that the genera
public read works of q character a,
high; he replied. with sigh. that tn,
public did not read them to any extent
that they we're the bulk Of his own Ii
brary, and he loaned them for whateve
they might bring, rather than leave then
untouched on his shelves at home.
While we we're chatting very pretty
vell-dressed lady, whose face was rathe
vacant, except for an expression of i'm
patience, entered the store, and Mars
ton hurried forward to meet her.
She did not seem to want to purchas
anything, but conversed rapidly and il
low tone with Marston, aud departe,
after he handed her some money.
She looked utterly unlike any ordi
nary business creditor, and I suspec
some wonder expressed itself in m
face, for, as the proprietor reioined me
he explained. very quietly. in just tw
words:
"Mrs. MaFston."
Then saw in en- instant that Mar
ton had made very unfortunate ma
rage, but. after the untruthful manns
Of society complimented him on b
good fortune in having 80 slightly
companion, and he acknowledged m
'lelicitations with fine dignity. but n
q siRn Of enthusiasm.