Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-10-30
MY NEIGHB0R.

of odds and ends, where you-may find
a genius at your right hand and Il fool
at your left. My left-hand neighbor,
in the case l am recalling, was not 4
fool, but a Frenchman; and my right
well, my right-hand neighbor was
something more per-plexing, more
interesting thsn genius, for it was
a woman.
Il am an engineer by profession, and
had been sent to L., to superin-
tend the laying Of new line Of rail.
1t was my first dinner in Mrs. Apth-
waite's boarding, house, and | looked
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 and fork
laid about the napkin indicated that
its owner was expected to take poss-
ession.
Miss Knowles is late again to day,
remarked a young man opposite.
''Those tiresome little animals keep
her out of all conscience
My mental wonder as to whether
the lady could be connected with Il
menagerie was answered by Mr.. De
blay, the Frenchman at my left.
"NIy faith" he exclaimed, 81 as
tonish myself that lady such as cette
belle Mademeisclle Noailes is not be-
fore this restricted to one scholar
lifelong, bien entendu! !! he added,
diverting his soup spoon from its legi-
innate use to kiss it with a flourish.
"Why don't you try her with the
proposal, Deblay? She seems to smile
more on YOU" said, with ajust per
ceetible sneer a 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. Vebstere !"
"Thats because he likes to see 'em
in the same fix as himself, eh, Web
ster :" slyly said the young man who
had spoken about ''little animals.
The remark evidently contained a
meaning unwelcome to Mr.. Webster.
His black eyebrows came closer to-
gether, and his heavy mustache gave
an impatient jerk, as he said, hastily,
"Much obliged, I'm sure, but I'm not
over anxious for smiles from nobody
knows who"
"Gentlemen, gentlemen, l call you
to order," said a stout man father
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 a
woman entered. I own my curiosity
was reused by the preceding conversa-
ton, and | followed 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 hel
movements and the outlines of her fig
gure were unusually graceful. AS she
reached my side | rose and drew back
her chair, for which little attention
she thanked me with that same colo
smile-as | could now perceive--o
which the young Frenchman had spok
en-, and his smile seemed to me one
less tanciful than at first.
1t is my theory that first-rate en-
gineer must have something of the
artist in him. Now, l may say, with
out undue vanity, that | was first
rate engineer, and / suppose it was
this artistic something which was SC
strongly impressed by the sort Of har
mony in the voice, gesture and whole
presence of the woman beside me-
My curiosity had changed at once into
interest; cast about in my minc
how to make her more aware Of my
existence than she had as yet the all
of being.
"There does not appear to be any
master of the ceremonies here" | be
gan, $50 we must introduce ourselves
since we are to be neighbors. Per
NIT me to present myself as George
Denvers, an engineer, and very much
at your service professionally or other
wise," I blundered on, not very wei
knowing what l was saying, for sh'
had turned her eyes full on me, ant
they made me lose my head a little
"And you?"
"Miss Knowles, drawing teacher,
she answered, not exactly shortly, bu