The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1886-01-23
A "SHAD0WY" ROMANCE
Why Arthur Wyllis Called His
Wife's Name Mabel"

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house burned down, oblging him to
transfer his belonging. elsewhere He
found ncw quarters in n street which
had once been fashionable. but bad now
declined to %"eminenily respectable,
being mostly given v TO lodging.
houses. Altogether the rctiremcn, Of
the place, with is large, handsome
buildings pleased Wyllis very well lie
was n refined and imaginative young
fellow. not. indeed. averse to society,
but still capable. At times. Of prcferring
q quiet evening and a good book To the
noise and excitement Of 1.-THE madding
crowd ss cNemplifed BY his assoei.
ate. His business kept him down
town al day, 10 that, except on Sun.
days, he was not familiar with any but
The nocturnal aspect Of the street
Even feature Of that he knew BY heart,
from the fir, glimmer Of the gas lamp
on the corner 10 the color u the cur.
tains Al the different windows. In one
Of these windows be beoainc particu.
larly interested. partly because Il was
directly opposite his own. and partly be.
cause. at the hour Of his return. there
was almost always the shadow Of q
head outlined on the white curtain.
After his fashion. WILLS began 10
speculate about the owner Of this head
On the Sunday following his removal he
looked over curiously 10 see what he
could discern by daylight, Some one
Wa certainly in the window. but 70 dis
guised by the lace draperies that he
could only perceive a general feminine
outline. Later. when the church bells
were ringing. "a Jaw a very pretty girl
leave the house. but. dcyouily As he
hoped Il, be had no proof that this was
hi unknown ris-a-ris. For all h. could
tell this sweet divinity might live upon
the third or fourth floor. perhaps at the
back. where-horrible thoughtl-she
firted with some fellow similarly placed.
while the Lady of the Shadow was per-
haps some venerable dame. In the
midst Of this uncertainty chance, In the
shape q a Ere alarm. came 10 his
assistance
When the bells began TO sound Wyllis.
w%ondenngif be were going to be burned
out again. leaned out 10 see. u possible,
where the FIRE was. Then he glanced
aeross The way. and ssw his neighbor
engaged In the same attempt. Before
the windOw was closed aud enrtained
again. WILLS had ascertained that she
wa the same pretty girl he had seen
leave the hon.s.
His mind was now At rest and his
speculations began 10 take a more def.
mite form. Undoubtedly bis beautiful
neighbor was musical. and the nightly
shadow was seated At the piano for the
regular drill. Upon this basis he built
fine eastlein-the-air In fact. he con-
ancted an entire romance, Of which
this unknown pretty girl was the hero
Inc. whom he worshlped under the
name u Mabel. Her whole history
WIS Ia imaginaiion-as familiar 10
him - his own. and be would often
muse upon the circumstances which left
her a lovely waif upon the tide Of city
life. He kept all this jealousy from
The knowledge q his companions. who,
he fslt. would break the charm. even II
they did not 90 farther and try TO estab.
hsh an ordinary, commonplace hirta.
Don with the sacred Shadow.
Here energetic youth will ask. WHY
DID not Arthur WILLS. living as be did
opposite his divinity. follow up bis nd.
vantage and contrive an acquaintance,
~ be easily might have doneP The
snever ~ Precisely because be wa,
Arthur Willis. Retiring 70 q fault. hs
vas good deal Of adresmer by nature,
\ he was quite capable Of romancinp
about a Erl Tor weeks. until she sudden.
ly disappeared IRON his horizon. leay
ing him with his awakened s~enslbIli,iel
thrown back upon himself How ION,
IN the present ease be nigh, have Ron'
on IN this fantastic way til impossible
70 tell. for one day. several weeks later
something happened which startled hin
cut Of his natural world. Thif was N
robbery and attempted murder a
lady occupying the seeond.hoor apar,
ment in a boarding house no, man.
squares distant The man had a,
oendsd BY means 81 q porcl
and entered through a wipdo
communicating with q balcony.
was dusk Of = winter night, al an no,
when the inmates were presumably
their evening meal. and the burglar /,
doubt expected 10 find ihe rooms empt
A Il happened. however, the lady vi
occupied The first which he entered W
indisposed, and was lying half asleep
4. . lounge. The gas was turned down We
low. and a. she was In an alcoye out
Ne range Of the window. the burgl
did not suspect her pezenee until he v
fairly In The room When be did.
probably thought be would not have |
labor Tor HE pains. Al any rate I
iedy. In her subsequent account Of /
Man. ssid that something made h
slsn her eyes 70 80 . man standing
=! tnilet-iahle. with HE hand % /
vntee. tkaf che sprnne 6orws
s11>11 - caught n sRe watch
49, III a : dad frieI
ezv<<=< md 10 mAis
.1<gs, 49, - IN ems 70 NJ
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