Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-18
Gales aud Sketehes.
From the Aldine for November.i
MY NEIGBBOR.

| Some wise mani forget who--has
| called boarding-house little world.
made up, like the great world, of odds
and ends, where you may find genius at
your right hand and fool at your left.
, My left hand neighbor, in the case am
| recalling, was not a fool. but a French
man; and my right-weIl. my right-hand
| neighbor was something more perplexing,
more interesting than genius, for it was
a woman. &34
l am an engineer by profession, and had
been sent to L., to superintend the
laying of new line of rail. 1t was my
first dinner in Mrs. Apthwaite's boarding
house, and looked with strangers Gu
riosity down the long table at the double
row of faces, no one of which had seen
before that day. One seat only, just at
my right was vacant, but the knife and
fork laid about the napkin indicated that
its owner was expected to take possession.
miss Knowles is late again to-day
remarked ayoung man opposite. Those
iresome little animals keep her out OF all
conscience"
My mental wonder as to whether the
lady could be connected with menagerie
was answered by Mr.. Deblay, the French
man at my left.
My faith p he exclaimed, II astonish
myself that lady such as cette belle
Mademoiselle Noailles is not before this
restricted TO one scholar-life-long, bein
en;endu ~ he added, diveriing his soup
spoon from its legitimate use to kiss it with
flourish. hsa sag7sas
why don't you try her with the pro-
posal, Deblayp She seems to smile more
V,rit .rsi Ill
sneer, man next to the first speaker.
"Oh, mon Dieu " cried Deblay, "she
smiles, yes; but smile as bright and cold
as sunshine on an iceberg. All. it is bad
counsel you make your friends, NJ. Web
stere! -
"That's because he likes to see 'em in
the same fix as himself, eh, Webster?'
slyly said the young man who had spoken
about "little animals"
The remark evidently contained a mean
ing unwelcome to Mr.. Webster. His
black eyebrows came closer together, and
Jerk, as he said hastily, Much obliged,
I'm sure, but I'm not over anxious for
smiles from nobody knows who
"Gentlemen, gentlemen, call you to
order" said stout man farther down,
who had pushed aside his soup-plate and
was busy mixing a dish of salad. OF the
dead and the absent'-you know the cid
proverb."
just then the door opened. and woman
entered. ! own my curiosity was reused
by the preceding conversation, and fol-
lowed her with my eyes as she walked
nearly the length Of the long table to the
vacant seat; but, owing to the light, l
could distinguish hardly anything more
than that her movements and the outlines
of her figure were unusually graceful.
As she reached my side rose and drew
back her chair, for which little attention
she thanked me with that same cold smile
AS could now perceive-of which the
young Frenchman had spoken and his
smile seemed to me one less fanciful than
at first. ar
1t is my theory that first rate engineer
must have something of the artist in him.
Now, may say, without undue vanity,
that was II first rate engineer, and sup
pose it was this artistic something which
was so strongly impressed by the. sort of
harmony in the voice, gesture and whole
presence of the woman beside me. My
curiosity had changed at once into interest.
cast about in my mind how to make her
more aware Of my existence than she had
MS yet the air of being.
There does not appear to be any mas
ter OF the ceremonies here, began, $50
we must introduce ourselves,-since we
are to be neighbors. Permit me to present
myself as George Denvers, an engineer
and very much at your service profession
ally or Otherwise" | blundered on, not
very well knowing what was saying, for
she lad turned her eyes full on me, and
they made me lose my head a little.
"And you ?" .H
Miss Knowles, a drawing teacher, =
she answered, not exactly shortly, but
briefly. But l would not take the hint.
wanted to make her look at me again.
| took up the glass of water before me.
This is rather cold element for pledge
offering, Miss Knowles" l said, .'but at
| least it is pure one. Suppose we drink
| to neighborhood and friendship"
had succeeded. She did look at me
again, her eyes resting on my face with
an indescribable expression. sgo
| "You are bold man, Mr.. Denyers." :"
she said finally, "to offer that pledge to an
utter stranger. Why, might be--ahy-
thing thief or a murderer, for what you
| know y t..
''Oh pray allow me more skill in physiog-
nomy" said l, thinking the while how
oddly her words chimed in with those OF
Webster a minute ago.
"You believe III l,hysognomy? So do
l." she said quickly then. as ii repenting
of even that slight impulsiyeness, she re-
sumed in the old tone, "Still. suppose
after all were to turn out n desperate
character-what would you say then?''
II should say, with one OF our New
York judges, that there must have been
alternating circumstances, replied,
laughing.
She smiled and reached out her hand to
her glass: Very well, To neighborhood
and friendship then, since you choose to
run the risk! !"
This little dialogue had been carried on
thus far under cover of rather noisy dis
cussion opposite, but here some one spoke
to Miss Knowles. and l was obliged to
content myself with observing her. did
not find it q tircsome occupation. She was
a very handsome woman--for, though un-
married and evidently young no one
would have thought of calling Miss
Knowles a girl,-and there was mucl