The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-07-25
OVER-THE1WAY.

Over-the Way-queer name for a
woman, isn't it? It was big Jim Gray
heB telegraph operator on a morning
newspaper-who gave her the name. Of
course we found out her real name after
ward, but none Of Us at Mrs Smiths
ever spoke Of her except as Over-the-
Way. 1t was at the breakfast table
We are all night workers, and the break
inst hour at Mrs. Smiths is noon-and
Jim sits where he can look out of the
window Miss Eliott-she "does go
ciety" on another morning paper and Is
quite vivacious-noticed that Jim was
naglecting his plate of buckwheat cakes
and staring with all his eyes across the
street. Now Jim is a master hand at
buckwheat cakes, and Miss Elliott, hav-
ing a reputation for vivacity to sustain,
was perfectly justified in remarking that
Mr.. Gray did not seem quite himself
We laughed, as in politeness bound, and
that brought Jim back. He got up and
made flourish with his napkin and
said:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-1t now
gives me great pleasure to present to
you the neighbor we have long been ex-
iecting, Over-the Way"
We were 80 interested that we got
right up from the breakfast table and
crowded to the windows Even tina,
reserved and sarcastic Elizabeth Haw-
kins-she's telephone girl, and l sup
pose she's justified in having poor
opinion Of mankind. and trying to gel
even out of Office hours-forgot her dig
nifty for once and was as interested q:
anybody. You see, the workmen had
teen busy on little cottage right across
tho street for two months or more. W.
did not pay any particular attention tx
it until they began to rut in q second
story bay window that was almost a.
big as the rest Of the cottage. After tina
bay window had done duty as family
Joke for two or three weeks we fell II
wondering what sort of people had bull
it. and who would occupy such funn!
little house
Handsome Henry Roberts-he's win
dow dresser in big State street DIR.
goods store. and great hand with tn
girls-said he knew some woman wa
responsible for that window and hopes
de would be good looking; it would b
q pity to spoil such q fine window
Whereupon dear old Miss Brooks-she'
nice looking even if she is forty, and ha
come down from better days to proof
nmding-reminded him. in her precise
genteel way. that young men who ha
no eyes for anything but pretty WON
m sometimes came to grief. The grace
1e@ Harry responded that a homol
woman was q real grief. and q prett
ono a joy forever. Here the scam
looked hard at Elizabeth Hawkini
Elizabeth Hawkins looked back at Hal
y. and thought she was going to say
BUSY, what's your NUMBER" And job
Bery-he's some sort Of an editor an
doesn't say much, being as reserved 8
Elizabeth Hawkins and pecuEarlike-
aaw Harry and scowled.
Well, as was saying, we had many
DISCUSSION over that little cottage, an
finally came to feel sense of proprieto
ship in what we called "Over-the- Way.
So you see it was q great day for I
when Over-the- Way herself appeared
To be sure, there wasn't much to 81
when we did get to the window-just
hig transfer wagon loaded with new fu
niture, an express wagon heaped big
with household belongings, two driver
N old negro woman with a gorgeo,
tMban, and q dear little woman in
smart jacket and wide brimrned hat.
Harry Roberts declared he was simp
perishing for exercise and fresh air, an
pat ON his overcoat and .strolled past Il
cottage. He came back and reports
that the little woman was a beauty;
fact. he grew quite eloquent over h
charma And then, of course. we hs
to talk 1t all over-whether she WI
married, and If she was, where was b.
husband, and If she wasn't, was she g
ing to live all alone with the old colort
aunty. and 30 on.
Over-the- Way was evidently cap
bic little body, for she had the furnitu
In and the house to rights in no tim
And tho way old Aunt Amanda-that
lie name we gave to the colored woms
.ana her turban-made things fly NOV,
LIN Smith to wish, with tears in b
suace. that the days Of slavery were ba'
1ssin.