The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-08-01
THE TWO MARTENS.
A Story That Illustrates the Some Time
Convsnienos OF . DoublA

Convsnienos OF . DoublA
Anson Marthen, civil engineer and
railway builder, whose headquarters
were in New York, suffered more or less
nearly every day of his life for the rea-
son that there was another man of ex-
actly the same name who also lived in
New York but had no business or pro-
fession whatever. The men were unlike
IN almost every particular, except that
both were bachelors and fond of ladies.
Anson Marthen, the engineer, earned a
pleasing number of dollars every year
and always paid his pills as soon as they
were presented; his nominal double
never earned penny and never paid
bSn When he could avoid it, and as this
pecuTiarity had become prominent
enough 70 be talked about, it occasion
ally Subjected the honest Marthen to ex-
aspersting indignities from persons who
knew the name, but not the men who
bore it. The dishonest Marthen, on the
contrary. got all necessary credit at
tailors shops, livery stables, and even
hotels where the existence OF two Mar
thens was not known; he had merely to
devise some excuse to talk of railroads
and engineering to be taken for his en-
tirely reputable double. His bills, in
the course of time, reached the engi-
neer' sSoffice, andwere the cause of much
profahe language from the wrong Mar
then, and much fun among the two or
three clerks and draughtsmen whom
the busy railroad builder employed.
One thing. however, he could and would
do; hewould manage to see his trouble
some double so that he might afterward
know him by sight and defend himself
against him whenever he found himself
- II ~
to the rascal. Marthen was informed
that the man who lived upon the engi-
neer's reputation was at Saratoga, so
the Indignant man hastily packed his
trunk and hurried off to that crowded
village,
On the train he CHANGED to find 8
pleasant and entirely innocent travel
ing acquaintance. A well dressed, not
uncomely lady who sat in front of him
endeayored to raise q window and
Marthen fastened to assist her, getting
. pleasant smile and . word of thanks
in payment Marthen skillfully in
volved the lady in conversation, and
finding, to his great delight that she
was amiable but not smart, quite sus-
ceptible, vet not inclined to firt, he
became very devoted. Marthen was sc
favorably impressed by his new &C
quaintance that he regretted, ON leaving
the train, that he had not strained his
habitual courtesy enough to learn he1
name, and ask the honor of being
again allowed to meet her, for she had
let drop that she was q widow.
As he signed the hotel register the
clerk read the signature and winked a
a rather rough-looking man with whom
he had been talking; then the rough
looking man read the signature anc
exclaimed:
You're just the man I'm lookins
for, Mr.. Msrthen; I've only just beer
able to find out where you were stop
ping; can't you give me q check TO
this carriage billP It's been running
nearly q month, and the boys sai'
you"
..Pm not the man you want" sai'
Marthen, first saying something tha
would not look well in print
"Your name is"
ssYes, yes," interrupted Marthen
ssbut there's another man of the sam
name, and he's q swindler. cam
here to run him down; I've got ds
tectives after him; come here this ever
ing and they will put you on his track.
For an hour or more Marthen was
very bad temper, but he grew calmt
when, strolling out to look at tt
crowds of carriages and their occl
pants, he met several acquaintance
who had temporarily abjured billiard
or flirting for the same purpose As
y chatted with one of these q carrias
passed slowly and Marthen saw in
the amiable little widow he had met-c
the train in the morning. She did NJ
seem to recognize him, but his frieI
raised his hat and was smiled upo
- ..Who is she, JenksP-tell me, quick.
Is "She's Mrs. Whitlayton, widow
VIII Whitlayton, who was just startir
q to make fortune in wool when,
couple of years ago, he took pneumon
and died. he left her $4,000 or SSt
900, though"
'.Has she any familyP" asked Ms
then.
mo; she makes her home with
uncle and aunt whom she doesn't 10
any to well, I'm told. Excuse me
moment" continued Marthen's frier
taking The arm of q gentleman who "
about to pass them, there's good I
low you ought to know; Cranch.
you know my friend Anson Marthe
Mr.. Marthen, Mr.. Cranch." I.
sTm very glad to know you, sil
said Mr.. Cranch, s'but, if it isn't too 1
pudent question to ask on so short
acquaintance, why are you strolling
foot with Fred here, while your char
ing fiancee is riding alonep"
my fiancee?" exclaimed the en-
neer, in astonishment, while his frie
looked inquiringiv.
sT hope I am not mistaken" 8
Mr.. Cranch. "rve been told that n
Whitlayton was soon to become n
Anson Marthen."
Marthen's face blackened, as he
claimed, through tightly closed teeth
..Gentleman, this is horrible. ne
knew the lady's name until i've m
utes ago. Ny villainous double.
know all about him, Fred-that ras
has probably made love to her for
money and persuaded her to ma
him. What is to be done?'
One gentleman shrugged his she
ders, and the other raised his eye-bro
Mr.. Cranch finally said:
aI suppose its nobody's business;
lady has been married before; she ou
TO be able to choose for herself.
.I'H make it my business" his
Marthen. and he turned abruptly
hurried to his hotel, where he had
rood fortune to find detective aw
inc him and full of news. The SCI
orsce Marthen, he said, had been h'
Quietly Mt q small boarding-house,
his servant, who had not been PAID
SO long that he was willing for
dollar bin to tell an he knew, suspe
. wedding for his master had order
dress suit.
Marfhen almost lost his head In
i-ll4f race. but the detective rapidly lai
plan to entrap the rascal He WI
fire the NEGRO to steal his mas
oyercoat and hat, which he, the
tectiTe. would put on and then
upon the minister, just after d
with the hope OF successfully assun