The Portland daily press., 1873-11-01
My NeighbOr.

0
fool at your lett. My LETT hand neighbour in
the case 1 am recalling, was not a fool. but a
Frenchman and my rgbt-well, my right
hand neighbor was something more perpleX-
ing, more interesting than genius, for il was
"a woman.
am an engineer by profession and had
been sent to u, to superintend the laying OF
newt inc of rail. 1t was my first dinner in
Mrs. Apthwates boa ding-house, and l
loohel with strangers curiosity 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 aud fork laid about the napkin indi-
Gated that its owner was expected to take
possession,
Miss Knowles is late again to-day" re-
marked a young man opposite. Those tire
some little animals keep her out of all con-
SCIENCE
My mental wonder as to whether the lady
could ne connected with menagere was
answered by Mr.. Debly, the Frenceinan at
my left
my faith p he exclaimed, 81 astonish my
self t TAT d lady such as cette belle Mademoi-
see Noailes is not before this restricted to
one scholar-life long, ben entendur' he
added, diverting his soup-spoon from its legit-
mate use to kiss it with flourish.
Why don't you try her with the proposal,
DELAY? She seems to smile more on you,"
n ,xt to the first sp' q er.
''Oh, mon DieuP' cried DELAY, 'sshe
smiles, yes; but smile as bright aud cold as
sunshine ON au iceberg All, it is a bad
counsel you make your frieuds, NJ. Vebsterew
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 meaning
unwelc)me to Mr.. Webster. His black eve
brows came closer together, and his heavy
mustache gave an impatient jerk, as he said,
hastily, much obliged, Pm sure, but Pm
not over anxious for smiles from nobody
knows who"
''Gentemen, gentlemen, call you to Or
der" said stout man further down, who
had pushed aside his soup-plate and was busy
mixing & dish of salad. "'Of the dead and
the absent-you know the old proverb.'
Just then the door opened, and woman
entered. own my curiosity was reused by
the preceding conversation, and l followed
her with my eyes as she walked nearly the
length of the long table to the vacant seat:
but. owing to the light, could distinguish
hardly anything more than that her move
ments and the outlines of her figure were I'M
usually graceful. As she reached my side [
rose and drew back her chair, for which at
tention she thanked me with that same cold
smile-as could now perceive-of which the
lie seemed to me one less fanciful than at
first.
1t is my theory that a first rate engineer
must have something of the artist in him.
Now, may say, without undue vanity, that
was a first-rate engineer, and / suppose it
was this artistic something which was so
strongly impressed by the sort Of harmony in
the voice, gesture and the whole presence of
the woman beside me. My curiosity had
changed at once to interest: l cast about in
my mind how to make her more aware of nv
existence than she had as yet the air OF being
There does noa appear to be any master
OF the ceremonies here" L began, $50 we
must introduce ourselves, since we are
neighbors. Permit me to present myself as
George Denyers, an engineer, and very much
at your service professionally or otherwise
L bundered on, not very well knowing what
was saying. for she had turned her eyes full
on me, and they made me lose my head lit
miss Knowles, drawing teacher" she
answered, not exactly shortly, but briefly.
But | would not take the hint. L took up
the glass Of water before me.
This is rather a cold element for-pledge-
offering, Miss Knowles" l said, ''but al
least it is pure one. Suppose we drink to
neighborhood and friendship
l had succeeded. She did look at me
again, her eyes resting on my face wit h an
indescrlbable expression.
''You are bold man, Mr.. Denvers," she
said hnaliy, Ito offer that pledge to an utter
stranger Why, might be-anything! a
thief, or murderer, for what you know!'
so, pray allow me more skill in physiog-
nomy," sao l, thinking the while how oddly
her words chimed in with those of Webster a
minute ago.
you believe in physiognomy? So do L."
she said quickly; then, as it repenting OF even
that slight impulsiveness. she resumed in the
old tone, 'SCill, suppose after all l were to
turn out desperate cbaracter-what would
you say then?"
II should say, with one of our New York
judges, that there must have been 'attenua-
ting circumstances replied laughing.
She smiled, and reached out her hand to
her glass: Every well, TO neighborhood
and friendship then, since you choose to run
the riskr'
This little dialogue had been carried on
thus far under cover Of rather a noisy dis
cussion opposite, but here some one spoke to
Miss Knowles, and was obliged to content
myself with observing her. l did not find it
tresome occupation. She was a very
handsome woman-for, though unmarried
and evidently young, no one would have
thought of calling Miss Knowles girl,-and
there was much more than beauty in her
face, there was meaning in every line, a
meaning which suggested that hers had been
nor ordinary or easy life. But though set
face, it was not hard one, and attracted in
spite OF ITSELF
Miss Knowles, think it is too uukindp'
said The person who had interrupted us. one
of the prettiest little school girls ever saw.
leaning forward from our side of the table.
You haven't spoken word to me vet.
do believe you've forgotten that we're en-
gagedP
by Jove! Miss Knowles is to be enyiedr,
1t was Webster who said this, and the mark
ed way in which he said it made the speech a
rude one. Deblay perhaps thought so, for he
said instantly.
sob, mon Dieu! yes, Mees Noailles and
Mees Morrell are to be unved and blamed
alike, both the two! 1t is cruel of your sex
to monopolize itself against us miserables.
you hear, Mademoisee Morrell?p
Ii one had fancied Miss Knowles face hard.
he would have changed his mind in watching
the smile with which she answered the laugh
ing young girl, smile out of which the ice
had melted and left pure sunlight.
r., mo, I've not forgotten, Rosa,' she said
''but you know of old never kiss and fell. y
1t was popularity of this woman's,-as 7
had occasion later repeatedly to observe
that, whatever she said or did. she could not
help being remarkable, so much her person.
atty made itself felt in everything. She
made that quotation from the common little
song just as anybody might have done, care
loSoiy, anu HndHlIeSIiy WITHOUT a thought of
9 fleet, yet do not believe there was a man
at the table who heard it from her lips quite
unmoved. Even Webster lifted his ewes TO
her with kind of sullen admiration, trib
ute which he was as unwilling to give as She
10 receive, but which was forced from him
against his WILL -'A'
Ny pledge of friendship, 1 am constrained
70 ADMIT, did uot advance me as I could have
wished with Miss Knowles. A certain de-
gree of progress she allowed me
70 70, make, but never one step beyond
Odcly enough, it was a kind Of disa.
saeelnent which served me most, and which
Saon anout in this way. One evening I had
b been aeanlng to her. and had lust closed the
u o."t a. twilight came on when nv attention
bsa opposite who, regardless Of tbe do Cmo
nLe row OF houses, We're iaduping in SOM uoo of
moon 1t would only have have a an 'ne money r
usual, but for the effect it had u me- IA: as
Knowles. shall never forget her G oo Miss nns
her tone-the mixture Of pity, coat mi. rook nor
said under her breath-"She tbintss' /; as she
last !-poor little foolP' InvoluntariIy a. o will
ion from thn voIu,na uuo bo1 iuO~