The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-09-12

with awe. One morning, when riding down
town in Madison avenue car to my busi-
ness, looked up from my paper conscious
of pair of eyes fixed upon me. Opposite
was lady of about 20 years, dressed in soft
sombre gray the only bits of color to re-
lieve it-except the bloom in her refined
face, was bit of red, low down beneath the
brim of her gray felt hat Her eyes were
light, lustrous brows her hair, much dark
er and glossy, was brushed back in waves
from her low forehead, upon which curl or
two fell, not the detestable "bangs," which
frankly state abhor, but short, graceful,
frnge.like ringlets, rested upon the white
brow as if they loved it. There was no
doubt about it, this rare and radiant maiden
was gazing at me.
looked at her In return with a face
tried to make expressive of nothing, certain
ly not curiosity. She glanced down at her
book, Daniel Deronda.' l returned to my
telegraphic dispatches in the Herald. Again
felt her gaze, and again looked up and met
her eyes. She had evidently wanted to speak
to me, or else had something on her mind
concerning me. Had / ever seen before
| asked myself. MOI She seemed too mod
estly sweet to wish to attract the attention
of stranger. Perish the thought, l said
inwardly. But she was certainly looking at
me again. l am not bad looking fellow,
and as men go, not bad sort. have al
was been popular with my lady friends, and
| returned her look this time with one of
interest, and am afraid smiled Instantly
her face clouded, she bent over her book and
bit her lip angrily turned to my paper,
but not to read. Once more lood up at my
vis-a-yis she was steadily gazing at me. l
could have sworn to it. o, my tali'man
you failed me then, but the fault was mine.
did not seek your advice. Just at that
moment the conductor came hurriedly to the
front of the car to speak to the driver, and
| as he was returning the lady in gray said to
him in low voice, every word perfectly
| audible to me and as chilling as an ice
| berg
Conductor, the gentleman opposite me is
losing his diamond
I | flushed to the roots of my hair, felt for
| the stone and discovered that it was hanging
by the spiral screw, and so nearly out that
quick movement would have sent it down
into the meshes of the car mat. replaced
it securely, bending back the wire for great
er safety, and then cast an imploring look
of apology, gratitude and humiliation upon
the kind stranger. Her face remained placid
but after moment demure smile stole in
to the corners of her mouth, and l don't
think it was provoked by what she SAW
through reading very attentively.
She left the car at Fourteenth street and
l gazed eagerly after her as she turned up
to Broadway, and then l must have sighed,
Perhaps because feared should never see
her again. What more natural than for me
to desire to know her? 1t was so kind and
so sensible of her to prevent my losing my
diamond. She was such gentle looking
creature, though she had spirit, as | saw
once in the CLEAN of her eyes, and those
eyes were 80 expressive OF intellectually,
and her perfect nose was only less beautiful
than her perfect carnation mouth. But,
pshaw need apologize now for my inter-
est then. 1t does not take any of us very
long to discover that. Love never asks the
question, why As the old song says, she
has gone from my gaze like beautiful
dream; If | could only meet her again.
Perhaps she was married. Not that it was
any of ny business, but somehow she did
not look married. She was girlish in spite
of her dignity. One thing that discovered
that there was a name on the tyleaf of her
book, the first of which was Maud. Per-
haps the book was not hers, and if II
was could hope to find in great city like
New York lady only knowing that heI
name was Maud. When l had arrived al
this stage of common sense l had reached
my place of business and after attending to
the first duty of the day, reading my mail
my thoughts few back to my lady in gray.
If the thing were within the bounds o.
possibility would like to find out who sht
is Just to thank her for her kindness tt
me-
How like a jackass l must have appeared
to her. When I remembered my imperti
nence in smiling would have been glad tt
have found some obliging friend to kick mt
down stairs for my idiocy. | bowed to the
inevitable and dismissed the affair with ,
sigh, but did not forget her face.
One rainy afternoon, about month ate
| met her in broadway stage. recognized
her in NONE mt and took seat, the onl,
one vacant, by her side. Hooked into he
face, and l knew she remembered me, bu
she did not exhibit the faintest gleam o
consciousness of my existence. 1t was wors
than Tantalus and the torments. Before sh
left the stage the rain fell in torrents.
hoped that she was not provided with al
umbrella, that might offer her the protectio
of mine, but glance showed me that sh
held one in her right hand. My unfortunat
luck again ! looked down at my damon
it sparkled like the sunbeams and as joyous
ly, but its dazzle conveyed no intelligence
me only it gave me CLEAN Of hope.
She was so near that ! could easily hav
played a trick, like one a friend of miu
once played, slip card into her cloak poct
3 ct. Nothing of that kind would go dow
with this queenly character Iperiectly we
knew.
l was forced to watch her again leave II
3 and turn down the street, holding her DIRE
$ so dexterously that it quite escaped the paw
!. ment and disclosed two neatly fitting lit
q boots.
y Perhaps l should have said before tn
my name is Eldridge, that / am lswye
o and Judge Clinton's junior partner In Il
a next Office to ours there are two young fe
W lows just started in law, who receive mo
'e calls from their lady friends than retainil
is fees from clients. One day as was leaviI
lr 10Y office saw my lady in gray go in thei