The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-19
JUST IN TINE.

81 see some queer bits of private life now
and then" said the conductor of train on
the elevated road. ''At first people used to
be on their guard and keep their curtains
drawn when the trains ran so near their
windows, but they soon got used to IL. like
anything else. and they never think OF the
glimpses the passengers get as they pass.
II could tell you quite a romantic little
story connected with it, about as interest
ing as any fiction. You would like to hear
it? Well, l may as well premise that l
was one of the chief actors in the affair ana
then you'll know It's no fancy sketch
ave pass a dressmaking establishment
Just as we round a corner a niue 1urlher
down than we are now. I'll point 1t out to
YOU AS we pass We have to go round the
curves very slowly, for fear OF accident so
we had irst-rate view Into the room on
the second floor; and l got 10 take quite an
interest In a pretty girl who always sat by
the window at her machine. Not that
ever showed it in any way, Tor there was
something about her that made fellow teel
he wouldn't get any encouragement II ne
tried to start up Irritation.
1--WE all had cur masnes, as we caIeg
them, at different places on the Teau, nuu
we would throw them kisses ana can -
them and all that sort OF thlng bul tAls
girl was very different soTt, can zen YOU.
UShe ALWAYS wore gray dress, win a OIL
Of blue ribbon at her neck, ana she looked
like little Quaker. with her brown halr just
drawn hack from her forehead and twisted
into soft knot instead OF being plasIeTeQ
down OF irlZZled like most other girls. d
mighty sweet face she had. Somehow II
made you think of wid-hoWeFS, IL was 50
fresh aud innOcent-iO0klng
zone day she looked up as we passed ana
caught me looking at her ana she Ausheu
up in minute aud went back 10 Eer Wolk,
Int somehow, after that she generally
Glanced nm as | passed, and though she
reyer smiled or bowed, still 1t made
me mighty happy to get even that quiet
look.
"There was another girl sat in the other
window, and she tried her level best to get
up a Irritation with me, as dare say she Old
with many others; but l never paid any
attention to her, and 1t seemed to veX her
dreadfully that all my attention was taken
ND with her companion. l suppose good
many of the other fellows would have
thought her the pretLiest for she had snap
ping black ewes and rosy cheeks, and her
black hair was fixed up like hairdreSser's
model, but / never taneied her.
t'ODe Cav as we went around the curve we
had to slow uD and stop for few minutes,
for the train just ahead Of US had been de-
tanned at the station, and we hau 10 walt Tor
it to get out Of the way.
There was a lady getting fitted for
cloak. 9nC the madam was fussiDg around
her, while the two girls were sewing by the
windows as usual.
There was a sudden disturbance In the
street below, and every one ran TO the front
windows to see what was going on. 1t was
only a drunken man getting put out OF a
saloon, but every window was full Of heads
and the street was alive in moment
Il wasn't much interested in the row, so
as soon as | had seen what ii was about !
looked into the room.
Ill always seems to me as If some social
providence must have led me to look IN just
at that moment.
"The lady, who had been in madam's
hands, had taken Of her watch and heavy
god chain aud laid them on the table
They were all looking out tbs window ex
cept this black-eyed girl, who stopped for {
moment, and, Selling the watch, hastily pu
IL into the pocket Of q gray Jacket hanging
on the wall, then joined the others at the
window. l don't suppose any OF them no.
ticed that she had fingered for q moment.
"Our train started again just then, much
70 my dismay, for / wanted 10 see the res
of this episode. l had just time 10 see my
sweet-faced little friend 60 back to heI
work, while the others were still leaning
out Of the window.
al understood the whole thing at once.
recognized the gray jacket, and there wa:
no doubt but that this girl had put thC
watch in the pocket that her innocent com
nanian NJ h accused Of stealing II.
What should l 20? II seemed to NE a,
If | could not wait till the train reached th'
terminus of the road; but Of course | could
not leave NY train until could get substi
tute.
Then hurried back 10 the dressmakinl
establishment, hoping l nigh be in time 60
prevent a false accusation.
Il rang the bell repeatedly without any
reply; then a small boy Youehsafed the H.
formation that one OF the girls had been
stealing a watch, and policeman had come
and took her to the station, and all the 9TH
ers had gone, too.
"'She cried awful ended the boy, but
'tWasn't no use-she had 10 co."
81 did not lose any time you may be sure
in hurrying around TO the station-house, M
blood fairly boiling at the thought OF tina
sWeet-faced timid girl being exposed I
such humiliation.
81 arrived just in time. The owner of In
watch was so Indignant at the attempte'
theft that she angrily declared her intention
Of prosecuting the eulprit, even though sh
had recovered her property.
"Circumstantial evidence was certainl
very much against my poor little friend, fol
SIS had suspected, no one had noticed til
other girls momentaTy delay, but all ha
remarked that her companion had re
turned to work long before the others let
the window.
0Her tears and distress at the accusation
and policeman was just about TO take he
TO a cell to await trial, when l appeared an(
told my story. under oath.
''Tbe black-eyed girl did not try to brace
1t out, but, bursting into loud sobs, begge
piteously for pardon, and confessed she bs
done it from jealousy Of her companion.
II was anxious that she should receiy
the punishment she so richly merited, an
which my little friend would have undoubt
eddy received had / not fortunately vii
messed the affair; but she got off.
'Of course, you can imagine how we
come my presence was to the poor girl, VIII
had given all hope of escape from this tel
riblo accusation, and she thanked N
warmly, again and again, though / told he
/ had done nothing but what any ma
would have done in my place, and that
couldn't have asked anything better tina
to served her. 1here-here's the house
See how plain you can look into the room
well, may as well finish my story.
there was any debt of gratitude due NJ
she paid it in full. for perhaps you ca
guess the upshot of the affair was that W
got married, and no man ever had a sweete
little vile.
$50 much for that glimpse through Ii
window"