Evening journal., 1892-01-18
TIE RED TENEMENT.

except his name, was Simon Weber. ] be
came Interested the first time | saw him
and my interest never waned for the next
ffty-two weeks There was a rustic scat
on the corner OF the street just opposite 10
where | lived, and on this he was seated the
first time ! saw him. BY his side was a
dark haired. brown eyed child-the only
person whom be looked at the SECOND time
and the only thing that seemed to have any
attraction for him, except something In the
direction Of my house. He sat there Cor
about three hours, then. taking the child's
hand in his, walked away and / did not see
him again for two weeks.
II was on Sunday morning. as IL was be.
fore, and near the same hour when be seHt-
cd himself In the same place, and divided
his attention between tho child and what
thought TO be my house He staid there
for about two hours, then went away a. he
did before After he had turned the oor
ner ! stepped out on the hanquette and sur
veyed my premises TO see If could discover
wherein lay the attraction for The man. but
| failed, 30 went indoors no wiser than
when came out
pondered over II for some time, aud just
rs concluded TO give 1t no more thought
saw Simon again in his usual place and as
much occupied as ever IN house gazing
Aud there be came with the child always
on Sunday-twice month for the next ton
months. He had a good looking. though a
very serious face, and the child was quite
pretty Many a woman smiled at the little
one and threw a second glance at him.
My housemaid, girl Of sixeesn, became
very absentminded, and my powder box
and pinching irons were far more frequent
~ in her room than in mine. This made
me think Of something else, and after no
ticing her more closely saw her sitting MT
the window, considerably bedecked and
adorned, eoquetting with ca ~ Simon
Webber.
thought at once that she was the mag
net which had such a drawing effect upon
the man, but in this ! was mistaken as /
afterward found out, for not once did he
nod bis head 20 her, and long after she left
he continued to come at,gregular intervals
And continually wondered what his husi
ness was-if my house was haunted and he
on the lookout for the ghost. This was not
a very soothing thought, so | determined
Go put the question TO him and rest easily
or uneasily, according to his answer.
When ! did he looked nc me calmly for d
moment, then replied; Your house haunt.
eda Not that know Of, and without say
ing another word be turned the corner,
leading the child, and | went back wonder.
ing II he was altogether right ia his mind,
and this continued 10 think over until
one day several months later
There had been a severe storm the night
before, particularly damaging to the cleo
trio wires. MQpy a the poles were split
from end to end, 6thers bent, and most 81
them lying fiat on the ground. Wires
were kinked, twisted ia knots and scat
tered an over the streets Betimes the
next morning men were 5dslly eng5a6el n
setting new poles and putting the fixtures
into proper condition AS / glanced down
the long line Of men working like 50 many
bees my eyes fell on the familiar face OF
Simon Weber, whom I had not Seen for
several weeks, and his little companion.
The little one sat on the lower step Of a
cottage, swinging her feet and seemingly
perfectly contented with herself and the
world in general. It was too cold, thought,
for a child Of such tender years 70 be N
long without Gre, 10 permission TO bring
her indoors WINS granted me reluctantly by
Simon.
When the work had reached completion.
he stood at my door waiting for the child,
but at my earnest solicitation he came in
and partook with great zest cupof steam.
ing coffee, As he returned TO me the cup,
be said gravely; you some time ago asked
me question which answered rather un.
civilly. was very unhappy that morn
ing. Knowing this, hope you viii pardon
me"
After replied he dropped his eyes 70 the
floor, and allowing them to follow the out
lines Of figure in the carpet, he ia his
slow, measured tone went on.
II think you must have seen me many
times on this street, looking intently at
something which you no doubt for a time
imagined 70 be this house, but ii was not.
The red tenement sits one block back o.
there To avoid the publicity that would
have been the consequence OF going on the
street on which it was built came here
where a pretty fair view Of IL Is 70 be had
by looking between 415 and fTT, little west
ward, which gave you the impression that
was watching your house Three years
ago I was q lineman and had been since
was quite youth. One evening just abou
dusk, went up 10 a pole that hadn't beeI
IA order for quite awhile While was ok
amining some Of the wires a voice asllc,
me, almost IN whisper, TO come dow
minute OF course my first impuls
before moving an inch was 70 look 70
the person, and | saw young womai
standing At the base Of the pole.
'ln one moment I was beside her look
ing into her pretty face and wondering. VIII
She was and what her business could b
| with a lineman She looked around
little nervously. chen said Won't 20
please lend me your spurs for one IN,
mentf ! stayed out a little late 30 dar
not climb the stairs, and there's but on
other way ~ reach my room-by climhin
the pole | must hurry or he'll see IN,
Please don't refuse
II was so astonished nc the request tbs
took no time to ask myself whether 81
was risking her life or not, but went hac
up the pole as fast as / could. marhin
with chalk where she should put b,
hands, and quicker than it takes TO tell
strapped my spurs around her feet al
watched her ascend that pole almost
well rs could
when she reached the top she gave
spring, and clinging TO the window for o.
moment to regain her breath she made
J swinging motion and landed safely in h
room She disappeared for few second
r then tossed into my hands my spu
wrapped in "A thick towel, together with
slip Of paper on which was written; Dor
think strangely OF me. viii explain fiji
= opportunity. thank you a thousa
! / times
THAT pole was on the right hand corr
Of the red tenement looking north. I
been there many times, but had never Sc
her before, but that may have been attr
uted TO the fact Of my never looking to {
p right or left, or ever having paid any
- tention TO anybody's windows, or even a
- one on the street. walked few bloC
up and returned just in time to see a rou
~ looking fellow dart in back alley just