The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-29

"Of" said shc, "y0u brought those ladders"
ond day that they were displayed on the side
walk at the head OF the stairs, under a placard,
saying: George Fletcher Portable Yankee
Sttp-ladders" ! had at that time been twenty
four hours without sleep ana half as long with
out food. l bought some crackers and cents
worth Of milk, drew a stool up TO the foot OF the
cellar stairs, and waited to see the effect Of the
sudden Introduction of my invention upon an I'M
suspeetlng public.
double procession OF humanity swept past.
Those in the northward line of march had TO
sWerve 10 pass the ladders. In the first hundred
there were perhaps eight or twelve who looked
squaIely at the exhibit either stoldly or absent
mindedly Perhaps many as i've others
turned out OF their paths and looked at the lad
derS fOm the sides OF their eyes, as horses do AT
anything they are not certain about In their way.
BY and by a spry elderly gentleman stopped,
read the sign, looked at tile ladders and came
down the steps
" How muCuV
Three dollars" said I.
Hear me our, wont your" he said somewhat
testify want 10 know what you VIII charge
TO make me a small box 10 hold few bottles
sort OF medicine chest that VIII hold together TO
go by express"
l told him that I had supposed that he was
asking the price Of the ladders. IheieGpon lie
call them jucrack things and declared that
he wouldn't fool away his money on such trump
cry. l tried 10 explain their utility but he
My name IS d.. Whitfield" said he. You'll
hear from me. On second thoughts III make
the box my self GOOd-day."
Though he appeared neatly clad the seams 10
lis coat were strained aud gray, the gloves he
carried tauntily in his hand had gaping finger
ends and his step was not that OF a vigorous
man. As to his speech, type does II great In
justice. II was intended TO be savage but the
tone that clothed 1t was kindly and the light IN
tie old gentemau's eyes was sympathetic.
a rattle OF The door as II yielded 10 sudden
pressure, and my second customer stood before
= % So
comfortable figure, and Win a self-sdiished and
almost proud manner. He bought both The lad
ders but explained that l could not deliver
them until had made third, so that / could
keep up my sidewalk advertisement. He gave
ne his card -" James Henuing Gramercy
Park and went away.
Early next morning there came a young
painter, who said lie had come to paint that
sisu." ! had hard work TO diaw out OF him That
Lie had been sent by Dr. Whitfield TO letter
Whatever l wished over The basement door. l
asked MIN who was TO pay for the job.
NUbody's 10 pay for 1t, that's who said he,
as he painted rapidly e Pm dom il for DR..
Whitfield, an II he aln't payin' for It that's my
funeral. He's regular gent-an up-and- down,
Al gent An il he's Walktn' on his uppers an
a Iym' between meals like camel au' baYln
hald-scrabble time all along the line, It's his
business. An it's your business, too, If you
pretend 10 be a White man. to do what you kin
for him, aud not give him Tie grand ro-hy, as
some folks DO, because he's down on his lpcS-
an don't you forglt T."
When my thnd step ladder was made went
TO deliver its TWO predecessors at Mr.. Heuhngs
solid and spacious house in Gramercy Park. He
must have seen me from an upper window, for
lie surprised me by coming down the stairs and
bidding me gOOd-moTning, instead OF leaving ME
10 tile care OF servants. He took the package
from my hand, the servant standing uneasily by,
put II against the wall, and saying That he might
not want the ladders after ALL but could not de-
eide until lie saw his daughter, asked me into
tie large room at the right to sit down till she
came. lie made lie feel at ease, and | talked vOlu-
bly, ana freely. Imagine me, tall, big-llmbed
awkward country fellow, with a head OF loug
- fNaaF had tai llh
never been earnestly urged TO be, In suit OF
country clothing, good and clean, nut fitting as
though fashioned by tailor to rhinoceTOs, and
with my hands and feet insisting upou attention,
and appearing incapable OF modest retirement
Imagine such figure on a throne OF pale blue
SILK, in a handsome paTlOT, conscious OF having
presented a bundle five feet long in lieu OF Wis
iting card. ana yet made TO forget his awkward
ness aud poverty by the interest shown in him.
Look here, you say you are fond OF bOOks?"
