Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-10-19

suggested that no man could MAINTAIN hls
business if be gratifed all the whims of a
woman like Mrs. MarstOn. 3
''Then why doesn't he explain to her p
l asked.
The old fellow gave hard, dry laugh.
peace is cheap at any price," said
he.s
But any reasonable woman-,"I began
when I was interrupted with
'Such women are not reasoning beings
No woman is who loves self first and bus
band afterward." ~
This seemed hard language to use about
so pretty woman as Mrs. MarstOn, but
could not deny that the old fellow was
right.
Occasionally afterward I met Marston,
sames.aaes at his shop. where he. always
was glad to have me and a cigar drop il
unexpectedly oftener, however, I saw
him at the door Of 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 people
we're already awake. met Marston on q
street-car, with an immense load of news
papers from Printing House square, and
without an over-coat, although the wealth
er was bitterly cold.
He seemed somewhat ashamed Of his
appearance and work, but chatts 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 to expose
himself, and that he must wear my over
coat for the rest of the night indeed, be
must keep 1t, if he would. for rough work
and save the better one that I had seen
him wear, for mine was old and too tight
for me, who was much stouter than he.-
Then went to bed and lay awake for an
hour wondering if there was no possib 10
way of doing anything for Marston.
[ 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 unmistakably Mars.
toms son, called to say father was quite
sick, and would be. glad to bave the
amount of the bill that evening if conven.
lent.
AS I had never been able to learn that
Marston. had any friends, 1 sent him, with
the money, a note expressing regret at his
illness and asking If could be of any SER
vice to him.
Within an hour the boy returned with a
note expressing Marston's thanks for my
sympathy, and saying that if had an
hour to spare, and would not object to
chatting with sick man, who, neverthe.
less, would promise not to talk about
himself. he would be very grateful. 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 OBJ.
ject to tobacco smoke if I would excuse
him for not smoking with me.
1 accepted his invitation, and found
Marston on lounge in the parlor of lit
tie fiat in an questionable street, but
everything about the room indicated COM
fort and good taste.
Marston told me that he had suffered by
a sudden attack of pleurisy, but believed
himself now out of danger, although he
felt very weak. 1 complimented him on
the charming effect of his room, and be
was so pleased that he chatted about one
thing after another on the walls, brackets
and mantels, until 1 learned, without his
intending it, that he and not his wife had
selected and arranged the decorations,
His conversation was as bright as ever, so
1 soon forgot he was a sick man. and I
neglected to look at my watch. l was
therefore surpri sed, by the return Of Mrs.
Marston from the theatre, to learn that
midnight was not an hour distant.
Marston introduced me to the lady. who
gave me a gracious smile, and Immediate
ly began talking of the play she had just
seen, asking me if did rot think that
certain actors in the company-one famil-
lar to all New Yorkers-were not splend-
i'd, and whether the leading lady's dresse 8
were not exquisite. Her enthusiasm wa
charming, and SO was the play of her fea
lures while she talked of the performance;
but when, ten minutes after her arrival,
she asked her husband how he was feeling,
she did it so listless and mechanically
that l departed with distinct conviction
that Marston 8 home-life was not what it
should be.
Two or three days afterward, as I left
home before daylight to catch an early
train, the newspaper of the day
struck the front door as 1 opened it, and
recognized the figure OF the retreatlng
carrier as that of Marston. I also heard
a cough that made me apprehensive as to
the health Of my newsman. For a mo-
ment was inclined to follow him and
warn him against imprudence, but I had
40 time to spare, 50 hurried to my train.
On my return; two days later, found
that Marston's son had called several
times within few hours. 1 Immediate
ly hurried to the shop, but finding it
closed, went on to Marston's residence.
Mrs. Marston received me at the door.
Il am afraid your husband has suffered
a relapse" said l.
YES" said she, land isn't 1T too bad
He was to have got me pass to IS
benefit tonight. I'm dreadfully disap-
)ointed.'
The moment saw Marstou I feared
that the end had come. His face was
strained, his eyes bloodshot. and he
oreathed with difficulty. His boy knelt
oy the bedside. with one arm thrown
across his father. and with more sorrow
md apprehension IN his face than 1 ever
law in human countenance before.
"Where is the physician?" 1 asked.
"He-why. Ellis did not think he need
ID one, and agreed with him; he seems
,nly to have heavy cold, and has been
Is,