The evening times., 1895-11-20
Tom Marvin's Way.

II say, Tom" said one of group of
young men. who bad been consulting with
much chuckiing and laughter. as they stood
around a stove IN the basement of lnrge
wholesale house; II say, have you heard the
news!"
This question was addressed to Tom
Marvin, who sauntered up to the group and
1t was an inquiry put with special intent-
In TACT. . pLot which Toms friends, or his
associates for the nonce-Tom made q wide
distinction between associates and friends
had devised TO confuse him. Toms most
peculiar trait Was singular trankness
and undraped truthrulness about himself.
am sorry to say that Tom was known
privately among his associates as Con
fession," sometimes shortened to IF ess,"
though no one dared address him to his face
with the soubriauet TINS name. as have
said. was gained by Toms unusual aud
singular transparency about himself He
seemed to have no reserves. A question
would extort anything from him bluntly,
provided 1t concerned only himself. He
was very far from that brutal unkIndness
which some persons call truthfulness or
sincerity and pride themselves much there
on. and which CONSISTS in saying disagree
abic things. il true, no matter how the
words tor facts wound or mortify. On
the contrary, Tom was very kind and heed
iui III that matter, and woul1 cuver as much
as he could any facts ur state OF mind IN
himself or others which would hurt an
others feelings or wound a pride. :
Bat in all that concerned himself fact
was fact. and that was tho end OF 1t, ana
the world might have 1t and welcome. Why
should he be ashamed of a fact not shame
ful? This was what he had said on rare
occasions when someone had expressed
wonder ur amusement at his pecularfty,
but with his own heart 1t was unarxued
and unconscious. He simply was incapable
of covering anything concerning himself
or OF caring whether 1t was known or un-
known or OF thinking what people would
say"
NO" said Tom, ~ have heard no news.
What is it,
why" said two or three OF the srorp.
Julia Fine Is engaged to be married"
Tom started visibiy, in spite Of q certain
sturdy fixity that belonged IL him, and his
associates exchanged sundry sly winks-
Yes said one young fellow, in
sinuaiingly. she Is engaged and l Call ie
good news. Julia Elme Is q nice girl
Don't yen think ii good news, Ton?"
.swen. / should say not. said Ten, stout
iy. ana walked AWAY.
That was a little too much for them. with
all their knowledge of Tens peculiar way
They looked at each other blankiy for lit
tie and not as quite as comfortably as few
moments before. One OF them expressed
his mind IN a long. low whistle, and an
other said: We'll, / thought he would
weaken at thai, anyway" Nor were they
quite unconcerneG at the possible result OF
the Joke" when they followed Tom clcse-
ly enough to see him at once leave the store
with a manner as full Of purpose as his
movements commonly were. What might
he Hot 60 in MS enc ipi, matte way, so Lor-
ribiy prompt, so Iisefly urseifconscious-
unccremonious. simple and undisguised7
Be ii said here that IL was In association
with this s;lnie gifi ibGt Ion had pei
petrated one Of his singular yeracities dur
ing his stay at q resort ON a small lake
the previous summer and the story had
transpir,d in some way. Tom had de-
cliGel all invitations and suggestions to
join in the excursions, picnics and SUCH
like gayeties Of the other guests at the
hotel and one evening Miss Elme asked him
why he so secluded himself.
"Because / have DO money" said Tenn.
bluntly.
The young girl Flushed painfully.
''Oh. don't he troubled" sa I'd Tom, kind
ly. '.you have done no harm with your
question 1t does look a little odd that ]
Keep SO away from everything. But, you
See, l have just enough money to pay
my vacation OF two weeks here and get
bach to tue city, with Il margin OF precisely
quarter of a dollar So can have no
extras.
"ItHink Mr.. aartiIr-tllat is. perhaps"
began Miss Fine. slowly.
No" Tom interrupted. no one can give
me anything or loan me anything or make
deadhead OF me. Bit wcuid like 10 spend
that quarter OF n dollar for a boat ride on
the Iaks. this minute, Miss Elme, il yuu VIII
go with me-
Unccr; ain whether she were more amused
or more touched. the girl accepted The in
vitatiou. nd had occasion To remember
I hat ii:ik excu rsion happily. for Tom could
talk well and she bad q quick imagination.
and the mooIliehtcd Stiffness was a good
babiiation for ilt'ggi's and fancies. And
Tom. who had crten looked at her with re-
spectfuI interest. began 10 love her from
that hour. Her hands, her exceedingly
Truthful and gentle gray eyes. and n mouth
which. though not perfectly shaped. was
sensitive and expressive. Were The only
features notjceab bly, pretty about the girl:
but she had q perradiEc charm which made
ore think Of Emersnn's saying There is
10 beautifier OF complexion OF form or be-
havior like tEr wish to scatter joy and not
pain bout u.s.
Tom betook himself straightway from the
disconnected iokers to Miss Eln,e's abode,
and no sooner was he seated in the girls
presence than he began. without preface.
Miss Eime, have been told that you
are engaged to be ma rried. annd have come
70 ask yon whether it be true?"
The girls start and flush disturbed Tom
not at all. He was simply intent on the
facts i'll exactly the same natural way that