The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1897-08-07
HER SISTERS HONOR.
A Tale of English Life.
BY Walter Besant.

The librarian OF Tree library is
familiar with every kind Of reader. He
olassifies them all. There are first the
unemployed, the most numerous patrons
Of the free library. The librarian gets
to know the trade OF every man, II he
belongs to one OF the commoner branch
es Of work, by his appearance. There
are the quiet men who use the library In
| the evening, when their mates are In the
public drinking, or at the club
wrangling or perhaps gambling. They
come here not to pursue line OF study,
but to amuse themselves IN peace. Then
In any library there are one or two
| habitues OF the day time. Mostly they
are retired tradesmen. or old pension ers.
,, who continue to live in the locality
where they have friends. There 10 the
young fellow who comes regularly to
consult all the papers on sporting mat.
ters. He collects the prophetic tips, and
notes the odds In book; he would fain
be Sharp, but he, too often, remains
Juqgins. There is the boy who comes
here whenever he can get the chance to
sit in corner and dream away the time
deliciously over q story. There Is the
poor country lad who has more knowl-
edge In his little finger than London
stands how to pillow and SOW and reap,
an allotment; who knows sheep and
beasts, and pigs and horses; who can
foretell the weather. Yet he has thrown
1t all over and come up to London where
he has nothing but his pair OF hands and
Ills strong arms, and his great knowl.
edge avails him nothing. IT'S as II you
turned professor Of mathematics into
a draper's shop, where they would use
him for nothing but to sweep the floor
and carry out the parcels. He rolls in
to the library accidentally, and not lik-
ing the place or the smell (which is not
In the least like the smell OF the earth) I,
he goes out again.
| The librarian knows them all. He
watches In the silent room as the clock
over his head ticks loudly, and makes
up their little stories for them. Some
times they whisper little with him.
He Is q sympathetic creature, and they
will confide their case to him asking for
his advice. They do not seek It In the
search for book to read, but In search
for work. And sometimes he knows,
or has heard things, which may help
them. Other librarians, you see, get a
vast and intimate acquaintance with
books. This librarian is more useful to
his readers II he knows the contents Of
the trade journals.
Sometimes, however, as in the case
Of Naomi Hellyer, he was altogether at
sea. Naomi first appeared on this
Saturday evening. She came In tmidly,
and looked about her with hesitation.
There was no other woman in the place.
Perhaps women were not admitted.
Then the librarian stepped out Of his
corner and invited her to take seat
and ask for anything she might want.
He saw q woman OF thirty dressed In
the black stuff frock Of Q workwoman,
with cloth jacket, though 1t was SO
warm an evening. Her dress was per-
fectly neat and well-fitting; her gloves
were worn; she had the appearance Of
resolute responsibility coupled with
small pay. Her face was thin and pale,
and her features delicate. She was not
serious-what is called responsible. The
noticed, for he was an observant crea-
ture, as well as sympathetic, that there
was trouble In the face-abiding trouble.
When she took of her worn glove the
librarian saw upon her forefnger the
usual sign Of needlework, which wo-
man can no more disguise than mulatto
can disguise the black streaks below his
fnger-nalls. She took place at one Of
the tables and began to turn over the
leaves Of an illustrated paper, but Ian
guldly, as II she took no interest In what
she read. The librarian, watching her
from his corner, observed that che pres
emily put down the paper and began to
walk about, reading the titles on the
books on the shelves as il she was In
search OF something.
Being a conscientious librarian as
we'll as observant and sympathetic, he
| left his place In the corner aud asked
! her II there were any work which she
wished to read. She shook her head
There was nothing, she said. The
librarian observed that she had an ex-
tremely sweet voice. He also observed
that she went looking at the titles as II
| she really did want something.
The librarian was experienced as
well as conscientious, observant, and
sympathetic. He discovered that there
was something behind this restless Curl
osity.
Il think you are looking for some
book" he said. If you will tell me
what II lie"
Have you got, she asked. coloring
deeply, amy book that tells about
She hesitated.
About" he repeated.
About women"-here she looked
about 30 make sure that nobody else
could hear, and her voice dropped to q
whisper-1about women In prison, how
they are treated, aud how they live?"
we have a book called Five Years OF
Penal Servitude, he replied, but that
Is about male convicts, not women
May sec thatf'
He found and gave her the volume.
When the library closed she brought
him back the book, and went away.
| But her eyes were red. She had been
crying.
During the week the librarian found
himself thinking q good deal about this
woman. She looked refined and deli
cate, perhaps above the position she
now held, which seemed to be poorly
| paid. Judging from her dreas, By her