The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-20
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gCopyright. 1896. by Bachelor. johnson ano
Bacheller.l
PART l.

rcopyright 1886. by Bachelor. johnson ana
Bacheller.l
PART /.
1t was the title that for some fifteen
years had been tackled TO the name OF
Percy Marfleet whenever he was men
toned in the local newspapers. Not
nndeservedly, for in his knowledge of
books he much surpassed the leading
men of the town, and his life was en-
tirely devoted TO study. Miss Cloud,
the borough members daughter. who
lad beer, at Girton, herself the marvel
of womanhood in this not altogether
benighted region, spoke of Mr.. Mar
feet with respect; indeed, for the last
twelvemonth or SO il had been general
IL surmised that the friendship be-
tween these distinguished persons
would end in closer alliance most
interesting and delightful prospect.
The lady had entered upon her twenty
seventh year; Marfieet drew towards
forty, but preserved the complexion
and the carriage of youth. For him,
such union would IN every way oe
advantageous. as, from his way of Nv
ing, he evidently possessed but mod
est competence, while Miss Cloud shone
as the sole heiress of her fathers for
tune.
For man of parts and ambition,
raised above the necessity of exerting
himself to earn a livelihood, IL Is dam
gerous, after academic success, to re-
turn to his native country town and
settle there with the purpose of produc-
tive study. AS n rule, men have no such
temptation. Percy Marfleet, whose
bent of mind was all towards homeli-
ness, and who shrank from the tumult
of the great world, even while crediting
himself with power to win distinction,
decided after very brief trial of Lon
don that he could not do better than
20 back to the scenes of his youth,
where kindly notice would inspire him,
where his health would be Mt its best,
and where modest income would, he
imagined, assure him a much better
status than among strangers. His
family had good name in the town;
since the death of his parents and the
marriage of his sister, upon him alone
lay the duty of keeping the name u
honorable prominence. Moreover he
owned the house In which he had been
born, where the days of his boyhood
had been passed. With infinite con-
tentment he read the newspaper para
graph which made known that "Mr.
Percy Marfeet, the son of our late hon
ored townsman, having completed
distinguished career at the University
of Cambridge" had returned to the
town, and intended to make it his per-
manent abode.
From his earliest school prize to the
final honors at Cambridge, each step of
Percy's progress had been chronicied
by the local paper. No special brilliance
appeared in the successive achieve
ments; he had done well, nothing more;
but local pride made much of his acad-
emic record. He was understood to be
great in history" TO historic study his
life would be dedicated IL he ran up
to London or to Cambridge, the news
paper announced that he was gone
for the purpose Of consulting original
documents" At first he declined to
take any part in che affairs of the town.
for which he had absolutely no leisure;
but little by little certain honors were
thrust upon him, and the satisfaction of
making little speeches, carefully pre-
pared and no less carefully reported,
lurcd his mind from exclusive occupa-
tion with the past. At length he could
be depended upon for an annual lecture
at the literary society, for an address
here or there, for the active patronage
Of an enlightened movement--uncon-
nected with politics. From strictly
municipal business he succeeded in
holding aloof, his true reason being
fear of expense; but, this prudence not
withstanding, the esteem he enjoyed
necessarily cost him something in coin
of the realm, and such demands upon
his pocket grew heavier and more fire.
quent with the progress of time. The
day came when Percy had seriously to
consider his financial position. Seeing
no immediate way out of the difficulty,
and feeling so comfortable in his daily
life that complete change could hard
ly be thought of, he insensibly drifted
into carclessness of the future. And
so II came about that, in his thirty
eighth year, having long lived upon cap
ital, with steady growth of expenditure
from Christmas 10 Christmas, he saw
before him an inevitable crisis. In
come he no longer possessed; mere
ly sum of money which. even with
parsimonious management, could last
linn only short time, and at the pres
cnt rate of living would dissolve with
awful rapidity.
In the way of literary production he
hAd done nothing. Years ago he made
c.