Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-08-13
BEGINNING AND END OF A STORY.
BY ELIZABETH p. CAMPBELL.

BY ELIZABETH p. CAMPBELL.
Behold how great matter little fire kin dleth.'
Miss Osgood looked out of her win
dow. It's queer for what different pur-
poses people use windows. There's my
neighbor, Mrs. Quiet do believe that
the only use she knows for one is to let in
sunshine. She's got one of the best win
dows in town for seeing what "goes on"
but you'll never see her at it, except for
an hour or so-just the time when no.
body's going by-When the sun is pouring
in there, then up goes the curtain and
down she sits in broad blaze of sunlight!
/ should think it would burn her to a Gin
der, and ruin her carpets. But never
can remember when [ 90 there to notice
whether the carpets are faded or not
There seems to be always sunshine in the
house. [ wonder if she has some magic
for catching it on bright days, and keep
ing it ION hand'' She as charming, that
Mrs Quiet; thst is, as charming as any
body can be who never sees or knows any
thing that's going on, and never tells one
a bit of news.
But this is getting away from my story
7 was led into it by that thought about
windows.
Now, Miss Osmond comprehends what
window is made for--namely, for post
of observation! Miss Osmond knows
what is going on in the world. She has
known this pretty hard ON to fifty years. /
guess, though / wouldn't be guilty of
telling single woman's age Miss
Osmond is lovely girl" of course.
She believes in being "well informed
Isn't that what we all consider women
should be? This, according to her inter
probation of the phrase, signifies to know
what's "going on;n and for that purpose
she uses her window as a means to an
end. Moreover, Miss Osmond believes in
making herself agreeable; and tell me,
pray, is not this the chief end of woman?
Miss Osmond, therefore, tells what she
knows; and if, to render herself more
agreeable she sometimes tells a little
more than she knows, is the dear creature
to be blamed, since she is inspired by so
lofty motive?
But wander again It is not necessary
for me to say how many years it is since,
upon the particular night in question,
Miss Osmond, faithful at her post, looked
out of her window, and observed
At first, nothing, but that it was a clear,
cool, moonlight night. Still she looks on,
up and down the silent street, and for a
moment her eyes grows dim. Is she
kept by that same window on such nights
as this, hoping for one who came not !?
The neignbors said he was worn out by
her sharp tongue, The neigbbors may
have been misinformed; but if not, then
he was "wise in time - for her tongue
grew sharper and still sharper, as she
watched for him in vain.
It may be that Miss Osmond is thinking
of those far away years, for her face grows
bitter-her face, which had been very
/. pretty once, and which might be pretty
Still, if only sweet soul looked out from
it. Her eyes flash like icicles in the clear,
cold moonlight; they are indeed as bright
and cold and sharp.
s. Steps upon the pavement! She bends
eagerly forward, close against the window
pane.
"Who come now, I wonder? Well, if it
isn't Belle Stetson! Who can that be
with her? Bellies pretty girl, but she
must be a f1irt, for she always has some
new beau On hand. Now, sure enough, it's
young Lawyer Baker. [ suppose she's
trying to catch him. I do believe they
are coming in here ! They are stopping,
any way. What are they doing?"
She strains her eyes, and they glitter
and sharpen till they seem to almost cut
the glass, like thief's diamond.
Oh We saints who watch above that
lovely girl, will We not bid them move on,
out of the reach Ct the baleful eyes that,
all unbeknown to them, are looking down
from that window above? 0
The guardian angel must be sleeping
for, instead OF moving on, they stop-oh,
1uckless fate, directly beneath the window!
Miss Osmond is wild with excitement.
She must hear as well as see. What does
she see? That he is talking earnestly;
that he draws from his finger ring which
he gives her; she sees the moonlight flash
upon it; she sees her take it in her hand
What does she hear? Only broken SEN
tence. The first part was lost, through
just the slightest noise made by the win
dow as she moved it up so very carefully.
Only three little words-these, married
October twentieth" Then Belle, having
taken the ring, they passed on, still earn
estly talking; but they were beyond Miss
Osmond's hearing or seeing.
She closed the window softly. She had
Iabored over that window till it was as
noiseless and cat-like as herself She was
triumphant. Here was a sensation, truly
Love-making, indeed did not think
1t had come to that so soon. How lucky
/ was looking out don't believe there's
a soul knows it but me. Well, [ should
think they might have waited till they
got home to do their counting. I'll go
over tomorrow, and see if she wears
ring. for | never saw one on her hand in
nv life. IF she does, | shall know all
about, even to the wedding day! Just
think how lucky was p
The next day Miss Osmond called, all
smiles and sweetness, on her dear Miss
Belle" Her black eyes looked as soft
and loving as such eyes might. Poor,
unsuspecting Belle was as glad to see her
as she was to see any friend; and Belle
was guileless creature who loved every
body.
= Oh, guardian saints why did you let
such misery come to SO sweet soul?
Why had it CHANGED that on that very day
beiie's bosom friend, Kate Myers, had
siipped her own plain ring upon Bellies
dlmpled hand, lust to see how prettilv it