The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-07-24
ON THE BRIDGE.
The Old Bookkeepers Love for a
Strange Woman.

When tell you, my only friend, to
whom | so rarely write and whom
more rarely see. that my lonely life has
not been without love for woman, you
will perhaps laugh or doubt.
What" you will say; that gaunt
old specter in his attic, with his books,
his tobacco, and his three flower pots!
He would not know that there is such
word as love did he not encounter it
now and then in his reading"
True. l have divided my days be-
tween the books in rich mans count
ing-room and those in my attic. True,
again, have never been more than
merely passable to look at, even in my
best days
Yet have loved woman.
During the five years when my elder
brother lay in the hospital across the
river, where he died. it was my custom
to visit him every Sunday. l ENJOYED
the afternoon walk to the suburbs,
where the air has more of nature in it,
especially that portion of the walk
which lay upon the bridge. More life
than was usual upon the bridge moved
there on Sunday. Then the cars were
crowded with people seeking the parks.
Many crossed on foot, stopping to look
idly down at the dark and sluggish
water.
One afternoon, as ! stood thus lean
ing over the parapet, the sound of
woman's gentle laugh caused me to
turn and Ocularly inquire its source.
The woman and a man were approach
ing. At the side of the woman walked
soberly ayhandsome -dogr-5 collie.
There was that in their appearance
and manner which plainly told me that
here were husband and wife, of the
middle class, Intelligent but poor, out
for a stroll. That they were quite de-
voted to each other was easily discover
able
The man looked about thirty. years
of age, was tail, slender and with
ncither strong nor handsome but amia-
Bile face. lie was doubtless a clerk fit
to be something better.
The woman was perhaps twenty-four.
She was not quite beautiful, yet she
was more than pretty. She was of
good size and figure. and the short
ncr in which she kept her hands thrust
in the pockets thereof, gave to her a
dauntless air which the quiet and al
fcctionatc expression Of her face soft
ened.
She was brunette, her eyes being
large and distinctly dark brown, her
face having that peculiar complexion
which is most quickly affected by any
change in health.
The color in her cheek, the dark rim
nndcr her eyes, and other indefinable'
signs indicated some radical ailment.
In the quick glance that had of that
pair, while the woman. was smiling.
feeling of pity came over me. L have
never detected the exact cause of that
emotion. Perhaps in the woman's face
read the trace of past bodily and men
tai suffering; perhaps a subtle mark
that death had already set there.
Neither the woman nor her husband
noticed me as they passed. Tie dog
regarded me cautiously with the corner
of his eye: probably would never
have thought of the three again had l
not seen them upon the bridge, under
exactly the same circumstances, on the
next Sunday.
So these young and then happy peo-
pie walked here every = Sunday, T
thought. This, perhaps, was an event
looked forward to throughout the week.
The husband, doubtless was kept a
prisoner and slave at his desk from
Monday morning until Saturday night,
with respite only for' eating and Sleep
ing. Such cases are common, even
with people who can think apd who
have some taste. for luxury, and who
are not deYoid of love for the beautiful.
The sight Of happiness'whital exists
despite, the" cruelty Of fate. ana man,
and which is temporarily Unconscious
:: of its own. liability to Interruption and
extinction. invariably fills mewith sad
ness; and The sadness which arose at
the contemplation Of these two beings
begat in me strange sympathy for and
interest in. them. -.
On Sundays thereafter would TO
early to the bridge and visit. until they
passed, for it proved that thissw as.their
habitual. 4. Sunday walk. Sometimes
they wduid pat$e arid; joif those who
gazed down at the black river. would,
now and again, resume pxx, jqqraess
toward the hospital while they thus
stood. and would. lad1lTbaak from a
distance. The bridge would then APP
pear to me an abrupt ast1itt,fhihg to tile
dense CITY a4HF !s1e:tFS& gure? YOU'D
stand out clearly against the~backs
ground, ..:M .Atf:~rIs,eass.H 4.
observe each Sunday whether the
health of either had varied 'durang tAt