The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-10-07
N!s* r. G =. n. Ge. =.
g. ~ a. s. 50 u. ~

There wes nothing brilliant about Par
kinson. Indeed, his mental processes
We're decidedly slow. He was the sort
of a man that would listen to a capital
story with the face of craven image,
null over it the rest of the evening, and
perhaps at midnight, when quite alone,
he would discover the point and hawhaw
uproariously. Withal, Parkinson was a
man to be depended upon. You always
know where to find him; you were sure
that what he said he meant, and that
what he meant he would stick to through
thick and thin.
He was tall, broad of shoulder, and
his homely face radiated good nature.
Although the bulk of the great Parkin-
son fortune was his, he sat daily before
desk in the Office of Thorpe & Toll
man. The fact that q fellow had q little
money did not render him exempt from
honest work, said PariinSon and this
was why the foreign accounts of Thorpe
& Tollman were kept in his round, boy
ISL Writing, flFi ulSo WHY uIhllSDn IT.
ceived $15 at noon every Saturday, which
sum. be it stated, did not cover the cost
Of his lunches and cigars.
Now, when it comes time for Parkin-
son to fall in love, he did it as he did
everything else-slowly, methodically,
with Il painstaking regard for details.
The young woman about whom he finally
found his affections centering-anothcr
man would have made the discovery six
months earlier than did Parkinson-was
certain Miss Margcry Reeves, Il joyous,
happy, radiant creature, whom Parkinson
worshiped with all the tcnacity of his
stolid nature.
Miss Reeves regarded Parkinson as
big, good-natured brothcrly fellow, a
triie slow and obtuso at times, but al
ways the most dependable of her satcl-
litcS. The exact nature OF hen attitude
toward him Parkinson did not discover
until one afternoon when they sat to-
gether beneath the walnut trees ut the
farther bunker of the Country Club
links.
It was one of those lazy afternoons
which beget condolences. Miss Reeves
herself could rot have tod how the con-
vcrSation led up to it, but before she was
aware of what she was doing she was
telling Parkinson all about it, and Par
kinson was listening with grave SYM
patty.
She told the whole bitter story-her
engagement to Tom Marshall, the quar-
rel which had broken it off. and even
the ugly rumorS which had come to her
ears concerning Malshall's downhill
course since that time. And as she fin
iShed there were tears in her eyes and
strange little CULVER in her voice.
Parkinson was tremendously impress
ed He had never seen her in ~ serious
mood before. He sat quite still for a
long time staring thoughtfully at the
walnut leaves above his head, stirring
indolently in the breeze. Then he smiled
his slow, enigmatic smile.
Don't you think it is too hot to play
the rest of the courseT he asked, and,
helping her to her feet, he suggested
they go back to the clubhouse for tea.
They went back in silence. Once or
twice she glanced at Parkinson serious
ly; it was a very strange smile. 1t SEEM
ed to mask something going on in his
mind.
The following Monday Parkinson OBJ
tanned leave of absence from the office
and went to Boston. The latest report
had located Tom Marshall there. 1t was
in an obscure little hotel. Marshall was
looking seedy and there were unmistak.
able marks of dissipation on his hand,
some face.
"Park," he cried, as Parkinson enter
ed the dingy room where Marshall in
his shirt sleeves, was sorting out punches
of lottery tickets, cts good old Park, as
l live! What brings you here, old chap?'
Parkinson sat down on rickety chair
The room was small and hot. Moreover
he had just climbed six long flights OF
stairs. He looked rather tired and wilt
ed.