Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-04-29
g 6oaa STORY.
w Is 6 e 6 SIC .
II YNEe Of Chicago.
IConcluded.l


lConcluded.l
The Chicago of 1S48 had given
place to the Chicago of 1867
Nineteen years had wrought
changes as radical and as marvel
GUS as those of the kaleidoscope.
Instead of q provincial town, there
was a considerable city, and a city
more full of energy and vitality,
as we'll as of "brag," than any city
in the world. Planking had Civ
en- way to the pervasive ''NicQl-
son." long rowe of wooden "shan-
ties" had yielded up their stand
ing-room to costly stone and iron ;
bridge alter bridge had spanned
the sluggish river; the stream it
self, from mere muddy prairie
creek, had become a reeking sew
er, to get rid of whose foetid breath
was the subject of anxious con-
sideration to more than two hun.
dred thousand people.
The shadows of a September
evening were slowly closing in, yet
the roar of the busy city did
not seem to lull. At intervals
the horse cars went rumbling by,
packed full and running over
with tired men seeking their com.
Portable homes far out in what
had been commons and corn-felds
nineteen years before, and the tide
of hurrying pedestrians which
flowed along the broad sidewalks
seemed to know no ebb.
Near one OF the busiest points
of the city, a little ''fancy store
in modest wooden house nestled
shyly between two pretentious
"marble-fronts." 1t bore on It's
face the traces of a former era,
and it was evident that its sue
cessor would be of signally differ.
ent style. Inside, a young girl was
daintily putting in order some
laces tumbled by a just-departed
visitor, and slowly and tenderly
manipulating the soft meshes with
all the feminine fondness for the
delicate web. Drawing a piece
of the foamy fabric about her
white neck, she turned to little
mirror behind the counter, and
stood dreamily contemplating Its
effect. She was startled by q
quick tread and a rough but man.
ly and pleasant voice:
"Pardon me, miss, but can you
tell me if these streets bear the
same names they did twenty years
ago?"
"Pm sure l don't know, sir,
she replied, with a little pout and
blush, as she busily folded up the
lace with halfglance at the
amused face of the questioner.-
"Aunt Mary can tell you all about
it, though; and if you'll wait 9
moment, I'll call her."
She fitted away through door
at the rear of the shop, but re
turned almost Immediately, fol
lowed by a much older lady
clothed in sober black, with grave
! but pleasant face, on which were
drawn the unmistakable lines of
sorrows and tears, but whose ex
preston plainly showed that these
had not narrowed the heart mol
embittered the spirit.
The young man repeated hi
question.
eyes, sir; the names are tn,
came, but their features hav,
changed in that time. But surely
you are too young to have known
them So long ago."
Aunt Mary slowly drew neare
to the young stranger, her eye
fixed almost wistfully on tn
fresh, ruddy face, while the colo
which yet fingered in her rounde'
cheek came and went ftfully, an
an unwonted light moistened an
trembled in the habitually per
sive eye.
eyes" hereplied, 81 knew them
but my recollection of them ]
very dim and faint. l am askin
| for my father, who was very faml
liar with them then, and is no'
looking about just outside ther
lto coo ;f he can identify som