The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-08
A ROMANCE OF BROADWAY.

-o----
A ROMANCE OF BROADWAY.
81 have earned three shillings, York,
this blessed afternoon ~ l exclaimed.
with Unsurpassed eXultation, as !
threw down my pen, which | had been
diligently using for four hours Ct was
penning San article" for a certain
monthly" dear reader). pushed nv
closel y-writ.en manuscripts from me.
and complacently took a yellow cigar
from my hat, which | have made nv
chief pocket since my fifth year; the
time, believe, when my discriminating
parents exchanged my infant cap for
the manly castor. Three York shilings
have made this blessed day, Heaven
be thanked, and now | can conscien-
tiously take little cease in mine innr'
Nhereupon | ignited my cigar with a
self-enkindling apparatus, a gift from
my considerate landlady-pray Heaven
she charge it not in her bill-to save
her candles. and ascending the three
steis to my window. | seated myself in
my accustomed chair, and forthwith be-
gan to speculate on things external. 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.
8rlght forms flashed by in gay car
riages! The happy, the gallant, the
beautiful, were all forth to take the air
on the fashionable evening d i've! Why
was | not with the cayaicade? Where
was my ROs;nante? Where was my
establishments" Echo answered
-'where?' 1 pulled away silently and
vigorously for few seconds, as these
mental queries aSSailed me; and, blessed
smoother of the troubled, oh, incom-
parable cigar! my philosophy returned.
Diagonaily opposite TO my window
stands one of the prOudest structures
on Broadway. 1t is costly with stone
and marble, lofty porticoS and colon
nades. This ediiice first attracted my
attention by its architectural beauty,
and eventually fixed it by mystery
that seemed, to my curious eve, sur
rounding one of its inmates! But
will throw into the story vein what
have to relate y6or it is novelette, in
itself. l can unveil you the mystery,
lady!
a lady of dazzling beauty was an in
mate of that mansion, and, for aught |
know to the contrary, its only inmate.
Every afternoon, arrayed in simple
white, with flower or two in her hair,
she was seated at the drawing-room
window, gazing out upon the gay
spectacle Broadway exhibits of a
pleasant afternoon saw her the first
moment L took possession of my dor
mant nook, and was struck with her
surprising loneliness. Every evening
paid distant homage to her beauty.
Dare poor scribbler, mere pennY-a.
liner, aspire TO a nearer approach TO
such divinity, enshrined in dollars
and cents? MOI | worshiped like
pui lican, afar of. "'Tis distance lends
enchantment to the view" But she
was not destined to be worshiped bv all.
One afternoon she was ut her window.
ayith gilt leaved volume in her hand,
when q gentleman of the most graceful
bearing rode past my window Hewas
well mounted. and sat his horse like
an Arabian! He was what the boarding
school misses would call an elegant fell
low! a well bred man of the world,
remarkably handsome man! Tall, with
tine oval face, n black, penetrating
eye, and muStache upon his lip, to-
gether with fine figure and the most
perfect address, he was, what | should
term. captivating man. His air, and
n certain indeScribable CONNIE u faut,
bespoke him agentlemaa. As he came
opposite her window his eve, as he
turned it thither. became fascinated by
h fNvI
really lovely creature appears when
seen through plate glass" Involun-
tarily, he drew in his spirited horse and
raised his hat! The action, the man.
ner and the grace were inimitable. At
this unguarded moment the hind wheel |
of rumbliug omnibus struck his horse !
IN the chest. The animal reared high, |
and would have fallen backward upon |
his Rider, had he not with remarkable |
presence of mind stepped quietly and |
gra, efully from the stirrup to the pave |
ment, as the horse, losing his balance,
fell violen ly upon 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 evidently was to her, started from |
her seat and screamed convulSivelY. |
The next moment he had secured and |
remounted his horse, who was only
81 ghtly stunned by the fall, acknowi-
edged the interest taken in his mis-
chance by the fair being who had been its
Innocent cause (unlesS beauty were a
'c'ime) BY another bow. az rode slowly
and comp0Sedly onward, as if nothing
unusual had occurred The next even
ang the carriage was at the door of the
mansion. The Gveried footman was
standing with the steps OWN. and the
handle of the door in his hand. The
coachman was seated upon his box. /
was, as usual. at my wRndow. The
street door opened, and with a ignt
step the graceful form of my heroine
came forth and descended to the CARR
age. At that moment (some men surely
are born under the auspices of more
indulgent stars than others) the stranger
rode up, bowed with inc table grace and
blessed encounter that, with the omn;-
bIssywheel) his bow was acknowledged
by an inclination of her superb head.
and a smile that would make man of