Mr.. Henning remarkedi why not come here
evenings and make use Of my library? | have
got nothing else but my books ana my daughter
10 care Tor, aud both are oil the best. Not That
my daughter requires my care-she IS her own
mistress and my own as well l sometimes think.
My daughter pursuss the bent OF her own char
acter and makes those with whom she comes in
contact bend TO her superior strength OF WILL
She is queen, sir; very remarkable young
woman. All, Beatrice, Mr.-up0n my word your
name has escaped me-Mr. Fletcher, my dear"
There stood before me IN the doorway tall
young woman with the extra lengths OF a black
cloth riding habit thrown over one arm. The
habit fitted her exactly, displaying her large and
shapeiy arms, her slender neck, broad, sioping
shoulders, a glrlish, budding bust and a waist
that seemed compressed more than the neceSsl.
ties OF pTesentable dress-ttting required. L
judg d her to be about II. Beneath her flossy
Lduud-topped riding hat haxen coil OF heavy
bands OF hair matched the fringe OF ring
lets that curtained her white brow. Sue
had great deep gray eyes, and when
she spoke she turned them full upon me as |
never felt aswoman's before There was no i'm
modesty in their look there no hint of or
need inr that air with which we see expression
uaN IN Golf nRfaEa NnFNCF II
serve, OF by which women In the presence OF
masculine stranger pay homage to the strongest
traditions OF fenininlty. Vigorous health, nat
ufalneSs ru!erSnlD as well as thorough SelIcom-
inand, were elOquently expressed In her full firm
glance. L thnk az rrst saw only her eyes. l
came TO know afterward that there were other
marvellous beauties in her face; that her cheeks
were touched with rose color, her shell-like ears
were large but beautifully shaped, and her nose
was, though not small, clearly cut and as capa-
bic Of expression somehow as her eyes them
selves, her full red lips. 1t seemed 10 me
then, aud II almost does now, that could under
stand her every word If she spoke I'm language
] had never heard. AS II was, her speech was
eloquent enough 10 betray some faults that other
wise should not have guessed that she DOS
. sessed. W hat they were you shall determine.
" On" said she, lyon brought those ladders.
dislike 10 make you trouble, but they will not
DO at all. They match nothing IN the whole
house except tile stationary lubs in the Kitchen.
IL was very absurd OF you. father, not TO have
perceived that"
:, Having In my pocket only half of The money
asked, what can l do?''
." You can't do anything" said Mr. Hennng.
My daughter Is quite highland yet you are
not al all 10 blame. But tie ladders certainly
wont do. We cannot have yellow In the house
except in pail or broom handle. Black
would nave been all right red or blue would do
. bu ythow-well, we draw the line right there"
" could stain them, or / could paint them"
- Bot don't" said the young lady. Don't
stain or paint them. Why can't you make
Come OF walnut? That would be NICE"
" can, madam"
" lie says lie can father"
." Well. then, lie shall, dear" said Mr. Hen
ming; that Is, Il lie wants to-"
Wen send them back to you then,' said the
young lady.
Thank you, can carry them"
:" But there's 10 need TO. Well send
" erhaps he wants to carry them, Beatrice,
dear"
"Why, might as well; brought them"
Father, are you aware how absurd all this
is? | say / wish"
Z" My dear Beatrice You have misunderstood.
! merely wished 10 oblige this young man In
whom have taken deep interest. and who ap-
peaied TO want 10 carry the ladders back. /
thought had told you enough of him yesterday
Tor you 10 understand why II Sc ms quite natural
that lie should desire this. But / Withdraw.
You must settle the matter with yourseiVes.',
THANK you, papa. Mr.. Fletcher, L Will see
that the ladders are returned 10 YOU"
Al the front door, TO which Mr.. Henning was
50 kind as to accompany NE, he said IN low
voice aud a tone Of imineasurable pride and sat
isfacilOn: Il think you Will allow that my
daughter was right. She is a remarkable girl.
GoOd-mOrDing. Think over my inyitatioDu
Time passed and my business grew. 1 was
worth few thousands OF dollars. Then l began
TO think whether ought MOI 10 marry. ! deter
mined to do so. Perhaps / ought to have ad-
vice. The thought where / was to get 1t did not
trouble me al all. would go to DR.. Whltield's
daughter; did not know how else 10 speak or
regard her. She was not a Miss, and had only