Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-09-14

clpul houses IN SandSmOuth. W hen
Mrs. Yallens had shown how far her
knowledge extended, and her kindly
manner had won Marian's confidence,
she was evidently pleased TO lead the
latter TO speak freely and to receive
the little condolences the girl had to
impart.
Having commenced our story. rs il
were, in the middle. we are debarred
from making the usual detailed explana-
tons in regard to the positions and an
tecedents of our characters; for this the
reader should be thankful. We shall
merely say, in reference TO Marian's
friends, that they were in a respectable,
although not extensive way of business
in the town, living. as being cheaper
and pleasanter, in the suburbs. OF Mr..
Philip Hartleby, Mrs. Vallens had a
pretty accurate knowledge. He was
the son of a surgeon who had owned
one OF the best practices in SandSmouth,
but he-the surgeon-was an easy
going. careless fellow, clever enough in
his profession, but not in much else be-
sides; so. when he died. ut the age of
forty or so. his only son found himself
with no profession and no property.
lie was, however. n clever. energetic
young fellow, by no means disposed to
eat the bread of idleness. Having, by
the aid of friends, obtained clerkship
in the house of More, Keelby Il Co.. he
worked with such will that he soon
obtained promotion. and was now looked
upon as the most rising man in the es-
tablishment.
The proprietress Of Fernlow Cottage
encouraged Marian to speak IF the
young man, and took pleasure in her
little history. Prosaic and common
place rs such history would have
seemed to many. vet there is n halo of
romance inseparablc from the plainest
love-story, which is dear to woman,
even when she is reserved and hermit
like, as was Mrs. Vallens. Not that
Marian would now ever allow that there
was anything in the least degree
harsh or repellant in the temperament
of her new friend. IL was only man.
ner, the young lady contended-the
effect, she was certain, of some early
sorrow. Perhaps, Marian used TO think.
and sometimes say TO Philip, perhaps
she had once loved as they loved, and
had been less happy; thus, in her turn.
weaving something of romance about
the lady.
One evening. some months after the
incidents just related, when spring had
grown To summer, and summer was
fading into autumn, Phil Hartleby called
Mt Mr.. Darnett's house, in the Lower
Down Road. This was no unusual cir
cumstance with him; but on this par
ticular evening he was To take Marian
to schOOl-room hard by, where was to
be held a rehearsal for "A certain local
concert, nj which the young lady was
To sing. She had voice ut once sweet
and powerful, and which had been well
trained. Although she made no claim
to be n finished vocalist of the operate
pattern, nevertheless in ballads and
songs she was very attractive; and rs it
turned out, this concert became some
thing like turning point in her hither-
to quiet and unObtrusve life.
On this night. too. Phil was full of
news; the changes which had been
spoken of so long in the great house of
More. Keclby Il Co. had ut last taken
place; the style of the firm would be
preserved as hitherto, but old Mr.. More
would retire. and n new partner would
come in-had come i'm, be understood.
This was Mr.. Pike, n gentleman of i'm
mense capital, and still more immense
business capacity and energy; SO Phil
was informed. He was to be the man.
aging partner; the ruling spirit; every
thing. in fact; and under his sway the
firm might possibly grow to tenfold its
present extent. Then, when Marian
was walking by his side to the rehear-
sal, Phil added fancy sketch TO these
| particulars, which he had not deemed
necessary TO draw before the family cir
Gle. This sketch had reference to the
wider field opened to the staff of the
firm by the change. their bettered posi-.
tions, their early, and of course. always
happy marriages, and a possibility oil
some one of the number being selected
TO take charge of the accounts at the
London branch of the house. If this
were so. the delights of living in the
metropolis might fall to the lot of Mr..
Phil Hartleby and his wife-that would
be; and they, like all residents in the
| provinces, thought of London very much
as we are told their predecessors thought
of il in Wilmington time.
Much of the information apart from
this sketch. which, as we have explained,
was reserved for n select listener, was
earnestly discussed by Mr.. barnett, tC
| whom il was as interesting rs to PhiliI
himself, rs the former did what was fol-
! him a large business with the firm, and
IL was of Importance that he should
know whether certain facilities for trans
acting this business would be increased
or diminished by the change. Philip
took n very sanguine view, basing hi.
conclusions upon the character which
had preceded the new partner, who
was said TO have no old-fashloned no
tons which would cramp and restrict
the business. such as Mr.. More some
times labored under. No; he was one
who liked the customer to Ego ahead,
the faster and further the better. Thes,
were evidently agreeable tidings TO Mr.
barnett, and he was as thoroughly pre-
pared rs Philip himself to rejoice in the
coming of Mr.. Pike.
Both before and after the rehearsal
which was of but short duration, thi.
kind of conversation prevailed, anC
Philip having seen Marian to hel
father house. left in even higher spirit:
than he came, Mt the prospect which thu
advent of the new partner opened Il
himself and his friends.
Pills home was in SandsmOuth; anC
as he entered n suburb of the town. b,
heard the sound of angry voices, anC
turning n sharp angle of the road. cam,
in sight of the speakers. A gentleman
on horseback was engaged in alterca
ton with n man at the roadside; the
| latter was holding some object in hi,
arms; in the darkness, Philip could moi
at first accurately make out what thi:
was. Two or three men from a neigh
boring beer-house had come out at tn,
sound of the voices, and stood looking
on and smoking, with but languid in
terest, as no chance of n personal con
tiict seemed likely to be evolved.
The man on the footpath was low
looking. shabbily-dressed fellow. not o
the rustic or laboring type, but rattle
of the flash townSman order, being
indeed, just the man upon whom
police officers eyes would turn by in