The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-11-04


Mr.. Simpkins was unusually grave
and reserved. Bewildering kid
button boots stared at him from
the sugar-bowl. cherry colored bon.
net ribbons fioated in his tea, the
very napkins resolved themselves
into white petticoats with the snow
lest of trills.
"My DEAR" said Mrs. S, "wbat
makes you so melancholy?'
"EhT' said Mr.. Simpkins, start
ing from his reverie. "Oh, nothing.
Deuced tired. Hard day at the Of
fice.'
Poor old hubby" said Mrs s.,
soothingly. IL got that bonnet
to-day, dear"
Mr.. SImpkins grunted.
"Would you like to see it?" quer-
ried his wife, doubtfully.
At any other time Mr.. SImpkins
might have said 'yes;" but now,
with the reccollection of those
cherry ribbons uppermost in his
mind, the inspection of any other
bonnet would have been torture.
mo-" he replied, shortly, 81 don't
know anything about such gew
gaws. If it suits you, it will me-"
Mrs. Simpkins smiled.
"Pll go to Grace Church next
Sunday" she thought, land have
my revenge"
Mr.. Simpkins that night dreamed
thot he was in heaven, and was be-
lug driven about the streets of the
New Jerusalem in a Twenty Third
street stage, by a swift winged an
gel robed in cherry colored silk.
He went to his place of business
next day, still in a thoughtful and
reflective mood. Why the recollec-
ton of that beatific vision should
remain with him so perslsteHtly he
did not know. 1t gazed up at him
from the pages of his ledger, and
foated before him in the smoke of
his cigar. When at last he left the
Office and started home again, it ac-
companied him up Broadway. He
had turned into Union Square, and
nearly reached University Place,
when be came suddenly to halt. BY
all the gods of Greece, it was she!
She stood with her back toward
him, waiting for a car. Those
Hebe-like shoulders, the cherry rib
bons. He could not be mistaken.
Mr.. Simpkins stood still a dozen
yards behind. The lady picked her
way daintily toward it over the
muddy crossing. Again the snowy
ruffies and the enhancing, voluptu-
Gus, infatuating ankle! Mr.. Simp-
kins followed, and took his stand
on the front platform, crowded as
it was. He could not see into the
car, but, by nearly dislocating his
neck, and several times losing his
footing, he managed to observe
every passenger as he or she got on
or off. On went the car past Sew
enteenth street, 1t seemed to Mr.
Simpkins that the lady would never
get out again, and, as he went. Mr..
Simpkins busted himself with
thousand vain conjectures. Who
was she? Was she married or sin
gle? OF what nationality? Was
she beautiful? He had not seen
her face, but the possessor of such
a figure, he argued, could not be
otherwise than beautiful of feature.
Young? Yes, she was surely young
and patrician, too. No plebian
ever owned an instep like that. In
fact, so sure of all these things did
Mr.. Simpkins feel that he almost
dreaded the moment when the lady
should descend. and, perhaps ia
meeting him face TO face, destroy
at single blow his proudest illu
sions. He had not long to wait, for
at Thirty Fourth street the conduc-
tors bell rang, and the lady got out.
She crossed the street, and, with
Mr.. Simpkins following in q trans
port of admiration, entered an office
on the corner.
Now, as Mr.. Simpkins' luck
would have it, this office was the
real estate office of Mr.. John Bigler
and Mr.. John Bigler was the broth
er in-law of Mr.. Simpkins. Mr..
Simpkins halted suddenly in con-
fusion, and "walked round himself"
so to speak. The lady passed in
without noticing him. and disap-
peared from view. Mr.. Simpkins
stood for a moment irresolute in
the doorway, and then, with a de-
termination, dashed up stairs.
The offices of Mr.. Bigler were
situated on the second floor. They
consisted Of two rooms; an outer
one about ten feet square called by
Mr.. Bigler his reception ROOM"
and larger and more luxurious
one within reserved for the purpose
of confidential interviews. As Mr..
Simpkins expected, the lady was in
the private room, but the door
stood slightly ajar, and, as she sat
with her back toward it, he could
see her earnestly conversing with
the villainous Bigler. At that mo-
ment Mr.. Simpkins caught Bigler's
eye, and beckoned frantically to him
to come out. Bigler, thinking from
Simpkins' excited manner that the
house might be on fire, came quick
ly into the outer room. As he did
SO be swung the door wide open,
revealing to Mr.. Simpkins' en-
tranced gaze the lovely object of
his pursuit, her head resting upon
her small and delicately gioved
hand, her lace shawl dropping
gracefully from her shoulders, and
that pretty foot peeping saucily