The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-10-13

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ways that lead into town and its bus
tie have interests Of this kind. [ am
one Of the people, [ fear somewhat
vulgar minded, who love my window
and to see people pass. do not care
for the dignity Of seclusion. | would
rather not, unless [ were sure OF being
always a happy member Of a large,
cheerful household, be divided from
the common earth even by the trees
and glades of the most beautiful park.
[ like to see the men go to their work,
and the women to Their marketing.
But no; the latter occupation is out of
date-the women 60 to their work too;
slim young daily governesses, hard
worked music-mistresses with the in
variable roll Of music. How soon one
gets to know them all, and have a
glimmering perception Of their indi-
vidualities though you may see them
every day for years before you learn
their names!
After had been acquainted (at dis
tance) with him for some time, and
had got to know exactly what o'clock
it was when he passed, change came
upon my clerk. One summer evening
[ saw him very much smartened up,
his coat brushed, pair Of trousers on
with which [ was not fmiliar, and a
rosebud in his button-hole, coming
back. Twas thunderstrucE. 1t was a
step so contrary to all traditions that
my heart stopped beating while I
looked at him. It was all [ could do
not to run down and ask what was
the matter. Had something gone
wrong in the city? Was there a
panic, or crisis, or something in the
money market? But no; that could
not be. The spruceness Of the man,
the rose in his coat, contradicted this
alarm; and as | watched disquieted,
10! he crossed the road before my
eyes, and turning down Pleasant
Place, which was opposite, disappear
ed, as | family perceive in the dis
tance, into one of the houses. This
was the first Of a long series of visits.
And after a while I saw her, the OBJ
ject of these visits, the heroine of
the romance She also was one Of
those with whom I had made ac-
quaintance at my window trim lit
tie figure in black, with a roll Of mu-
sic, going out and in two or three
times day, giving music lessons. |
was quite glad to think that she had
been one Of my favorites too. My
clerk went modestly at long intervals
at first, then began to come oftener,
and finally settled down as nightly
Wis itor. But this was long and slow
process, and | think it had lasted for
years before | came into actual con-
tact with the personages Of this quiet
drama. It was only during the sum-
mer that l could see them from my
window and observe what was going
on. When at the end of long win
ter [ first became aware that he went
to see her every evening, confess to
feeling little excitement at the idea
of marriage shortly to follow; but
that was altogether premature. 1t
went on summer after summer, win
ter after winter, disappearing by in
tervals from my eyes, coming fresh
with the spring flowers and the long
evenings. Once passing down Pleas
ant Place towards some scorched
fields that lay beyond that be-
gan to be invaded by new houses and
cut up by foundation digging, and
road making, and brick laying, but
where there was still room for the
boys, aud my boys, among others, to
play cricket had a glimpse Of
little interior which quickened my in
terest moro and more. The houses in
Pleasant Place were small and rather
shabby, standing on one side only of
the street. The other was formed by
the high brick wall Of the garden of
big, old fashioned house, still stand
ing amid all the new invasions which
had gradually changed the character
of the district. There were trees vis-
ible over the top Of this wall, and it
was believed in the neig ghborhood that
the upper windows of the houses in
Pleasant Place looked over it into the
garden. In fact, [ had myself not
long before condoled with the propri-
etor of the said garden upon the in
convenience of being thus overlooked.
For this hypocrisy my heart smote me
when | went along the little street,
and saw the little houses all gasping
with open windows for a breath of
the air which the high wall intercept
ed. They had little front gardens
scorched with the fervid heat. At the
open window of No. z sat my clerk,
with his colorless head standing out
against the dark unknown of the
room. His face was in profile. 1t
was turned towards some one who was
singing softly the song of which |
have placed the name at the head of
this story. The soft, pensive music
came tender and low out of the un-
seen room. The musician evidently
needed no light, for it was almost twi-
light, and the room was dark. The
accompaniment was played in the
truest taste, aoft as the summer air
chat carried the sound to our ears.
Il know! | cried to my companion
with some excitement, that is what
he is. [ have always felt that was the
name for him." The name for
whom 2" ahe asked, hewildered. MY
faithful Johnny" I replied; which
filled her with greater bewilderment
still.
And all that summer long the
faithful Johnny went and came as
usual. Often he and she would take
little walks in the evening, always al
the same twilight hour. i seemed
the moment Of leisure, as if she had
duties at home from which she wa:
, free just then. When we went away
in August they were taking theil
. modest little promenades together il
the cool of tue evening; and when W.
came hack In October. as long as tn