The morning call., 1891-11-08
Was IT Love?
an ARTISTS QUERY.
An Interesting Story That Was Told by
an Elderly Man.
The Life Of Country Lad in Great City
Befriended by Good, Lovely Woman.
Love That Was Rejected.
Written for THE SUNDAY CALL.

And this was the story he told: MANY
years ago. say forty. l came. a lad of 90. to
New York, then the dream Of youth it was,
to them. the promised land. Well informed,
my parents being in a position, person.
| ally, to see that my education was
| thorough. through my fathers influence l
was going, not on venture, as many did,
but to take a congenial position with a fair
salary. l left home promising my mother 1
would never play cards nor drink-these
two things being mentioned as especially to
be avoided by the BOY from the country
Upon reaching the city [ at once went to
work, filling the POSITION so satisfactorily
that in a few weeks my salary was in
creased. Though relieved from financial
anxiety. the city was very lonely to me.
Being a great lover of home and home COM
partnership l sadly felt the need of one. All
the enjOyments the city could have offered
would have had no value in my eyes in that
lonely condition. My work was very pleas
ant and | took every opportunity to ad-
vance myself by close application and
study, SO my evenings were mainly passed
in that way. My reward came very speed
lily, for my salary was again increased, this
time with words of appreciation which
were very pleasing to hear. So some weeks
passed, still my evenings were far from
pleasant My promise to my mother, TO say
nothing of my own dislike to waste of
precious time at the card-table or saloon,
kept me from seeking pleasure outside. An
old friend of my father s, thinking to do what
would please a young man, especially one
one to whom all city amusements were
novelty, had procured for me through his
influence the entree to all the places of
amusement of the city. To 60 alone to en-
Joy myself woul have been the verirst
farce. / did not seam able 10 assimilate
with my fellow boarders. Their fashionable
dress, cold manners, their small talk and
smaller wit seemed chIld's play to me. so
kept silent for the greater part OF the time |
was at the table. After dinner the greater
number usually went to tho parlor, where |
had no desire to follow them, cards and
music being the favorite pastlmes; cards L
wouldn't play the piano | could not SO |
took my lonely self away to my lonely
room,
READING OR STUDYING
Until bedtime. | had one little pleasure
On my way from the dining-room to my
own room | passed a suite of parlOrS,
the door of which was always open enough
to allow one a glimpse of what seemed, by
contrast with my cherries room, to be
very fairyland Of warmth amd comfort, yes
and elegance. A huge fire was always
|
| full sound as | lassed L fam would have
| fingered
Doing so little talking at the table left
| me more time to notice those around me,
| and opposite me sat one OF the most beautl-
! full women had ever seen, and can say it
| now though having seen many lovely
| women since Very quiet, but such sweet
| true face one would fam look again and
| again. Noticing me SO silent night alter
| night, she tried TO draw me into CONVERSE
| ton 1t was an easy matter; her kind quiet
| manner set me at my ease at once and l only
| too gladly responded to the interest she was
| showing. Without any effort on my part L
| proved Interesting to her. for, though simply
| incapable of small talk, L was thoroughly
| posted on all the current topics of the day.
II er kindness to me was, under the circum-
| stances, very soothing for | was still in ap-
| pearance boy from the country, bashtul
| in manner. awkward in movement, and I'M
| fashionabiy dressed; keenly alive to the
fact. resenting it, yet not knowing how to
| remedy it. One evening as we were leaving
the dining room she invited ne to cali upon
her. Her apartments found to be
the faryland toward which l
had snch home-sick longing in pass
| ing. That evening-it stands out clearly
| and distinct" a moment his voice
| faltered. When ne conld speak stead
| liy again lie continued: 'Ihose beautiful
| rooms: the perfect taste displayed in the ar
| rang-ment, which felt without at all being
abe to explain; the home-like feeling per-
| vading everything; the beautiful woman
| so friendly and kind; the warm interest
| she showed in me. poor lonely country boy,
made my heart grow light and loosened
my tongue. How easy it was to tell her all
| my hopes and longings, and my loneliness;
| how sweet to see her face grow sad in SYM
| pathy with my inconsistencies, and how the
| loneliness all dropped away when she asked
| me to consider her home at my service, to
call and spend the evenings there whenever
J nigh, feel lonely, was entirely welcome :;
| ana as l lett
THE KIND GOODNIGHT
Went with me, filling me with hope and
| courage.
THE next evening did not CALL fearing
| to appear intrusive; but what it cost me to
| pass that door no words can tell. Still
did. and spent the evening trying to read !;
| but the contrast between the evening before,
| where all was brightness, warmth and ami
nation. and that, cold, lonely and cherries,
| proved too much for me, SO | went early to
bed, hoping to loso in sleep the vision that
| was ever before me.
The next evening she met me on the stairs
| on our way to dinner. She wanted to know
why l had not called. l frankly told her
that was afraid of early wearing out my
welcome and that | was DESTROYS of keeping
| such a pleasure in reserve. She laughed
and assured me l was anticipating an i'm
| probable result, and from that time she was
my friend indeed.
| Parent. pianner and adviser, all in one
| seeing my apparent GOODNESS and awkward
| ness of manner to be but covering for ex-
| treme bashfuness, she took pains to point
! out to me what in myself WAS worthy of
| notice; brought out my latent mental capa-
| bililies, showing me where my general
information and really thorough education
placed me on an equal footing with any
whom [ might be brought into contact
with; deicately intimated that perhaps my
diffidence was due to the consciousness
| which held before me so constantly that
my clothing was not what it ought to be,
| and that to be in harmony with that Of
Those about me change of style was
| almost necessary, and that 1t was due to the
| position l held, which was really excellent,
| and the change would show me the truth of
/ what she said, for | was always in myself
the gentleman.
81 found her words to be true, for.
relieved from the weight of my external
appearance, | found il easier TO be pleasant
| ard entertaining, finding many good points
| In the people about me which had been
| blind 10 while holding aloof from them in
! that critical manner.
so / grew and developed under her
kindly, loving influence. A rich woman,
| and managing her property herself, she
| was a splendid business woman, and ad-
vised me how to invest my savings to the
| best advantage l always prospered when
l followed her advice; her judgment was so
| reliable that was quite willing TO listen to
| her in business matters
AS IN OTHERS.
lowing to some fortunate investments I
| was enabled to give up my position origin
ally held and branch out in broader field
and more independent manner. aud though
| SO young man, entered tho political field
| soon making myself name; my voice being
continually heard on questions which de-
manded thought never for political prefer
ment alone. and it was always she, my kind
and beautiful friend, who helped me.
That WAS the outside OF our lives; how
about the inner all of this time? At first |
spent many evenings with her. We read
together, argued, discussed scientific sub
jects. saw opera and theater together She
was most charming and interesting COM
panlen. As time passed insenSibly we had
glided from the original position, she as ad-
wiser 10 one of bonnie comrade, and it WAS
now as man and woman-euuals In all but
age-friends firm and true, stronger with
each passing day.
Il found out why she, rich woman,
was living in that quiet retired manner.