The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-20
PART /.

~ 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
nrdrscrNedly. for in his knowledge or
books have mucn surpassed the leading
men OF the town, and his life WAS en-
tlrely' devoted to study. Miss Cloud,
the borough members daughter. who
had been ut Girton, herself the marvel
of woman hood in this not altogether
bcrishtfd region. spoke of Mr.. Mar
fleet with respect; indeed. for the last
twelve month or 80 it had been general
ly surmissed that the friendship be-
tween these distinguished persons
would end in closer alliances most
interesting and delightful prospect.
The lady had entered upon her twenty
seventh year: Martleet drew towards
forty. hut preserved the complexion
ana the carriage of youth. For him.
such union would In every way be
advantageous. as, from his way of liv-
Ing, he evidently possessed but "A mod
est competence. while Miss Cloud shone
a. the sole heiress af her fathers for
tune
Fer man OF parts and ambition.
raised above the necessity of exertins
himself 10 earn a livelihood. il is dan
Eerous. after academic success. to re-
turn to his native country town and
Settle there with the purpose of produc-
tive study. As u rule. men have no
such temptation. Percy Marfieet. whose
bent of mind was all towards homeli-
ness, and who shrank from the tumult
III the. great world, even while credit
ing himself with power to win distnc-
tion. decided after u very brief trial of
London, that he could not do better
than ~ hazel; IN Ia nf his yn,th
where kindly notice would inspire him.
where his health would he at it's best
and where. Il modest income would. he
imagined. assure him much better
status than among strangers. His fam
ily had good name I'm the town: since
the death of his parents and the mar
riage of his sister upon him alone lay
the duty of Keeping the name in hon
mahle prominence Moreover, he owned
tue house in which he had been born.
where the days OF his boyhOod had
been passed. With infinite content
meN he read the newspa per para graph
which made known that Mr.. Percy
Marfieet, the son of our late honored
townsman. having completed u distn-
guished career at the University of
cambridge had returned to the town,
and intended to make it his permanent
abode.
From his earliest school prize to the
nnal hpnors at Cambridge. each step of
Percy's progress had been chronicled
ny thelocal paper. No special brillance
appeared in the successive achieve
nents: he had done well. othing more;
but local pride made much of his acad-
~'nic 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 the 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,
lured his mind from exclusive occupa-
ti0n with the past At length he could
he depended upon for an annual lecture
at the literary society. for an address
0f 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