The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-12-01
CFrom the Living Age.1
MY FAITHFUL JOHNNY.

! was over, Lnen moved along tnaC de'
lightful coast. and were in Genoa IL
April. To speak of that stately city
as commercial town seems insulting
nowadays-and yet so it is. | recog.
nized at once the type | had known
in other days when | sat at the win,
dow of the hotel and watched the peo.
pie coming and going. 1t reminded
me Of my window in the Road, where
looking out, | saw the respectable City
people-clerks like John Ridgway
and merchants Of the same cut though
Of more substantial comfort-wendine
their way to their business in the
morning, and to their suburban homes
in the evening. do not know that ]
love the commercial world; but | like
to see that natural order of life, the
man going out to his work and labor
till the evening" The fashion of il
is different in a foreign town, but still
the life is the same. We changed our
quarters, however, after we had been
for some time in that city, so-called of
palaces, and were lodged in suite of
rooms very hard to get up to Though
the staircase was MARBLE but very
delightful when one was there; rooms
which overlooked the high terrace
which runs round d portion Of the
bay between the inns and the quays.
| forget what it is called. 1t is a
beautiful promenade, commanding the
loveliest view Of that most beautiful
bay and all that is going on in it. At
night, with all It's twinkling semicir-
Gle of lights, it was continual en-
chantment to me; but this or any Of
my private admirations are not much
to the purpose of my story Sitting
at the window, always my fav0rite
post, became acquainted with various
individual figures among those who
haunted this terrace Oid gentleuen
going out to sun themselves i'll the
morning before the heat was 800 great;
children and nursemaids. Genese wo-
men with their pretty wells, invaiids
who had got up the stairs, | cannot
tell how, aud sat painting on the
benches, enjoying the sea air and the
sunshine. There was one, however,
among this panorama Of passing fig
ures, which gave me startled sense
of familiarity. 1t was too far off to
see the man IS face. He was not an
invalid; but he was bent, either with
past sickness or with present care, and
walked with dropping head and
languid step. After watching him for
a time, | concluded (having always a
great weakness for making out other
peoples lives, how they fow) that he
had some occupation in the town from
which he escaped, whenever he had
leisure, to rest little and refresh HIM
self upon the terrace. He came vary
regularly, just at the time when Ital-
ian shops and offices have way of
shutting up, in the middle of the day,
very regularly. always, or almost al
the steps slowly and languidly, stopped
a little to take breath, and then walked
halfway round the terrace to certain
bench upon which he always seated
himself. Sometimes he brought his
luncheon with him and ate it there.
At other times, having once gained
that place, he sat quite still in cor
ner of it, not reading, nor taking any
notice Of other passers-by. No one
was with him, no one ever spoke to
him. When l noticed him first he
startled me- Whom was he like?
His bent figure, his languid step, was
like no one | could think of; but yet.
| said to myself, he is like somebody.
| established little friendship with
him, though it was friendship with
ont any return; for though could see
him he could not see ME, nor could
distinguish his face; and we never saw
him anywhere else, neither at church,
nor in the streets, not even OH the
festas when everybody was about; but
always just there on that one spot.
looked for him as regularly as the day
came, MY mothers old gentleman, 3
Chatty called him. Every body is old
who is not young to these children
but though he was not young h. did
not seem to me to be old. And be
puzzled rs much as he interested. me
Whom was he like? | never ever,
asked myself, Who was he? He was
nobody | had any way Of knowing
Some poor employe in ii Genoa office
how should know him2 could not
fee. at all sure, when + was cross
examined OF the subject whether I re
ally remembered any one whom hr
was Ike; bub Yet he had startled N.
more than can say.
Genoa, where we had friends All;
family reasons for staying, became
very hot as the spring advanced int,
early summer, and we removed to on
of the lovely little towns on the coas
at little distance. Santa Margheri
ta When we had been settled ther
for a few days Chatty came in to N
one evening with pale face II hay
just seen your old gentlemen" sh
said. Il think he must live out here;
but I saw by the expression of he
eyes that there was more to say. Sh
added after moment, And | know
whom he is like"
"Ah! you have seen his face"
said; and then, before she had spoker
it suddenly flashed on myself in me
ment. John Ridgway!" l cried.
Mother" said Chatty quite pal,
II think it is his ghost"
| went out with her instantly
where she had seen him, and we mad
some inquiries, but with no success
When | began to think it over, b
o was not like John Ridgway. He wf
8 bent and STOPPING, whereas John W;
erect; his head dropped, whereas ho
70 we'll | recollected poor Johns hea
- thrown back little, his hat upon Il
u back Of it, his visionary outlook ratht
% to the skies than to the ground. N
no, not like him bit; but yet it migl
70 70 be his ghost, as Chatty said. v
made great many inquiries, but f