The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-10-14
A PARTNERSHIP
DISSOLV WE'D

Jabez Knowles, commonly called "old
Knowles" had been head librarian OF
the Aberdeen Free Institute for many
years. Indeed, the old inhabitant would
have hesitated before asserting that he
had ever drawn books without Jabez's
assistance. So long had he held the
post and so retired and methodical his
life, that the members, without realiz-
ing it, never thought OF him as distinct
from the library. Other men ate and
slept and walked. Other men had wives
and children and homes; but old
Knowles was fixture like clock, and
when the doors were closed aud the
lights put out, doubtless the books shook
dust over him and covered him up I'M
til the next morning.
And yet Jabez Knowles had very
comfortable bachelor quarters on a
quiet street q mile away from the
building. These consisted Of sitting
room and bedroom, occupying respec-
lively the second story front and back,
with closets and bath between In the
lDOLh lllGAO hao Gil bPNAA nv blSSNp
with andironB, crane and kettle. There
was also an appendage almost as sta
tionary in the shape OF n sleepy gray
cat. In one window there hung bird.
ON nil sides were shelves OF books. And
when OF an evening the hickory logs
were cracking, and the yellow drop
light aglow, and the cat purred somno-
lently, and the bird chirped with vivac-
ity. and the kettle was humming n
promise of soothing punch, and old
Jabez in easy chair, was in the most in
teresting part OF most interesting
book, he was so far differently situat-
cd than emtombed in parchment, the
opinion of citizens 10 the contrary not
withstanding
Underneath these rooms was an UNI
dertaker's cabinet shop, and in its rear
the home OF the artisan and his wife, q
worthy couple, who attended to their
lodger's wants and supplied and served
his meals. Sometimes, indeed, Jabez
himself would venture on poached egg
or some devtled ham, for he had tins
and condiments and things OF his own,
thank you, on the top shelf OF the right
hand closet, and then there was pleas
urable exciting fear of blunder, hasty
yet toothsome eatingfor fear with luke
warmth there might come toughness.
and, oh, what thorough securing
afterwardl
A main reason why Jabez was seldom
ASSOCIATED from his position was his
unassuming appearance. The passers-
by noticed him no more than the
shadow OF towering elm. Why should
they? He walked swiftly and noise
lessly and close TO the walls-a tall, bent
old man, invariably dressed in brown,
color akin 10 his beardless, wrinkled
face. His expression was obscured by
the shade of his broad-brim; otherwise,
this truly might have aroused atten-
ton, for his eyes were kindly and
gentle, and the lines Of his mouth de-
noted patient waiting. Yet what could
such an old man expect except death 2
All, tits circumstances, not time, that
age the heart. Old Jabez's nature like
grain stored in a pyramid, had been
preserved from moth and rust, and
thus retained all vivifying powers OF
youth. Why should he not wait, since
the ideals which thronged his loneli-
ness were not yet realized, and patient
ly, since that loneliness was happy?
Probably, too, people would have
been more conscious OF Jabez's person
atty had they known oil his worldly
condition, for he was rich, rich from in
heritance, rich from the natural in
crease OF his simple life. But no one
suspected such distinction, except, per-
haps, young Howard Case, one OF his
assistants at the library, who was
favored by the old mans regard, and
who had shrewd habit OF acquiring
information and keeping it, too, to.
gether with nil its contingent useful
ness.
It was late one winters evening that
Jabez Knowles closed his book with d
sign. The bird habits head beneath its
wing. The cat was Sp inanimate gray
ball. The kettle was importunate in 1T
call. 1t was time for bed. Jabe2
stepped to the closet and reached down
q glass, q flask, sugar bowl and Q
spoon. Had he ever walked in his
sleep and sought these and found them
not in their usual place, the shock
would surely have awakened him. With
A critical eve he measured out his exaci
"euantum" which was "sulIicit" for his
nirhtcap. He stirred in the sugar, he
reached for the boiling water, wher
there was a rap--a rap on his sitting
room door. Such an untOward event
az contrary to precedent, affected Jabei
like the Gorgon's head. He stood hal
bent over and rigid. lie did not an
swer, for he could not. The rap was
repeated. and this time backed by the
landlady's voice.
"Mr. Knowles, oh, Mr.. Knowles" i
cried. wont you come down stairs e
once? We don't know what to do witt
the poor dear little creature. "
JabeS, despite shame Of dressing
gown and slippers, flung open his door
~ presume, Mrs. Gaines" he begar
with severity, "that some extraordinary
casualty is the adequate cause for THU
interruption"
'Come down, come downp continued
the matron, herhand evincing mucl
excitement "Casilty or casilty, She
the sweetest little thing I've seen thi
long day, and she's we'll nigh freq t
death"
With slipshod dignity which con
tradioted itself, Mr.. Knowles descended
any man found her." the good WON
an persisted, when he was a-locking "a
for the night, leaning aginst the doc
post, half covered with the snow. An
me-! She reminds mo OF my Lena
dead this twenty years agone." AM
si5h drove back the clouds OF tn
past and revealed the holy JOYS o
maternity.
They entered the neat and homel!
living room. There on the lounge Ia.