Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1870-09-03
#isftIlaaus.
MI OPPOSITE yEIGHBOR.

AnS SpttHB was luHt CVtilIuS ittg WIltti
the house opposite, which had been
vacant all the winter, found a tenant.
The house was not exactly opposite,
however, for it stood in a side street,
aud frOnted, therefore, at right angles
to my lOdging-hOnse. But the sec-
ond.hOOr back, which | occupied,
overlooked its garden, and that Is the
main point in my story. | SAY "gar-
den adyisedly; for, unlike most
London Houses, the house opposite
had a large piece Of ground behind It,
part of which was shut OF by a trel.
lis-wOrk, and was fullof flower.bods: /:
AMI my. first knowledge that the
house was occupied at last, was the
sight of young lady, very vision Of
beauty, who appeared one morning In
charming, yet simple costume, rake
| in hand, to attend to these very beds.
! had always been passiOnately fond
of flowers. | watched her, accord.
ingly, with deep interest as, day by
day, she directed peighbOring florist
where TO set out new plants. After
wards, she herself attended TO the
garden, watering the flowers night
and morning, hoeing the earth when
necessary, and carefully shipping OF
the dead wood. She would have been
beautiful in any dress, but in this beau
tiful garden-cOstuIne she looked d.
vine. Graceful and tall, wOmanly in
all her movements, | had never seen
her equal. At the end of week, /
thought of nothing but my opposite
neighbor. At the end of fortnight
was hopelessly in love.
Sometimes, the notes of piano
were heard from within the opposite
house and then a voice rang out,
SO elastic, so sympathetic, SO thorough
| ly cultivated, that | was rayished.
Now the songs were gay; now they
were sad /; but always the voice was
superb, the execution perfect. Sew,
eral times an elderly gentleman came
out into The garden her farther no
doubt. ..E .-
had often passed the house, but
no name was on the door; so / did
not as yet even know my Oppo-
site neighDor. did not like TO make
inquiries. But, at last, Mrs. Day, my
landlady, said, one day, incidentally,
that the name of the people who had
taken the opposite house was Milford,
and that the young lady was the wife
Of the elderly gentleman.
You could have knocked me down
with a feather when | heard this in
telIigence. But rallied after while,
and asked, boldly. if Mrs. Day was
certain. ,.l al. g.#.....l
"Therc is such disparity in their
ages" said; |" it seems impossible. !"
Bat she answered very positively, as
landladies do, that she had 1t from
! the best authority"
NV dream was broken. Once or
! twice afterward, | saw my opposite
neighbor at her gardening, but al
ways left my window wheH she came
out; and in a fortnight went to Scot
land, more to cure myself of this
hopeless fancy than 6ecau7e had any
thing to do in the North. When |
came back in the autumn tue opposite
house was closed and my neighbOrs
gone
That very afternoon, walking down
Regent street, | met an old college
friend, Tom Birdsell.
"Why, bless me- he cried, "we
havn't met for years. I'm jnst going
TO Varrey's 10 dine, Join me, and
we'll talk of old times, unless you're
married, and must 60 home to dinner.
Not married, eh 2" he added, gaily.
,"Lucky fellow! l'mnot exactly mar
ried but I'm engaged, and l want to
make the most of my liberty. So
come along" 9
We went accordingly.
"Alicc is charming girl" he said,
getting confidential asthe dinner pro.
gresscd. "Pm going there this even
inc, and, by the way, why wont you
como, too, and give me yoar opinion
Of her? Let's of money, l can tell
You. IT.. rather a romantic story
my engagement to her, mean. Her
father was an old friend Of my fathers
lust as yOu and | are but they hadn't
met for years. In fact, Alice's papa
had lived at Liverpool, and only came
to London last spring, when he hired
a house for six months, till he could
look around and buy one for himself
The two old fellows ran against each
other accidentally In the street were
frightfully glad, insisted on Alice and
| meeting, and finallyplanned a mattel
between us. Ny charmer was little
distant, at first but shes coming
around now ard though the wedding
day isn't fixed, the marriage is tC
! come on, the old folks say, some time
this spring.
And do you love her! {
"Oh, enough for all practical purpo'
scs, She's lady-like and cultivated
and pretty, and all that, and has lot'
;. oT money. IL would be q pity u
lliisappbiht the old people, eh!p :.
but YOU tlath tOiu EIIS iiet H""'o
=. Alice Milford. But bless NC, oil
Fellow, whats the matters7
ita.s Nothing, or only sudden erainp,
!, II forsotto show You her picture
lhc said. Here 1t is--a very good one
too though ! must sHS, VT i fi't'ers eft ne e
knew before / took the photo
graph inms hand tlIatit was my oP
D l9osite ncighbcrs. And ! had though
/, her nlarried-0h, how blind lturhe'
! aside, as II to throw the light NOR
directly on the picture; no ono mus
. acc me while ! looked npOn her. Hoy
: hadloted her Inevcr knew TIL aoM
! IL was she looking upon mo wiz
\ calm. soft eycs--eyes that might tlhav'
u ! 4 =. -, koos,as.i Y H.Hr.u