Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-11-06
4 MODERN ROMEO AND JULIET.

4 MODERN ROMEO AND JULIET.
If you had gone with me into a GER
tain church in Elltown on certain
Sunday, followed the highly respectful
usher up the softly carpeted aisle, set
tied yourself comfortably in the corner
Of the proffered seat, and glanced up at
the organ and choir behind the Rev
Speecham's desk, your attention would
probably have been attracted, as was
mine, by an undeniably attractive sub
iect A girl in dark gray dress and
nat, with q dash of color like the breast
Of bird in the latter. and a charming
poise and quick motion of the head to
carry out your thought. A slender,
graceful girl, with warm red dimpled
cheeks, full red lips that gave the chief
expression to the face, and were con-
stantlv changing that expression by
curves and quivers, steady blue eyes
and strong forehead and chin.
If, at the end of the first hymn, you
had been unable to tell what she had
been singing about, it would not have
been because you had not been watch
ing her all the time from under eau
tious eyeids; and, after the reading,
you would probably have found your
self as [ did. old bachelor that | am.
wondering what that girl was thinking
about.
First she pulled off one neat, little
gray glove, rolled it into a ball and
threw it into the book-rack in very
impetuOus manner, and when the quiet
little Mr.. Speecham gave out the hymn
she gloWered at him savagely, then shut
her lips tightly, making straight scarlet
line that surely was not called out by
the sentiment, "Blest be the tie that
binds" etc. :
After the audience was settled for it's
morning, well, nap [ think, to tell the
truth, the blue eyes took a PARKWAY
look, as if they saw something beyond
the back of the ministers head, beyond
the up-turned faces, beyond the carved
doors and stone walls, and beyond the
touch of the closely-clasped fingers. r
This expression prevailed to the end
Of the sermon, toned down now and
then by an evident thinking out of the
matter III question. After the bene-
diction had been pronounced, and the
people sufficiently awakened by a ter
rlble blast from the organ to walk me-
chanically out of the chilly church into
the brighl sunshine outside, [ saw my
morning puzzle slip by DR.. Speecham,
join a middle-aged lady of the highly
respectable sort, and go out with the
crowd AS for me, [ betook myself to
a numdrum boarding house with dim
feeling of regret that was no longer
young. 49,. .-l... -
Now, all this is simply prologue, as
it were. to the little drama which { found
out afterward, and started out in the
beginning to tell you under the title
which has, | believe, been used for a
SIMILAR purpose already by some one.
Having given the introduction in due
order, the curtain will now rise on the
first act of the play. .-....
Picture to yourselves Sunday after
noon, slowly waning into evening; a
large gothic house, with great many
porticoes, and on one of them my puz-
lie Juliet, and the middle-aged lady,
whom she addressed as aunt, sitting
vis-a-vis. Julietlooks up now and then
into the elderly lady's face as she speaks
to her, but oftener, it must be confessed,
glances dreamily beyond over the wide
slope of lawn at the side Of the house.
Auptie Gray, impressiyely, Now,
Juliet, | am very sure you would find
your feelings changing toward dear DIR.
Speecham If you would only stop think
ing of that wild harum- Hal
Lane" Him. thinks the maiden,
" it is good thing you don't know who
| am thinking too much Of" at isn't
the most violent love that lasts the
longest, and, besides, it is dangerous to
trust too much to the feelings. The
dear doctor is a good man, and he
would restrain your sudden impulses
and freaks" Juliet's lip curls suspic-
lously, but she says nothing. .s'.f
Auntie Gray resumes, "You do like
MIN don't you, Juliet?" 4.7 a. e
. Yes, auntie, respect and like Mr..
Speecham, but that isn't loving, and ]
don't love him" -.... 81 ,-t- +
A sudden vivid blush finishes the SEN
tence, for as sire looks up she has the
horror of seeing that reverend gentle,
man standing at the end of the porch
having come over the lawn az usual tc
take tea and walk to church with them
alter custom of some years standing
The instant she glances up, he makes a
gesture for silence, SO much sternel
than any she has ever seen him make
before, that she is literally astonished
into complying.