The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-06-05
A ROMANCE OF BROADWAY.

al have earned three shillings, York,
This blessed afternoon - I exclaimed,
with ill-suppressed exultation, as |
threw down my pen, which | had been
diligently using for four hours (I was
penning s'an article for q certain
''monthly,n dear reader), pushed my
closely-written manuscripts from me,
and complaccntly took a yellow cigar
from my hat, which have made my
chief pocket since my fifth year; the
time, 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 / can conscien-
tiously take little lease in mine innf'
Wherenpon ! ignited my cigar with q
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
steps to my window. | seated myself in
my accustomed chair, and forthwith be-
gan to speculate on things external. It
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 i'll gay car
riagesi The happy, the gallant, the
beautiful, were all forth to take the air
on the fashionable evening drive! Why
was / not with the cayalcade? Where
was my Rosinante? Where was my
''eseablishmentp'' Echo answered
swhere?' l pulled away silently and
vigorously for a few seconds, as these
mental queries assailed me; and, blessed
smoother of the troubled, oh, incom-
parable cigarl 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 mystery
that seemed, to my curious eye, sur.
rounding one of its inmatesi But
will throw into the story-vein what
have to relate, for it is a novelette, in
itself | 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 a flower or two in her hair
she was seated at the drawing-roon
window. gazing out upon the ga,
spectacle Broadway exhibits of
pleasant afternoon, / saw her the frs
moment | took possession of my dor
mant nook, and was struck with he
surprising loveliness. Every evenin,
Ipaid distant homage to her beauty
Dare poor scribbler, mere penny "a
liner, aspire to nearer approach 4
such divinity, enshrined in dollar
and eentsP No! / worshiped like
publican, afar of. "'Tis distance lend
enehantment to the view.n But sh,
was not destined to be worshiped by all
One afternoon she was at her window
with gilt-leaved volume Ia her hand
when gentleman Of the most graceful
bearing rode past my window. Hewa
well mounted, and sat his horse lik
an Arabian! He was what the boardin,
school misses would call an elegant fel
low! well-bred man of the world,
remarkably handsome man! Tall, wit
a tlne oval face, black, penetratin,
eye, and n1ustache upon his lip, to
gether with a fine figure and the mos
perfect address, he was, what | shouI.
term, captivating man. His air, an,
2 aeertain indescribable co7nnae u faut
bespoke him agentleman. As hecam
opposite her window his eye, as b
turned It thither, became fascinated b
her beauty! How much lovelier
really lovely creature appears whel
seen through ''plate glassi'' Involun
tarily, he drew in his spirited horse an
raised bis hat! The action, the man
ner and the grace were inimitable. A
tnls unguarded moment the hind whee
q rambling omnibus struck his hors
N the chest. The animal reared high
ana would have fallen backward upo
nus rider, had he not with remarkabl
presence of mind stepped quietly an,
gracefully from the stirrupto the pave
Ment as the horse. losing his balance
edsviolently upon his side. The Iady
VINO had Witnessed with surprise the in
Voluntary homage of the stranger, fo
such, from her manner of receiving il
ne evidently was to her, started fror
ase seat and screamed copyulsiYsly