The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-06-05

CHORUS.
81 wish was in Dixie, hooray, hoorayl
In D:xie's land 4
Wen take our stand.
To live an die in Dixie;
Away. away, away down Souf in Dixie;..
-
A ROMANCE OF BROADWAY.
II have earned three shillings,
York, this blessed afternoonr' I ex-
claimed, with Unsurpassed exultation,
as l threw down my pen, which 1 had
been diligently using for four hours Il
was ponning IAN article" for certain
monthly" dear reader), pushed my
manuscripts from me,
and took yellow cigar from my hat,
which l have made my chief pocket
since my fifth year. the time, believe.
when my discriminating parents ex-
changed my infant cap for the manly
castor. Three York shillings have I
made this blessed day, heaven be thank
ed, and now can conscientiously take
a little ''ease in mine inn' Whereupon
/ ignited my cigar with a self-enkind-
ling apparatus, gift from my consid-
crate landlady-pray heaven she
charges 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 pro-
ceeded to speculate on things external.
1t was that calm, lovely time, which is
wont to usher in the twilight of sum-
mer evening. The roll of wheels in
beneath me was ceaseless.
Bright forms flashed by in gay car
riages! The happy, the gallant, the
beautiful, were ali, forth to take the
air on the fashionable evening drive!
Why was l not with the cavalcade?
Where was my Rosinante? Where was
my establishment" Echo answered
whereof l puffed away silently and
for few seconds, as these
mental queries assailed me; and, bless
ed soother of the troubled, oh. in
cigar! my philosophy re-
turned.
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. The editice first attracted my
attention bv it's architectural beauty,
and eventually fixed it by mystery,
that seemed, to nv curious eye, to be
one of its inmates!
A lady of dazzling beauty was an in
mate OF that mansion, and, for aught 1
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 spec
tacle Broadway presents of pleasant
afternoon. l saw her the first moment
/ took possession of my dormant nook,
and was struck with her surprising
loveliness. Every evening paid dis
tant homage to her beauty. Dare a
poor scribbler, mere penny-a-liner,
aspire to n nearer approach to such q
divinity, enshrined in dollars and
cents? No! / worshiped like publi-
can. afar off ''Tis distance lends en-
chantment to the view" But she was
not destined to be worshiped by ali.
One afternoon she was ut the window,
with gilt-leaved volume in her hand.
when a gentleman of the most grace
full bearing rode past my window. He
was well mounted and sat upon his
horse like an Arabian! He was what
the boarding school misses would call
an elegant fellow! a well-bred man
of the world, remarkably handsome
man! Tall, with a fine oval face, o
black. penetrating eye, and q mustache
upon his lip, together with fine figure
and the most perfect address, he was,
what should term, captivating man.
His air, and a certain indescribable
CONNIE il faut, bespoke him gentle
man. As he came opposite her window
his eye, as he turned it thither, became
fascinated by her beauty! How much
lovelier q really lovely creature ap-
pears when seen through plate glassr
tnvoluntarily he drew in his spirited
horse, and raised his hat! The action,
the manner, and the grace, were inim-
liable. At this unguarded moment the
hind wheel of a rumbling omnibus
struck his horse in the chest The an
imal reared high, and would have fall
en- backward upon his rider, had he
not with wonderful presence of mind
stepped quietly and gracefully out of
the stirrups to the pavement, as tho
horse, losing his balance, fell violently
on 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 evident
ly was to her, started from her seat
and screamed convulsively. The next
moment he had secured and remount-
ed his horse, which was only slightly
injured by the fall, acknowledged the
interest taken in his mischance by the
fair being who had been its innocent
cause (unless beauty were crime) by
another bow, and rode slowly and COM
posedly onward, as if nothing unusual
had occurred. The next evening the
carriage was at the door of the man
sion. The Hveried footman was stand
ing with the steps down. and the ham
die of the door in his hand. The
coachman WIS on the box. was, :s
usual, at nv nloW. The street door
opened. and with = light step the grace
full form OF my heroine came forth and
descended TO the carriage. At that mo-
ment (some men are surely born under
the auspices of more indulgent stars
than others) the stranger rode up and
bowed with ineffable grace, and (bless-
ed encounter that, with the omnibus
whee) his bow was acknowledged by
an inclination of the superb head, and
a smile that would make a man Of any
soul seek accidents ''in the cannon's s
mouth" He rode slowly forward and
in few seconds the carriage took the
same direction. There are no infer
ences to be drawn from this; reader.
All the other carriages passed the same
route. 1t was the customary one! Al
the melting of twilight into night, the
throng of drivers and riders repassed.
The Gladys" carriage Gt was a Ian
dau and the top was thrown back)
came last of all! The cavalier was
riding beside it! He dismounted as il
drew up before the door, assisted heI
to the pave. and took his leave. Fol-
several afternoons successfully, the
gentleman appearance was simulta.
neous with that of the lady at her car
riage.
One evening they were quite late
in returning. Finally, the landau
drew up before the door. 1t was toe
dark to see faces, but l could have
sworn that the equestrian was not the
stranger! No! He dismounted, open.
ed the door of the carriage. and the
gentleman and lady descended! The
footman had rode his horse. while he,
happy man, occupied seat ey the sids