The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-09-26
Daily Short Story
A Romance of Old Books,
BY EDWARD HOLLYWOOD.

Young Trentham. pursuing Tom
faine pamphlets. lighted on Ellser's
shop. IL was a summer afternoon.
ana the cavernous basement looked
cool. with the dark masses Of books
phed about. The proprietor smoked
pipe by the door. while his daughter.
Katrina. busted some rarities in the
corner case.
baine?" We got him." said Ellser
10 Trentham. and Immediately he
could be heard wheeling over the
pamphlets In the rear room
Trentham caught Katr1na-s neigh
ooriy blue eyes. He mentally com
pared her among the books TO Mar.
euerfte transported to Faust's library.
ana he war so satisfied with himself
Tor thinking OF the comparison that he
smiled ct her cordially. Katrina gig.
sied and poked her yeollow head into
the cupboard. where she could blush
as much as she pleased. She was a
pretty little girl OF 20 years-a child
In the estimation OF the venerable
Trentham. who was 25.
Trentham strolled In the next day.
searching for copy of Arbuthnot's
Lewis Baboon Turned Honest" The
utie visibly staggered Katrina. She
saw II yesterday on that shelf"
SAID Trentham. and they hunted for
the tract In company. When her faith.
er returned they were s,ilI hunting
but old Ellser found Lewis Baboon"
readily enough.
Now. II was part OF Philip Trent
hams nature to try to make all
breathing creatures fond OF him
men. women. dogs. horses. He could
no more prevent this unconscious ef.
Tort Than he could help being tall and
Dark. and sensitive and clever. His
visits 10 the book store were very
frequent that summer. He explained
10 Mr. Ellser that II was n lonely sea
son Tor him. Often he would aDpear
with black care perched ostentatiously
on his shoulder. and then he vould
pun M Ellser's villainous, oily tobacc,
and read speechlessiy for hours no.
hind The Furthermore counter. Posi-.
hiy the following day he would be
overfowing with good spirits. and
nosing out funny German poetry for
Katrina. which they would set al once
TO imrromptu music.
AFTER one OF these occasions
Katrina found 4 square blue on.
velope on the floor IL was address.
ed 10 Trentham IN an unrnis,akab
iashionable aud feminine hand. and
tne monogram on the back was "A
u. Katrina was ashamed OF her IN
Iadylike wonder about A G.
Indeed. both of the Elsers were
exceptionally wellbred. and Trent.
nam esteemed them highly. He mn
them in story. and il was printed
IN the Lamplight Monthly. lie did
not however. show the story 10
Katrina. For the purposes of fiction
he had been obliged 20 make her Old
enough to have woman's heart
which was manifest and laughab!e
absurdity.
In the autumn Katrina mot A. G
81" knew. somehow. who the slen-
der. bronze-haired lady was. even be-
Tore she heard Trentham presenting
her father to Miss Gordon.
Ana here continued Tren;ham.
in Katrina"
How do you do" said Miss Cor
don warmly. Il have read about Won.
Katrina. What dear old place.
fhll' " Is quiz" as characteristic as
you wrote me-"
bowling with prodigiOus ancient cere-
nony. Katrina resented the smile
vaguely. Miss Gordon'S faintlv.per-
fumed petticoats r,istIed along the
bookcase
In this cupboard We keep our snp.
cial Treasures" said Treniham. pull
to mt thin volume A. random and
d'claiming from the title page For
example. 'DaiDhan'us. or. the Pas.
sions ~ Love Comi~aI 10 Read bu,
Trag'cal 70 hrt U-lntc1 for WuIia-,
Con London. 1905 Fh. Arnos''
How attractive" she murmured
somoN hat mechanically
"Eilsgr Won may send ~. mi.