St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-06-14
A ROMANCE OF BROADWAY.

II have earned three ShllllngS Ork,
this blessed afternoon l exclaimed,
with ill-suppressed exultation as !
threw down my pen, which l had been
diligently using for four hours U was
penning tan article" for a certain
monthly dear reader), pushed my
sely-written manuscripts from me,
and complacently took a yellow cigar
from my hat, which l have made my
chief pocket since my fifth year; the
time, 1 believe, when my discriminating
parents exchanged my infant cap for
the manly castor. Three York shillings
have made this blessed day, Heaven
be thanked, and now l can conscien-
tiously take little lease in mine inn!'
Whereupon ignited my cigar with a
self-enkindling apparatus, gift from
my considerate landlady-pray Heaven
she charge it not in her bill-to save
her candles, and ascending the three
steps to my window, l 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.
Bright forms flashed by in gay car.
riages! The happy, the gallant, the
beautiful, were all forth to take the air
on the fashionable evening drive! Why
was not with the cavalcade? Where
was my Rosinante? Where was my
establishment Echo answered
''where?' puffed 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.
Diagonally 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 edifice first attracted my
attention by its architectural beauty,
and eventually fixed it by a mystery
that seemed, to my curious eye, sur
rounding one of its inmates. But ]
will throw into the story-vein what
have to relate, for it is a novelette, in
itself. 1 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 q flower or two in her hair,
she was seated at the drawing-room
window. gazing out upon the gay
spectacle Broadway exhibits of 8
pleasant afternoon l saw her the frs,
moment took possession of my dor
mant nook, and was struck with hel
surprising loveliness. Every evening
l paid distant homage to her beauty
Dare poor scribbler, mere penny-a
liner, aspire to a nearer approach tt
such a divinity, enshrined in dollar:
and cents? No! l worshiped like s
publican, afar of. "'Tis distance lend:
enchantment to the view." But she
was not destined to be worshiped by all
One afternoon she was at her window
with a gilt-leaved volume in her hand
when 3 gentleman of the most graceful
bearing rode past my window. Hewa:
well mounted. and sat his horse like
an Arabian! He was what the boarding
school misses would call an elegant fel
low. a well-bred man of the world, .
remarkably handsome man! Tall, with
a fine oval face, a black, penetrating
eve. and mustache upon his lip, to
gether with fine figure and the mos
perfect address, he was, what should
term, captivating man. His air, and
a certain indescribable CONNIE IL fdut
bespoke him agentleman. As he came
opposite her window his eve, as he
turned it thither. became fascinated BY
her beauty! How much lovelier :
really lovely creature appears wher
seen through plate glass"' Involun
tarily, he drew in his spirited horse ant
raised his hat. The action, the man
ner and the grace were inimitable. A
this unguarded moment the hind whee
of rumbling omnibus struck his horse
in the chest. The animal reared high
and would have fallen backward upo1
his rider, had he not with remarkable
presence of mind stepped quietly ant
gracefully from the stirrupto the pave
ment, as the horse, losing his balance
fell violently upon his side. The lady
who had witnessed with surprise the in
voluntary homage of the stranger. fol
such. from her manner of receiving it
he evidently was to her. started from
her seat and screamed conyulsively