The Monticellonian., 1916-11-30

NdS dllA tllluS tAlItllclA OI IlNltulbuSlA obtrusive in Mir. Clarks peculiarities either of feature dress, or department, by which a graded estimate of his really quaint character might aptly be given; but rather, perhaps, it was the curious combination of all these things that had gained for Mir. Clark the transient celebrity of being very eccentric man.
 And Mir. Clark, of all the odd inhab- itants of the busy metropolis in which he lived, seemed least conscious of the fact of his local prominence True it was that when familiarity addressed as "Clark, old boy" by sportfye indi- viduals he never recollected having seen before, he would oftentimes stare blankly in return, and with evident embarrassment but as these actions may have been attributable to weak eyes, or to the confusion consequent upon being publicly recognized by the quondam associates of bacchanalian hours, the suggestive facts only served to throw his eccentricities in new re- lief.
 And in the minds of many, that Mr. Clark was somewhat given to dissi- patton, there was but little doubt for, although in no way, and at no time, derelict in the rigid duties imposed upon him as an accountant in Il whole sale liquor house on South John street, grand majority of friends had long ago conceded that a certain puffiness of flesh and soied-like pallor of com plexion were in nowise the legitimate result of overapplication simply in the counting room of the establishment in which he found employment; but as to the complicity of Mir. Glark's direct associates in this belief, it is only jus uce to the gentleman to state that by them he was held above all such sus- pieion, from the gray-haired senior of the firm, down to the pink-nosed DOT ter of the wareroOms, who upon every available occasion, would point out the eccentric Mr. Clark as the on'y man in the biznez at never sunk I thief CT drunk n drop O goods O any kind, under no consideration 7"
 And MT Clark himself, when play fully approached on the subject, would quietly assert that never, under any circumstances, had the taste of intoX- icating liquors passed his lips, though at such asseverations it was notice able fact that Mir Clark's complexion invariably grew more sultry than it's wont, and tl.at his eyes, forever moist, grew dewier, and that his lips and tongue would seem covertly entering upon some lush conspiracy. which to smother with his hastily y-draWn handkerchief
 In point of age Mir. Clark might have been thirty, thirty-five. or even forty years, were one to venture an opinion solely by outward appearance and under certain circumstances and surroundings. As, for example, when dozen years ago the writer of this sketch rode twenty miles in q freight cabOose with Mir. Clark as the only other passenger, he seemed in age at 6rst not less than thirtyfve; but on tDtiilhG ei NOiiNti StttlOti Nitii ililtis III which he joined with wonderful vi- vacity, nearer view, and prolonged and studiOus one as well, revealed the rather curious fact that, at the very limit of all allowable suppositiOn, lis age could not possibly have exceeded twenty-five.
 What it was in the man that struck me as eccentric at that time l have never been wholly able to define, but I recall accurately the most trivial oc- currences of our meeting and the very subject matter of our conversation. I even remember the very words in which he declined a drink from my travelling flask-for Its raw day" I said, by way of gratutous excuse for offering 1t. Yes" he said. smil- ingly motioning the temptation aside; 'it is Il raw day; but you're rather young In years to be doctoring the weather-at least you'd better change the treatment-theyl all be raw days for you after a while!' 1 confess that l even felt an inward pity for the man as l laughingly drained his health and returned the flask to my valise. But when I asked him, ten minutes later, the nature of the business in which he was engaged. and he hand ed me. in response and without com ment, the card of a wholesale liquor house. with his own name in crimson letters struck diagonally across the sur fa I {t,Iy nd tA ,1 thought "Ah-ha p And as if read ing my very musings, he said: Why. certainly. I carry full line of sam ples; but, my dear young friend. don't imagine for a minute that l refuse your brand on that account. You can ter in my cases. Whisky is whisky wherever it is found, and there is no best whisky-not in all the world !"
 Truly, I thought, this is an odd source for the emanation of temper ance sentiments-then said aloud: And yet you engage in n business you dislike! Traffic in an article that you yourself condemn Do l under stand you?''
 Might there not be such thing" he said quietly, "as inheriting busi- ness-the same as inheriting an appe- hte? However, one advances by gra- dations: 1 shall sell no more This Is my last trip on the road In that capacity: I am coming in now to take charge of the firms books. Would be glad to have you call on me any time you're in the city Good by" And, as he swung off the slow