Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-04-16
lFrom Every Other Saturday.
A ROMANCE OF BROADWAY.

down my pen, which bad been diligent.
ly using for four hours Ct was pennina
San article for certain ssmonthlv. :,
dear reader), pushed my closely written
manuscripts from me, and complacently
took yellow cigar from my hat, which
l have made my chief pocket since my
fifth year, the time, I believe, when my
discriminating parents exchanged my in.
FAINT cap for the manly castor. Three
York shillings have I made this blessed
day, heaven be thanked, and now I can
conscientiously take lite cease in
mine inn!" Whereupon I ignited nv CT
gar with self enkindling apparatus. a
gift from my considerate landlady-prav
heaven she charge it not in her bill-to
save her candles, and ascending the
three steps to my window, I seated N.Y.
self in my accustomed chair, and forth
with began to speculate on things ex-
ternal. 1t was that calm, lovely time.
which is wont to usher in the twilight of
the summer evening. The roll of wheels
in Broadway beneath me was ceaseless.
Bright forms flashed by in gay carriages!
The happy, the gallant, the beautiful.
were oil forth to take the air on the
fashionable evening drive! Why was 1
not with the cavalade? Where was nv
Rosinante? Where was my ''establish-
ment?' Echo answered "where?' I
pulled away silently and vigorously for q
few seconds, as these mental queries as
sailed me; and, blessed smoother of the
trouble, oh, incompatible cigar! NV
philosophy returned.
Diagonally opposite to my window
stands one of the proudest structures
on Broadway. It is costly with stone
and marble, lofty porticos and colon
nades. This edifce first attracted nv
attention by its architectural beauty,
and eventually fixed it by a mystery,
that seemed, to my curious eye, SUR
rounding one ofits inmates! But I will
throw into the story-vein what I have to
relate, for it is novelette, in itself. I
can unveil you the mystery, lady!
A lady of dazzling beauty was ON in
mute OF that mansion, and, for aught I
know to the contrary, its only inmate.
Every afternoon, arrayedin simple white.
with flower or two in her hair, she was
seated atthe drawiug-room window, gag
ing out upon the gay spectacle Broad
way exhibits of pleasant afternoon. I
saw her the first moment I took possess
sion Of my dormant nook, and was struck
with her surprising loneliness. Every
evening I paid distant homage to her
beauty. Dare poor scribbler, mere
penny a-liner, aspire to nearer ap.
proach to such q divinity, enshrined in
dollars and cents? No! 1 worshipet1 like
a publican, afar of. "Tis distance
lends enchantment to the view" But
she was not destined to be worshiped bv
all. One afternoon she was at her win
dow, with a gilt-leaved volume In her
hand, when a gentleman of the most
graceful bearing rode past my window.
He was well mounted, and sat his horse
like an Arabian! He was what the
boarding. school misses would call IN
elegant fellow! a we'll bred woman of the
world, aremarkably handsome man Tall.
with fine oval face, black, penetrat-
ing eye, anda mustache upon his lin. to.
gether with fine figure and the most
perfect address, he was, what 1 should
term, captivating man. His air. and
certain indescribable CONNIE il fault.
bespoke him gentleman. As he cao1e
opposite her window his eye, as he
turned it thither, became fascinated bv
her beauty! How much lovelier real
" lovely creature appears, when seen
through ''plate glass!' - Involuntarily.
he drew in his spirited horse. and
raj; ed his hat! The action, the manner.
and the grace, were inimitable. At this
unguarded moment, the hind wheel of q
rumbling omnibus struck his horse in
the chest. The animal reared high, aud
would have fallen backward upon his
rider; had he not with remarkable pres.
ence ofmind stepped quietly and graceful
" from the stirrup to the pavement, as the
horse, losing his balance, fell violently
upon his side. The lady, who had wit
messed with surprise the Involuntary
homage Of the stranger, for such, from
her manner Of receiving it, he evidently
was to her, started from her seat and
screamed convulsively. The next mo-
ment he had secured and remounted his
horse, who was only slightly stunned By
the fall, acknowledged The interest taken
in his miscbapce BY the fair being who
had been its innocent cause (unless
beauty were crime) by another bow.
and rode slowly and composedly onward.
as if nothing unusual had occurred.
The next evening the carriage was at
the door Of the mansion. The liveried
footman was standing with the stems
down, and the handle Of the door in his
band. The coachman was seated upon
his box. ! was, as usual, at my window.