The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-08-26
JOHN S7ANTON'S MISTAKE.

ant Tor several months, and II was with
a considerable degree of interest that
John Stanton looked from his window
just across the street one afternoon
and saw Il furniture van being unloadcd
on the sidewalk and its contents carried
into the pretty little vine-wreathcd
cottage.
lie had sprained his ankle several
days before, and had been an unwill-
ing prisoner in his room ever since, so
even as small an event as the arrival of
tenant in the opposite house was a
welcome break in the monotony of his
days.
lie amused himself by idly wonder
ing what sort of people the new occu-
pants would prove to be, and he tried
TO picture them to himself. They
were evidently people of culture and
refinement, for a handsome piano was
one of their possessions, and several
bookcases indicated wcll-filcd
library.
Two loads of furniture came before
the new occupants of the cottage made
their appearance. just as the van was
going away after dcpositing its second
load two ladies came up the street,
whom John surmisscd at once were
his new neighbors, as one was burdened
with clock and the other was carry
ing bird cage.
"What a little beauty !" exclaimed
John enthusiastically as his eyes fell
on the face of the younger Of the two
ladies.
Just as she reached the gate a mis-
chievous puff of wind caught her hat
and before she could hastily discngage
one hand from her burden her head
gear went whirling down the street
under the horses feet, small arab
who had witnessed the catastrophe in
hot pursuit.
John did not regret this accident, for
il gave him such an excellent opportu-
nifty to admire his pretty ncighbor.
The wind blew her golden hair
around her flushed face and he only
caught glimpse of her features, but
that one glance was sufficient to assure
him that his first impression of her
beauty was correct.
She had slender, graceful figure
'just an armful," thought John to
himself, and her foot was as small and
shapcly as her little white hands.
John cnvied the ragged little urchin
the bright smile which accompanied
her thanks for the recovery of her hat
and as she vanished through the open
door he set his wits TO work to contrivc
some plan by which he might become
acquainted with this little cnchantress
When his landlady brought up his
dinner and seated herself for Il little
chat he asked, with as great a show of
unconccrn rs he could assume, if she
knew who had rented Rose Villa.
Mrs. and Miss Vaughan, | believe
their names are, answered the land
lady. "Thc husband is coming after II
time. He has business in the city Just
now that keeps him there. 1t will be
nice to have ncighbors over there again,
it's 50 lonely like to have the house
shut up all the time
Yes" asscnted John indiifcrently,
as if the newcomers were not of the
| slightest consequence to him.
The next day passed far more pleas
antly for him than any of the previous
days of his imprisor ent had done, for
from behind his lace curtain he watched
every movement of his new neigh
| bors.
He could see into Rose Villa through
the uncurtained windows without the
| least difficulty, and all day long he
watched the younger lady as she toiled
industriously trying to restore order
out of the confusion of packing boxes
and barrels of books.
"lIow | would like to go over there
and help her" thought John, as he saw
her mount on Il step-laddcr, and with
sleeves rolled up and coquctish sweep
ing cap covering her pretty hair, drive
picture nails with II precision and en-
crgy that were astonishing in Il woman.
"Shc doesn't look much like her
mother" thougct John, rs the elderly
lady came out to shake rug, and he
| had good view of her sharp-featurcd
face and corkscrcw ringlcts that bobbed
| up and down with every cXcrtion she
made. At last after two days of hard
work, everything was in its place, and
lace curtains, much to Johns regret,
| INSTRUCTED his view. He caught many
glimpse of his fair ncighbor, however,
| for she had devoted her energies to the
neglected garden, and spent her morn.
! ing and evenings in waging war with
the weeds which had taken possession
of the flower beds
In the twilight she would seat her
self at the piano, and as her fingers ran
over the white keys John rcvclcd in
the music that the evening brceZes
waited to his window. Sometimes
sweet low melodies with minor strain
underlying them, sometimes brilliant
fantasies, according to the mood of the
| performer
Then again she would sing and tho
rich Contralto voice would make the
tender cleaning resonant with melody
IL must know her." said John tC
himself "But how can | possibly get
Il chance to become acquainted with
her.
lie thought of confding in his land
lady and begging her to get acquainted
with her new ncighbOrS that she might
then introduce him, but he knew wei
how guTulous she was, and shrunk
from letting her know how much hC
was interested in them, No, he mus
think of some other way.
AT last Il thought struck him. Hob
bling over to his writing desk MS wei
as lie could with the aid of cane, 1t
drew out his writing materials and be
gan to indito an epstle 1t proved t.
be Il long afternoons work, for il
seemed TO him that he had never bcfor,
known how utterly inadequate the vas
resources of the English language are
TO express the thoughts of II lover, on
rather conceal them, for his aim was t.
make his note merely courteous and
grateful.
lie had determined to write and
THINK her for the nlensnrn hor mnsil