Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-09-09
[From the Philadelphia CALL
JOHN STANT0N'S MISTAKE.

nose villa DaQ Oe6n W1UnOuU 81 TEN
ant for several months, and it was
with a considerable degree of interest
that John Stanton looked from his
window Just across the street one
afternoon, and saw a furniture van
being unloaded on the sidewalk, and
its contents carried into the pretty
little vine-wreathed cottage.
He 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 a tenant in the opposite house was
a welcome break in the monotony of
his days.
He 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 refine
ment, for a handsome piano was one
OF their pOssessiC rs, and several book
cases indicated a well-flled library.
Two loads of furniture came before
the new occupants of the cottagemade
their appearance. Just as thevan was
going away after depositing its second
load, two ladies came up the street,
whom John surmised at once as his
new neighbours, as one was burdened
with a clock and the other was carry
ing a bird-cage.
what 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 mis-
chievous puff of wind caught her hat,
and before she could hastily disengage
one hand from her burden her head
gear went whirlirg down the street
under the horses feet, a. small arab,
who had witnessed the catastrophe,
in hot pursuit.
John did not regret this accident,
for it gave him such an excellent op-
portunity to admire his pretty neigh
Dor at his leisure.
The wind blew her golden hair around
her flushed face and he only caught a.
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
shapely as her little white hands.
John envied 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 con-
trive some plan by which he might be-
come acquainted with this little en-
chantress.
When his landlady brought up his
dinner and seated herself for a little
chat he asked, with as great a show
of unconcern as he could assume, if
she knew who had rented Rose Villa.
''Mrs. and Miss Vaughan, [ believe
their names are" answered the land
lady. '"The husband is coming after
a time. He has business in the city
just now that keeps him there. twill
be nice to have neighbors over there
again, it's so lonely like to have the
house shut up all the time"
eyes," assented John indifferently,
as If the new corners were not of the
slightest consequence to him.
The next day passed far more pleas
antly for him than any ofthe previous
days Of his Imprisonment had done,
from behind his lace curtain he
watched every movement OF his new
neighbors.
He could see into Rose Villa through
the uncurtained windows without the
least difficulty, and all day long he
watched the younger lady as shetoiled
industriously trying to restore order
out Of the confusion of packing boxes
and barrels of books.
Glow | would like to go over there
and help her." thought John, as he
saw her mount on a step-adder, and
with sleeves rolled up and a coquettish
sweeping-cap covering her pretty hair,
drive picture nails with a precision
and energy that were astonishing in a
woman. "She doesn't look much like
her mother" thought John, as the ell
der lady came out to shake rug, and
he had good view of her sharp-fea-
tured face and corkscrew ringlets that
bobbed up and down with every ex-
ertion she made. At last, after two
days of hard work, everything was in
it's place, and lace curtains, much to
Johns regret, DISTRACTED his view.