The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-05-27
CHAPTER II


The rcumstance was this. One Satur-
day afternoon, as the matnees were COM
ing out, Fitz had been walking upon Broad
way, as was his custom, to display his ele-
CANT get up-he really thought it was-and
ogle the women who crowded the side
walk, when he became wedged in n little
crowd that had gathered about shop VIM
dow on Fourteenth street. Twirling his
little mustache, and looking about him, he
became aware that he was the object Of a
certain species of attraction which might
be called curiosity to beautiful girl who
stood within few feet Of him, and who.
the moment she saw that he had noticed
her gaze, smiled and looked away.
Fitz was ablaZe III a moment. He was
not accustomed to being noticed in the
street by women, except with a snear,
which he was callous to, and especially by
such an elegant creature as the one who
now moved away, She was about twenty
dark-eyed, dark haired, rather tail, richly
but plainly dressed, and with the unmis-
taxable air Of the lady about her. Of
course Fitz followed, but he did not get
another look from the object of his pur-
suit, though he fancied each time that he
caught g.ance of her face that there was
a smile there which did not appear to dis
approve of what he was dong.
On he went until they reached Twenty
third street, where she turned Had she
turned into lonely street, Fitz would have
summoned courage or impudence enough
to have spoken to her, but, fortunately for
him, the street was too much crowded,
and policemen too frequent for him to
take the risk, when suddenly she ran up the
steps of large and fashionable boarding.
house, cast one glance at Fltz, and entered
with key, denoting that she lived there,
Fitz knew it to be large and fashionable
boarding house. and his heart providing
he had such an article under his clothes,
Jumped as he realized it, because within its
walls resided Jimmy Marks, his intimate
club friend, upon whom he had often
called, but had never, in those calls, made
the acquaintance of any of the other in
mates.
In his enamored eyes just now Jimmy
Marks assumed an importance he had
never held before, for Jimmy was only an
insignificant little Hebrew, the travelling
salesman, commonly called drummer, of a
wholesale fancy goods house, even though
he was an old and influential member of
the Exclusives. Fortunately Jimmy was
in town, and was at the club every even
ing, and SO Fitz, after going across the
way and staring up at the house for fifteen
minutes, went away until evening, when
he could see the man whom he now hoped
to make the medium between himself and
his hopes.
Jimmy Marks was promptly on hand
that evening at the club. and Fitz collared
him.
Il say, Jimmy" said Fitz, without pre-
liminaries, Jaw, of course you know every
body that lives in your boarding house?"
OF course Jimmy did. He always knew
everything. and little more, though he
hated to hear the words your boarding.
house. He liked to speak of my rooms,
though he had but one room, and n verl
small one at that.
well. see here, now, Jimmy, l want tt
know who that young lady is with yer,
dark eyes and hair, about twenty years old
| and carries parasol with an agate handle.
Jimmy wanted little better description
and got it.
"Why, that's Miss Delorme. Marion tn
landlady calls her, and she's the belle o
the house, she Is.
DO you know her?7 asked Fitz, anx
iously.
@Well-l-l, ! don't know as l can say:
do, said Jimmy, hesitatingly. "The fac
is she's kind O. backward. She don't com
into the parlor much. and she's away al
day. She kind o chums with the landlady.
Away all day, echoed Fitz, as thougl
he susnected something. Then she works
she earns her living"
"Ya-a-s, responded Jimmy, slowly, n
though he felt it an imputation on himself
seeing tsat he did tho slme thing. She
cashier and bookkeeper for Boughtem 4