Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-06-17
A Romance of Broadway.

lOur IL WAS oil dIGlCl6 1OT
a certain monthly" dear reader,) pushed
my closely-written manuscripts from me,
and took yellow cigar from my hat, which
year, the time, believe, when my discrimi-
mating parents exchanged my infant cap for
the manly castor. Three York shillings have
made this blessed day, heaven be thank
ed, and now I can conscientiously take a
little lease in mine inn Whereupon |
ignited my cigar with self enkindling APP
paratus, a gift from my considerate land
lady-pray heaven she charges it not in her
bill-to save her candles, and ascending the
three steps to my window, seated myself
in my accustomed chair, and forthwith pro-
ceeded to speculate on things external. 1t
was that calm, lovely time, which is wont
to usher in the twilight of summer even
ing. The roll of wheels in Broadway
beneath me was ceaseless. Bright forms
flashed by in gay carriages The happy,
the gallant, the beautiful, were ali forth to
take the air on the fashionable evening
drive Why was I not with the cavalcade?
Where was my Rosinante? Where was my
establishments Echo answered ''where?''
I pulled away silently and vigorously for a
few seconds, as these mental queries assail-
ed me; and, blessed soother Of the troubled,
oh, incompatible cigar my philosophy re-
turned.
Diagonally opposite. to my window stands
one OF the proudest structures on Broad
way. 1t is costly with stone and marble,
lofty porticos and colonnades. The edifice
first attracted my attention by its architec-
tural beauty, and eventually fixed it by a
mystery, that seemed, to my curious eye,
to be surrounding one OF its inmates
1aI ~
Of that mansion, and, for aught know to
the contrary, it's only inmate. Every after
noon, arrayed in simple white, with a flow
er or two in her hair, she was seated at the
drawing room window, gazing out upon the
gay spectacle Broadway presents of plea
SAINT afternoon. I saw her the first moment
l took possession of my dormant nook, and
was struck with her surprising loveliness.-
Every evening paid distant homage to her
beauty. Dare poor scribbler, mere
penny -a-liner, aspire to nearer approach to
such divinity, enshrined in dollars and
cents? No! l worshipped like publican,
afar off. "'Tis distance lends enchantment
to the view." But she was not destined to
be worshipped by all. One afternoon she
was at the window, with gilt.leaved vol
ume in her hand, when gentleman of the
most graceful bearing rode past my win
dow. He was well mounted and sat upon
his horse like an Arabian He was what
the boarding school misses would call an
elegant fellow a well-bred man of the
world, remarkably handsome man Tall,
with fine oval face, black, penetrating
eye, and mustache upon his lip together
with fine figure and the most perfect ad-
dress, he was, what should term, a cap
tivating man. His air, and a certain indie
.1,a1,1 a Fl, hos l.
tlemah. AS he came opposite her window
his eye, as he turned it thither, became
fascinated by her beauty! How much
lovelier a really lovely creature appears
when seen through plate glassY Involun-
tarily he drew in his spirited horse, and
raised his hat! The action, the manner, and
the grace, were inimitable. At this un-
guarded moment the hind wheel of rum
bling omnibus struck his horse in the chest,
The animal reared high, and would have
fallen backward upon his rider, had he not
with wonderful presence of mind stepped
quietly and gracefully out of the stirrups to
the pavement, as the horse, losing his bal
ance, fell violently on his side. The lady,
who had witnessed with surprise the in
voluntary homage of the stranger, for such
from her manner of receiving it, he evident
" was to her, started from her seat and
screamed convulsively. The next moment
he had secured and remounted his horse,
which was only slightly injured by the fall,
. acknowledged the interest taken in his mis-
chance by the fair being who had been its
innocent cause unless beauty were a crime
by another bow, and rode slowly and COM
posedly onward, as if nothing unusual had
occurred. The next evening the carriage
was at the door of the mansion. The liv-
cd cfandinor fla c4o
down, and the handle of the door in his
hand. The coachman was on the box. |
was, as usual, at my window. The street
door opened, and with light step the
graceful form of my heroine came forth and
descended to the carriage. At that moment
(seme men are surely born under the au-
spices of more indulgent stars than others)
the stranger rode up and bowed with inef-
fable grace, and blessed encounter that,
with the omnibus wheeD his bow was &C
knowledged by an inclination of that superb
head, and smile that would make man
of any soul seek accidents Sin the lannon's
mouth" He rode slowly forward and in a
few seconds the carriage took the same di-
rection. There are no differences to be
drawn from this, reader. all the other
carriages passed the same route 1t was
the customary one! At the melting of twi-
light into night, the throng of drivers and
riders repassed. The 'lady's'' carriage lit
was landau and the top was thrown back)
came last of all. The cavalier was riding
beside it! He dismounted as it drew up be-
fore the door, assisted her to the pave, and
took his leave. For several afternoons sue
cessively, the gentleman's appearance was
simultaneous with that of the lady at her
carriage.
One evening they were quite late in re-
turning. Finally, the landau drew up be-
fore the door. 1t was too dark to see faces,
but could have sworn that the equestrian
was not the stranger! No! He dismount-
ed, opened the door of the carriage, and the
gentleman and lady descended! The foot
man had ridden his horse, while he, happy
man, occupied seat by the side of the fair
onel watched the progress of this amour
for several days, and still the stranger had
never entered the house. One day, how
ever, about O'Clock, saw him lounging
past, with that ease and self-possession
which characterized him. He passed and
repassed the house two or three times, and |
then rather hastily ascending the steps, pull |
ed the bell. The next moment he was adj |
mitted, and disappeared from my sight,
But only for moment, reader! An attic
hath its advantages! The blinds OF the
drawing room were drawn, and impervious
any glance from the street; but the leaves
were turned so as to admit the light OF heav-
en- and my own gael [ could see through
the spaces directly down into the room as
distinctly as if there was no obstruction.-
This give as a hint to all concerned who
have revolving leaves to their Venetian
blinds Attic gentlemen are much edited