Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-10-05
AN AMANUENSIS.

"I'm very sorry for you, LEIGH"
"Thanks. You've said that before,
though" -,
well, you need ,iot be SO disagreeable.
I really am sorry for you and would help
you if ] could.I
TbS<speaker WAS an elderly man, with
aTtfntellectual face and head of tangled
Rfay hair, who STOOD by couch on which
Nay young man, with his head bandaged
and his arm in sling
1 "You had better try and put 1t all out
of your mind for month";" he went on
oompassionately. "You can't work, so
what's the good Of worrying2"
tTho9fact that 1 can't work is the rea-
son why worry" said Leigh. ''If had
only finished my book before this accident
happened, shouldn't care. But publish
ers are like time and tide, they wait for
no man, as you might know, ono would
think"
Il thought the doctor did not want you
to use your head at all, " said tho elder
man.
"Oh, he doesn't mind now. I'm all
right again really. Only he says no must
Keep my eyes bandaged for another fort
night, just as precautionary measure.
Precautionary humbug, call It'll"
"Woll, then, employ an amanuensis, "
said Morris Holt, taking no notice of the
last remark.
so l would, if could find one worth
having but how can find ono while I'm
stuck here on this sofal And somehow
when fellow is i'll people seem such a
bother"
Il have q young cousin whom I think
might do" said Holt II never thought
of it till this minute 1 always forget
everythingl A London B. A. Worked in
the British museum. All that sort of
thing. Too poor to ask high terms. Very
accurate and a really good scholar"
well, that praise means something
from you," said Leigh rather grudgingly
1--WE might have an interview tomorrow
afternoon anyway if you'll arrange it for
me-"
''All right. l must be off now only
meant to stay two minutes, but had no
idea you had been SO ILL.,"
He shook the uninjured hand and made
his way toward the door, tripping against
a stool as he peered shortsightedly for the
handle.
A shout from Leigh made him pause
just as he was closing the door. "Stop a
minute! What name did you say?"
''Holt. Sydney Holt" he said, opening
the door an inch or two and shutting it
again.
Poor chapl' he muttered as he made
his way down the steep stone staircase of
the fiat. But it's just the thing for Sgd
ney. I'll go round there now"
Morris Holt was one Of the most obliv-
1ous and discontinued men in the world,
but he had fund of kindness within him
when he remembered to use it, and on
this cold, wet November evening he went
nearly a mile out of his way that he
might convey the news of employment to
his young relative at once.
1t was q dingy street into which he
burned and the house at which he stopped
&Sgas one Of the dingiest Of the row. An
htidy servant girl admitted him and
TODD aside to let him go up to the first
door.
4 Mr.. Holt stumbled up the dark stair
case and knocked at the first door he came
to.
"Come imp cried voice from the in
side, and he turned the handle and enter
ed The room was like hundreds of others
in cheap London lodging houses. The
furniture was worn and shabby the cell
in" d'soOlored and the windows names
dirty, but there were few touches here
and there which showed that the occupant
was person of refinement.
A girl whose curly hair was cut short
over her head, and whose pale face showed
the marks of overwork, threw down her
pen and rose to greet him with smile.
"Why, Cousin Morrisp' she said, 81
have not seen you for weeksl"
No, my dear" said Mr. Holt, sitting
down in tho chair she pushed forward for
him. "Iehave been out of town was
at the museum yesterday and today, but 1
did not see you, Sydney. Where have
you bcaUT'