Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-05-24
A PANE OF BLUE GLASS.

u Il UT Ia HLASS.
Gordon Gray, junior partner in the firm
OF Gray, Greene u GRAY, owners and man
ayers OF the great POntOosac Mills, was on
his way home from the office one bright
April afternoon, when, by some dim proc
ess which could hardly be called observa-
ton, he became aware that a change had
taken place in an old house which for
years he had passed twice a day without
ever particularly noticing it.
1t was large, rather shabby house, set
In walled garden, but with narrow
gable end a6uttlng directly on the street.
In this gable end were two WindoWs-one
above, small, with lattice; one below,
larger, with an ordinary sash divided into
SIX panes. The three lower panes Of this
sash had been removed, aud in their stead
large oblong of dark blue glass inserted
This was the change which had attracted
GordOn's eye with that inevitable certain
ty which belongs to al change, even in
an indifferent or unObscryed object.
The bluc-glass theory was still in It's
cradle at that time. No hint of it had
crcpt into the newspapers, and the azure
pane IN the old sash was puzzling enough
10 make Gordon pause and stare. On the
other side was something which he could
not make out-a shimmering, glinting
something, which swayed a little, like Il
shining flower bending from its stalk.
Was it flower? lie gazed and won
dered, and, almost unconsciously, had
drawn nearer, till his eyes were within a
foot OF the glass, when suddenly the sash
was raised, and the mysterious object re-
Vealed itself as a girls head-fair, pen
sive, and framed in loosely hanging
cloud OF light brown hair. Her checks
flushed little as their eyes met, and she
inquired, in a sweet, surprised voice:
Did you want anything, sir?"
Gordon Gray, in his own opinion at
least, was man of the world, but he felt
himself turn scarlet as he stammered out:
!" Excuse me. II had no intention of
being 50 impertinent. 1t was the oddness
OF the blue glass. | could not see that any
one was inside. Pray excuse me" his
brown eyes seconding the appeal with
better eloquence than his confused speech
was capable of.
The young la1y smiled a little, in dim,
shy way, as OF one who had forgotten the
trick of smiling, and answered: Ger
tainly. | don't wonder YOU were sur
prlsed. The blue glass does look very
DID," Then she raised her hand, as if
about to draw the sash down again.
One moment" cried Gordon, whose
presence of mind rarely failed him long
one moment. Would you mind telling
me If this glass is used for scientific ex
pertinent Or"
a medical experiment, l believe, :"
was the answer. My uncle read some
where that it was good thing for delicate
people to sit in sunshine filtered through
blue glass. So he had this pane inserted,
and wishes me to try the experiment..
" Was it you, then, who was sitting in
side? | thought it a rose-tree, or some
towering plant or other"
" No, it was l." with another shy
smile.
hope the experiment may prove a
success, = raising his hat
Thank you" Then the sash was
pulled down, gently but decidedly, and
Gordon resumed his walk
COMPOUNDED assr' was his mental
comment addressed to himself. "Shc
must have thought me regular Peep
ing Tom What a pretty little thing she
Is! How did it happen that never heard
OF her before? Such blue eyes are not
seen every day. Let me see Who does
own that house? [ wonder | never
thought to inquire"
But inquiry brought little satisfaction.
MIR. Lang lived in the house-always had
lived there. Did anybody know him?
Bless you, no. He was queer old chap.
full OF theories, always trying expert
ments, and coming TO grief with them.
Blew his roof off once with Illuminating
powder, and all but burned down, sum
mer before last, testing a new system of
Hghtnlng-rodS. Never went out any,
where except to the POstoffice, and never
asked anyone inside his door. Had he a
TO NJ
old servant, or-stay! did somebody say
that niece or cousin came TO live with
him In the autumn? Probably d mistake,
or if not, she must be some cracked crea.
ture like himself, who never showed out
doors. Had Mr.. Gray noticed the blue
pane in that emf window? Droll, wasn't
1t? just like old Lang and his crotchets.
With such scanty statements Gordon
was forced to satisfy himself. No one
seemed TO know more than this of Mr.
Lang, and though he passed the house
daily, he caught no farther glimpse of the
pretty face which had once blessed his
eyes. Only the nebulous shadow behind
the blue pane told of her existence, and
toward this shadow Gordon raised his hat
punctlliously every afternoon a slight
answering movement was sometimes yisi-
BILE, which he chose to interpret as re-
tulu ~ lis Sdluldtlons lQdJ WAS all , a bow,
shadow, a vibration-thin fabric for
fancy to weave webs of, uncertain aim for
the fairy arrows of the tabled god; but
enough; for the unseen is sometimes more
potent than the seen, and once a lovers
Imagination sets to work, it find. material
IN iightest token and least palpabe sub.
stance.
Gordon, for all the worldliness on which
he prided himself, was young still, and
modest, and it took more than a month OF
these passings and repassings before he
gained courage for the holder step of lay
ing rose on the sill of the closed window.
There it lay in the morning, dewv and
fresh, as he went by. Returning at night
he glanced across the street, and felt a
heart beat the rose was gone, and DID
the glorifed shadow within vibrate a little
more distinctly than usual Gordon dared
- hope so.