Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-09-15
MISS GAY.
From Tinsley's MAGAZINE, !

OAO VI CAC 1I4etSSL )ldceS LII Luc LODI
don suburbs is Manville square, CT ap-
ham. It lies at the core of network Of
shady lanes and sequestred roads, where
the thrush and the black ird sin in the
quiet evening. The place is gathered
into apeaceful calm; and to find yourself
IN Manvllle square, after the dust and
turmoil Of the city, is as great change
as for the citizen Of a sleepy cathedral
town to find himself on prairie, with
the feeling Of inexhaustible relief always
arising from the absence of walls. But
in Manville square you find no solitude.
Lightly-swung broughams and lun.laus
and victorias brush over the smooth
roadway now and then; you can on no
fine day put your head out of o front
window without hearing the laughter of
rosy checked children and the patter Of
tiny feet. Here the sunlight seemed al
ways to come early and stay late Sum-
mer loved the place and fingered longer
here than even at Kew. The square had
no pretensions to splendor or wealth, or
fashion or distinction. The houses were
modern, well-bullt, wholesome and
roomy. The grass and shrubs in the in
closures were kept neatly and efficiently,
but there was no such prudery in the
gardening as prevented cricket to forty
year old boys, or the laughing scamper
of children through the trees. The genii
OF the place were peace and prosperous
plenty and courteous services. No angry
words ever invaded that temple of Lon
don. No dun ever cast shadow on it's
clean fagway or wholesome grass.
The houses all belonged to one land
lord, who was a rich man and owned
property in several other parts OF. Lon
don. He had made one rule over all his
house property, and that was to take ten
per cent. year less for his houses than
he could easily get, and to be much
more particular as to the people he &C
copied as tenants than most landlords.
1t was not enough to satisfy him that the
tenant was solvent and respectable; he
would also be convinced that the appli-
cant for house of his was free from
anything which could make him q disa-
greeable ~neighbor. Those who took
houses were to be clearly informed that
one of the advantages Of the place was
that there we're to be no dodgers in Man
vile square.
When DR.. Stephen Brooks took his
house he read the clause with satisfac-
ton. When man paid hundred and
thirty-si1 pounds q year for q house in
the suburbs he expected not to have
dodgers next door. Mrs. Brooks was de-
lighted at the stringency of this proviso.
They had had hard fight in the world.
They were childless. Z. Neither was now
young, and little responsibility be-
comes very acceptable in the middle life
of woman, when youth and matron-
hood have been spent in narrow ways.
For ten years DR.. Brooks and bus
wife lived q quiet, easy ifein the square;
and then, when zheswas sixty and she
ffty-fve, he died. he had saved little
money-not much. When all debts and
expenses had been paid, there was NO
more than fifteen hundred pounds fol
the widow. Her friends recommended
herstC give up the house at once, sell of
what furniture she would not absolutely
need, and take small house out farther.
She wrote to the landlord, and he re.
piled, saying that he would be most hap
Ply to do anything he could for her. HI
recommended her TO do nothing definite
for day or two until he had called. Be
tween the dispatch Of that letter and thu
visit to Mrs. Brooks, the landlord wal
observed to call at every house in til,
square. When he saw the widow he wa!
extremity polite and eOnsiderate. HI
hoped that she would not consider it i'm
pertinent on his part if he alluded to he
affairs. He couldnet help hearing peopl'
speak of her, for she and her husband
had been the most popular people in TIL
square. Among things he had .heart
the cause of her wishing to give up tn
house was, that her circumstances hat
naturally been reduced by her husband
deathsaasHesh ventpredto Comeswith
suggestioUN n NE did not ia dia
posed to adopt, she would, he felt sure
take as we'll meant = & All tie people il
the square were most anxious she shout,
not leave it, and would do everything i
their power to help her. He, too, Ishoul
be 10th TO lose an old and valued resident
Now, what lie came prepared to do wa
to cancel the subletting clause of he
lease. are, .,,sr
Thus it arose, in the year 1879, in on
house in Manville. square lodgings coul
be secured. and that Edwin Colthure
lived as alodgeE With Mrs.s Brooks. H
occupied Airooin at the top of the house
looking into the square. He. went int
the city every day Immediately afte
breakfast, and was not home tilt six j
the eveningsS He WIS quieteand nnas
samipgs spoke p ! laft, loY yqba Oh
never was so pleased as When. .he conl
steal in and ont ~1,nroroo;vo17~-1u 4.