Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-12
AN ALLEY MYSTERY.
How the DeniZens Were Agitated BY q
Lonely Young Woman
WHO REFUSED TO BE s0CIABLE.
Theories Of Photographer and RhymstsH
and the Denouement.
LAST OF THE SERIES OF SKETCHES

rose sprig In q weather-beateu hoTer-pot.
How long the sprig has existed none can
tell. 1t has never been known to blossom,
and the faded green trellis on which the
sprig is supposed to climb into the glorious
sunlight far above Alley CRIME and Alley
sorrow, seems just as FAR away as when it
was first erected. The children of the
ALLEY call the sprig rosemary, apparently
because Mary Is the name of the person
who occupies the room at the houses gable
end. And this brings us,to the real hero
inc Of our story-Miss Mary herself.
In the misty times when the Alley was .
goat-ridden hillside it is supposed that this
Miss Mary had family name to distinguish
her from other Marys. But none in the
Alley now remember that name. The world
care to jog its memory.
THE HERoINE's ADVENT.
Our heroine is, comparatively speaking. o
newcomer in the Alley. We can recall her
first arrival, and the sensation which her
tall, spare form, with its rusty black robe,
created among Us. Miss Maude Muldoon
glanced at the cold, withered face, and forgot
her fears of rivalry. The poets bachelor
intentions were frozen in his soul. The
Alley tossed its head and thought very little
OF Miss Mary.
She brought with her one small trunk
and the rose sprig aforesaid-tbe latter
bound in brown mating, and very carefully
carried. With these poor Penates she en-
tered into possession of the gable ROOM OF
course alley courtesy led us to make ad-
vances to her. But our very first overtures
o. intimacy were quietly but forcibiY re-
pulsed. We were rather annoyed at this,
particularly Mrs. Muldoon, who expressed
herself in no measured terms about the
people who were "afraid to let decent WIS.,
itors inside their dures" Finally we ap-
pealed to our friend, the sea captain.
Houks ye turnpike sailors" exclaimed
the doughty one of Neptune, nae doubt
ye fly from a woman's wee tongue. I've
stood with bullets whistlin' round me like
hail, ye ken, so maybe can face this here
Miss Mary O. yourn."
THE BRAVE CAPTAIN.
So the captain" hied himself to the door
of the gable room, convinced that he could
bring the lonely occupant to reason. We
waited in hopeful expectancy, for we had
large idea of our Captains" powers of ad-
miralship. Soon, however, we heard the
warrior returning, whistling 'TOm Bowl
ing" as be always did when woefully disap-
pointed. He had failed in his mission.
'Eh, sirsI" he thundered as he emerged
into the Alley-'Eh. sirsl but there'lI be
wind tonight thst'll blow the teeth out o
the ship carpenters handsaw." And,
though we did not see the captain for the
remainder of that day, we could hear only
too well the mighty sea-oaths which he
swore. For some time no further attempt
was made to force ourselves on Miss Mary.
But as she refused to accept US, we, with a
natural perversity, accepted her, and began
even to be awed by her lofty austerity and
uncontrovertible spinsterhood. Here 1t was
that the poet began to get romantic, as he
always does about anything at all susceptible
appointed love around the mysterious person
ality Of the lady in the gable room. The Alley
caught eagerly at the idea, and for some weeks
IL held und1sDuted sway.
AN AWFUL SUSPICION.
But then the malicious sea-captain suggested
horrible alternative, "Ye dinna KEN" he said
-"but she hae done some black erime-mur-
der, perhaps. and is here in hidin'." OF course
this theory at once overthrew tn at of the poet.
Everybody IN the alley-the Philosopher and
Rhymster excepted really believed that they
had a fu itive criminal in their midst. Little
Mike Muldoon, who was then in the third vol
ume of a CORY nlckel-novel. spread the story
far and wide. and Our Alley began to acquire
quite villainous reputation, all on account Of
Miss Mary
The Philosopher protested against the unjust
belief that Miss Mary was either heroine or q
murderess, but he was scoffed at, as philoso-
pliers always are scOffed AZ this unbelievtn2
and sensational world. Day by day the alley
''Marching Through Georgia" Club took up
her case and argued it hotly. finally deciding
that she was all that she was alleged to be, and
probably more. Then came the erisisI
SUSPICIOUS BLACK BAG.
Miss Mary was seen to go forth carrying an
uncanny looking black bag. with which
she returned in the dusk OF evening. This
operation she repeated day after day, Sundays
alone excepted. The black bag was the last
stravl The alley could stand no more! A bur-
ried meeting was held, at which the war party
proved to be in the ascendant, and 1t was
finally decided to take Miss Mary's stronghold
Accordingly. with the captain" at our head
we burst into the opposite tenement. rushed up
the creaking stairs and thundered at the fra1l
door of the suspected occupant. In answer to
our strenuous summons the door was opened
and Miss Mary looked out at US, her pale face
and tall thin figure seeming half-ghostiy In the
dull light of the tenement lobby.
ITO what" she sternly exclaimed, "am I In
debted for the honor of this visitP"
THE PHILOSOPHER EXPLAINS.
There was dead silence for a moment and
then the Philosopher stepped forth: You see,
madam" he explained, these good peoples
curiosity is too much for them. They have
seen you carrying a mysterious black bag to
and fro. Your strange unsociability has alarmed
them. They fear that you are-well, that you
are at least fugitive from the eyes Of the
law"
For the first and last time during her life in
the alley, Miss Mary laughed.
sit is very kind of you" she said harshly. "to
take so much interest in a grabbed old maid. l
shall be pleased to give you all the information
you require"
room she produced the awful black bag. above
alluded to. Opening il, hastily. she took there
from a number of gaudily covered volumes,
evidently of the cheapest kind of literature.
''Will you allow me-" she continued, ITO put
your names down for the first number of this
very elegant life of Hon. George Washing
toni"
So ended the romance of the lady in the
gable room.
Epilogue.
So ends-thanks to editorial shears-ths
alley series. With the due amount of regret
ful tears in his eyes, the Rhymster composed
the following rondeau as an epilogue-ths
rhymes for the same being supplied by the
Philosopher:
When day is done-the lamps below,
Clean dimly through the afterglow,
Great wavering mist-wraith's downward rolpa
Around the roofs their forms enfold
Against our brows the breezes blow.
Our song is sped, our story told,
The sunlight rrIcked it out with gold
IT'S but grain of alley mould
When day is done!
Yet reader. when your fires agiov