Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-01-01
THE IRON RAILING.
A Love Quest Which Ended In
an Unorthodox Manner.

have been accustomed to walk down
Montgomery street every morning for
the last six years. My attention had
never been especially attracted by any
person in the throng l met daily until
one day last October. Most of the peo-
pie on the street were looking at some
thing in shop-window. l was in a
hurry and could not stop. AS passed
the crowd came face to face with a
young girl about twenty, whom saw
was very beautiful. She passed me,
and was tempted to turn my head to
look after her, but politeness forbade.
The following day met the same young
girl again. Her beauty impressed me
more than on the former occasion.
her lovely face. It seemed to rise be-
fore me every minute. The third day
was on the lookout for her and was
not disappointed. For week / met
her every morning, by which time |
had come to the conclusion that must
know her, but how such an end was to
be accomplished / could not tell. Plan
after plan occurred to me, and finally l
decided that l would watch and see if
she might not bow to some one of my
acquaintances. Often she bowed to
ladies' and gentlemen passing, but never
TO any one knew. For three weeks i
followed this plan. Each morning
brought disappointment, and at last in
desperation determined to follow her
and find it possible where she lived.
The first morning had time l carried
out my plan; as soon as she passed me
/ turned and followed her. She walked
very briskly, and was obliged to hur-
nv so as not to lose sight of her in the
crowd. She walked about six blocks
toward tho rooidonoo -stroots, -thon
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 its green lawn and
trees. l feared as my unknown beauty
entered the gate she did not live there,
but greatly to my peace of mind she
WINGED this must be her home. For
tunatelv there was door-plate, but
from the sidewalk it was almost impos-
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 l passed After once passing
managed to decipher ''T''; of the
rest could make nothing. had al
most given up in despair, for one day
at least, when some one going into the
house opened the door so that a strong
light fell on the. plate and Tread Toy
definite, and without initials L feared l
should again be obliged to give it up.
When it occurred to me that knew the
name, street and number, l could fol-
low down all the Towners in the direc-
tory till reached the one who lived al
No. 875 Concord avenue. With this
thought uppermost, / walked quickly
back to the last drugstore had passed
and asked to see the directory. The
name Towner seemed very common
although was not favored with the
acquaintance of any, By following
down the column at last found Evil
liamtS. Towner, residence No. S75 Con
cord avenue. Business, Architecture
homework. Towner, Fort &- Co.,
Hancock street." / could think of M
way to begin the acquaintance excep
through u business transaction, anC
what could / find to buy of an architec
tural iron-dealerP Suddenly / though
of two little houses owned. They haC
been left me by cousin and had al
ways been great burden, as was no
able to sell them, and had the troubl
and worry of hearing complaints from
tenants continually; but now l word'
make use OF them. In front of tn
houses were small grass-plats which
could be surrounded by iron railing
aid in that way / would become know
TO the firm if not personally to Mr.
Towncr.
The next thing was to see my agen
and have him measure the number O
feetrequired. My agent was forum
ately in, and l went directly to busi
ness. He promised TO send his clerk
measure the ground that very after
noon, and then inquize; It he Nigh
ask of what firm l intended buyin
the railing. l told him of ''Tow
ner, Foot & Co." He then aske
il knew any member of the firm, fo
II l did not he should be very glad {
introduce me to Mr.. Towner, as
had had n good many business transa'
tions and was well acquainted wit
him. / tried to answer in my usui
voice, but felt so bubbling over wit
Joy Mt the prospect of obtaining an IL
PRODUCTION 10 Mr.. Towner that fearo
Il betrayed some of it in my voice, an
could hardly collect myself enough
make an appointment for us to 60 Il
gether to the Office of Towner, Foot
Co. Ten the following morning ws
fixed for the time. felt / could M
90 earlier, as did not wish to mil
any chance of seeing my unknow
beauty. All day my spirits were veI
high at the thought of really meetin
Mr.. Towncr, though how an introdu
ton merely for business purposes WI
TO be the foundation of a friendship
did not know. Twas not bad-lookin
fellow, but still not so attractive as
cause any one 70 fall in love with me
ant sight; still, / was hopeful. ID