Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-02-19

men at work, stitching away. TheJ
were directly opposite, and 50 inten
upon their business, poor fellows, tina
they did not look up.
Il don't understand you, cousin,
was my reply TO this maneuver.
4 tell you it was across the street
that l found my wife-isn't that plain
enough? But sit down again and you
shall hear all about it-I have full
twenty minutes left. When first oc-
cupied this Office, Brandt, whose name
you observe over the yonder door, en-
ployed.six or seven girls, who sat where
these men do to-day"
began to be enlightened.
They were, ON the whole, rather
commonplace in their appearance, es-
pecially those in the window directly
opposite, and Iseldom allowed the cur
tain to be up, because they were con-
stantly-l am sorry to say-looking
over here, and laughing without re-
straint. They were good, well-mean-
ing girls, no doubt, but devoid of that
retiring department and modest taste
in dress which real gentlemen invari-
ably expect ladies to possess, and with
out which they seem, however beauti-
full, unattractive and unlovable / had
been here year. 1t was in the mid
heat of summer, near twilight A
friend of mine stood at the window
/ was busy writing-and after a long
silence he exclaimed
You've some pretty neighbors
across the street, Danton.'
Il replied, rather carelessly, They
don't suit my taste, and continued
writing.
There they've all gone but one,
he exclaimed, in another moment, with
emphasis, the very queen of them all
Come here, Danton-do come here
and see this attitude. Did ever sculp-
tor seize a happier moment! What
do you divine she is doing? Is she
praying, think your
Il was instantly at his side. I recog-
nized new face. 1t was upturned,
and the splendor of the setting sun,
subdued by soft, rosy clouds hanging
in the sultry air, flushed beautifully
that pale, meek brow. Her whole
bearing was devotional. Her hands
were clasped above the heavy garment
in her lap; her head leaned against the
W1uQOW- du0 buC SlOOcy CuTlS
shaken all over the white sill were
tinted by the splendor of the western
sky.
"'She is either in prayer or serious
contemplation thought | to myself.
In moment the delicate creature
started, looked shyly from the window
she could not see US where we stood
and putting up one hand seemed
brushing tears from her lashes. Then
she bent low over her work, her long
tresses entirely concealiDg her feat
ures.
Lets cast lots, exclaimed my
friend, in pretended enthusiasm, while
l was indulging in the deepest sympa-
thy. [ was silent.
"'Some distressed damsel, forced by
hard fate to work for her living, | sup
pose, he said lightly.
i reproved him Tor his thoughtless
ness. She may have dying friend at
home; how do you know?' 1 remark
ed-'or she may have lost a near re-
lative. She is in black, you perceive.
After that found myself looking
across the street every leisure oppor-
tunity, and | could not but grow in-
terested in this sweet creature. | per-
ceived she smiled but little, and was
rarely engaged in conversation. L saw
also that sometimes the other girls
laughed immoderately-its seemed at
her expense, for she would look sadly
annoyed, and more than once her
cheeks have crimsoned at some light
word or vulgar raillery. I pitied her.
| imagined her as delicate as beauti-
full, and | knew her sensitive nature
must receive many a rude shock from
the thoughtless beings around her.
Many time have | found myselfgrow-
ing angry, when those blue eyes looked
so appealingly upward, as if yearning
for rest in heaven. She grew pale;
saw her change day after day, week af-
ter week, and knew the only reason
she remained when the others were
gone, was because the task was too
much for her slight frame.
"One beautiful afternoon, after a
busy day, | came here as usual, and
for the twentieth time devised what
plan [ might pursue, in order to be of
benefit to this timid, graceful girl.
"The sun shone gloriously when
came in. In ten minutes the sky had
darkened, and the atmosphere grown
lurid. A clap of thunder broke so
suddenly that | leaped from my chair,
and the most terrific of lightning fash
ed instantaneously over the heavens.
| looked across the street. There sat
my maiden sewing, sewing, yet casting
a fearful glance now and then toward
the sky. She appeared to be talking
earnestly with some one, and was, l
Judged, overpowered with mental dis
tress. Presently she made an indig-
nant gesture, The blood surged up in |
her cheeks-she lifted herself with mo
ton majestic thatshe looked like some
wrathful queen. She threw her work |
from her and disappeared. | judged,
rightly, she was going home before the |
storm burst in its fury-but what
meant that gesture of depreciation
Hardly moment elapsed before |
the rain poured down in torrents. The
young girl stood in yonder dark door
way, irresolute and fearful. Snatching
my umbrella, with my usual impulsive-
ness ran down the street, and stand |
ing respectfully before her, begged her
to put herself under my protection. |
She drew back at first, but my look |
must have reassured her; I am certain
her palli6 featuret smOte my heart, for |
| read at glance intense suffering in |
that face, lovelier than when | had |
seen it across the street. She accepted |
the courtesy, and l noticed her hand |
trembled as it rested on my arm. 1t |
was with difficulty she walked, and |
just as she reached the door of her
humble home, she tainted.
A little child answered my sum-
mons, and shrieked with alright as he |
saw his sister, apparently dead. lying
at his feet; the poor, sick mother was
rendered helpless with terror. brief-
ly undeceived them, and, lifting her in |
my arms, laid her carefully upon the |
low couch, as my eye took in the ex
treme poverty of the apartment.
"A physician, the best in the city,
was instantly summoned, and before
he left I had learned that the mother
of this young girl was the widow of a
once opulent merchant, who for years
had been my fathers intimate friend,
but who on his death bed was made
utterly penniless by the villainy of his
partner. Since then, the poor creatures
had lived in obscurity, until Rosalie
was old enough to learp q trade, aud
she had chosen the hard vocation of a
tailoress.- because it was thought most
profitable.
Poor child she had overtasked her