Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-08-31


open window-the very one where the
mignonette box stood, and whence came
the Whit of the many blossomed flowers
In summer.
Just now nothing was visible in this
long green box except a vast crowd Of
tiny two-leaved plants, that might have
been baby cabbages, or cress, or any
thing-if one hadn't known they were
mignonette.
The upper half of the window was
shaded by a shabby sort of green blind;
the lower, open, framing, as I have said
before a woman's face.
The profile was toward me first.
Rather large and massive in outline, but
wonderfully Madonna like, with sleek
brown hair drawn simply back and
folded round comb.
We had pretty face or two in Para
disc place, but daintiress and neatness
were not qualities common among U.S..
But this woman was exquisitely neat,
and / could see the little snow-white
collar round her throat.
Presently, still lettering at my window,
she turned, and I saw her full face.
| A broad, noble brow, disguised by no
disfguring fringe of hair of any kind;
lambent eyes, clear and steadfast; and
very sweetest smile had ever seen be-
fore, or have ever seen since.
How did I know this?
Why, because she looked across, as I
did, and smiled at me.
That moment, out burst the lark at
Number Ten into q madness of trills and
roulades, and somehow the sound seemed
a sort of excuse for that silent greeting.
Of course I returned the smile-nay,
am not sure did not give the least bit
in the world of a nod as well. Then [
sat down to my desk, giving all my ener-
gies to the task of extricating a young
and beautiful countess out of tangle of
most trying circumstances into which |
had carefully led her the previous
evening.
Somehow the face at the window OPP
posite seemed a sort of inspiration.
Never had my thoughts flowed in a
clearer stream; never had the agony of a
suffering heroine piled up more thrill
ingly; never had the inevitable So happy
ending" foreshadowed itself so delight
fully.
[ began to weave q romance in my own
IL
The countess was safely landed on the
matrimonial shore after her struggles
through the waters of affliction. so l
could afford to be idle bit.
If kept waiting for "copy," the
printers devil was apt to scandalize the
the neighborhood (Which, though poor,
was eminently respectable by singing
low songs and whistling in an impudent
and distracted manner, hanging himself
on to the area rails in impossible atti-
trdes the while; but to-day his bundle
of manuscript was ready long before he
appeared-a state of affairs that / am
perfectly sure disappointed him extreme
lyas curtailing his opportunities of harry
ing the little world OF Paradise-place.
There was no more "copy" due for
nearly a week to come.
I would be idle for while; [ would
stroll into the park Of which we were all
SO proud, sit Oh a seat beneath tree
and watch the shabby children turning
somersaults and standing on their heads
III the grass; take a glance at the rholo-
dendrons beginning to break out into q
blaze of color; watch the laburnum
shaking its golden locks out in the soft,
warm wind; mediate on future diff
culties into which to lead aristocratic
feet, future depths OF unspeakable bliss
upon which to let the curtain drop
A single chop and a rice pudding in a
breakfast saucer for your dinner are
simple fare, but they will not preclude
the needy author from telling of magnif-
cent banquets and festivities in dazzling
halls of light. In the same way the
homely and occasionally sordid details OF
my daily life in no way clipped the
wings of my imaginings, and these
flights of fancy always seemed to have
fuller scope in the open air, when green
boughs waved in slow and stately fashion
between me and the blue sky beyond.
Yes, would go commune with nature
first ordering the chop and pudding to
be ready an hour hence.
[ would weave an intricate and excit
ing plot-a plot that would hold my
reader breathless, and cause my editor
to greet me, on my next visit to hi;
editorial sanctum, with his blandest
smile; and my heroine should he limned
after the pattern OF that sweet-faced
calm-eyed woman, my new neighbor.
had chosen a delightful seat. Quiet
and retired, yet within earshot Of chill
drens' voices and the quacking Of many
ducks, (for we had pond-quite large
pond, too-in our park, when, moving
slowly, and in strange, timid fashion
my new neighbor came along one of The
side walks.
confess to experiencing a shock.
sonfess that Pegasus, just about to soal
aloft, houndered pitiably.
The Mathematical woman was what
is called, in homeIy parlance, d crook
back.
A simple brown bonnet was tied ovel
her brown hair, the two nearly matched
each other. Her blue eyes-wonderfu
eyes they were IN very truthful Of q
sort of pathetic pleading, as if asking al
the world to be tolerant of her deformec
shape and awkward, shambing gait
looked at me as she passed. [ almost
fancy she would have stopped and taken