Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-12-03
tFrom the Chicago Tribuue.l
THE IRON RAILING.

have been accustomed to walk down
Montgomery Street every morning fol
the last six years. My attention had
never been especially attracted by any
person in the throng [ met daily until
one day last October. Most of the PEG.
pie on the street were looking at some.
thing In a shop-window. was in hur-
~ and could not stop. As I passed the
crowd came face to face with young
girl about 90, whom L saw was very
beautiful. She passed me, and was
tempted to turn my head to look after
her, but politeness forbade. The fol
lowing day [ met the same young girl
again. Her beauty impressed me more
than on the former occasion. That day
/ could think of nothing but her lovely
face. 1t seemed to rise before me every
minute. The third day I was on the
lockout for her and was not disappointed.
For week met her every morning,
by which time had come to the conclu-
sion that must know her, but how such
an end was to be accomplished / could
not tell. Plan after plan occurred to
me, and finally I decided that [ would
watch and see if she might not bow to
some one of my acquaintance. Often
she bowed to ladies and gentlemen pass
ings but never to any one 1 knew. For
three weeks followed this plan. Each
morning brought disappointment, and
at last III desperation I determined
to follow her and find if possible where
she lived. The first morning I had
time I carried out my plan; as soon as
she passed me I turned and followed
her. She walked very briskly, and I
was obliged to hurry SO as not to lose
sight of her in the crowd. She walked
about six blocks toward the residence
streets, then turned from Montgomery
into side street, then into Concord
Avenue, a fashionable quarter of the
city, where she went into No. 875, a
large brown-stone house. The house
had very homely look with it's green
lawn and trees. I feared as my I'M
known beauty entered the gate she did
not live there, but greatly to my peace
of mind she took out latch-key, and ]
was convinced this must be her home.
Fortunately there was door plate, but
from the sidewalk it was almost impos-
sible to distinguish letter; and as /
did not wish to attract attention by
standing still and staring at the house ]
walked slowly from one end of the
block to the other, looking at each
house as I passed. After once passing ]
managed to decipher "T"; of the rest
/ could make nothing. I had almost
given up in despair, for one day at least
when some one going into the house
opened the door so that strong light
fell on the plate and read "Towner.'
Bat Towner alone was not very definite
aud without initials I feared [ should
again be obliged to give it up
When it occurred to me that [ knew the
name, street and number, could follow
down all the Towners in the directory
till / reached the one who lived at No.
875 Concord Avenne. With this
thought uppermost, I walked quickly
back to the last drugstore l had passed
aad asked to see the directory. The
name Towner seemed very common, al
though | was not favored with the
acquaintance of any. By following
down the column I at last found "Win
lam S. Towner, residence No. 875 Con
cord Avenue. Business. Architecture
IronWork. Towner, Fort & Co.,
Hancock Street" I could think of nc
way to begin the acquaintance except
through business transaction, and
what could find to buy of an architect
ural iron-dealer? Suddenly thought
of two little houses owned. They ha6
been left me by cousin and had always
been a great burden, as / was not able
TO sell them, and had the trouble anc
Worry of hearing complaints from ten
ants continually; but now would make
use of them. In front of the houses
were small grass-plats which could bt
surrounded by iron railing, and jim tina
way I would become known to the firm
If not personally to Mr.. Towner.
The next thing was to see my agenr
aud have him measure the number o.
feet required. My agent was fortunately
in, and [ went directly to business. He
promised to send his clerk to measure
the ground that very afternoon, and
then inquired if be might ask of VIVA
firm I intended buying the railing. ]
told him of "Towner, Foot & Co." Ht
then asked if | knew any member of the
firm, for If I did not he should be very
GLAD to introduce me to Mr.. Towner, al
he had had good many business trans
actions and was well acquainted with
him. J tried TO answer in my usual
voice, but felt SO bubbling over with
ioy at the prospect of obtaining an intro.
duction to Mr.. Towner that feared I
betrayed some of it in my voice, and
could hardly collect myself enough to