The morning call., 1893-05-31
A SPIRIT WIFE.

ladies to read it particularly hasten 10
state that l am married now. Also. that
the reason why l was not married at 40
was not my want of admiration for the
ladies, but the fact that admired them too
well. | respected them so much that was
afraid to address them.
Once or twice l was in love, but what
was the use? l had not the courage 10
declare it, At 40 [ was bachelor. and as
[ was tired OF boarding-houses and dis
gusted with hotels, hired fiat and went
to housekeeping with single seryant-a
black boy.
1t was rather lonely work, and some
times | was obliged to pretend that l was
a married man and that my wife had gone
on a visit to her mother to keep myself
from getting the blues.
My imaginary - ife was always a plump
little woman, with black eyes and nice
little hands and dimples IN them. l could
sometime believe that she would really
come in and sit down at table and pour
out the tea, l had formed such perfect
picture. l had taken the upper floor of a
small house, not because L was poor, for
was not, but because l was DESTROYS OF
retirement and did not want any one
dumping upstairs past me, and below
some one else kept house.
This person used the conservatory for
kitchen. l must explain. Some former
tenant had converted the back porch into
conservatory, and had had it all filed in
with glass, OF course. Whoever lived on
the floor below at that time had again
made an alteration. Where was once the
conservatory stove, now stood little
cooking stove, and over the side panes of
glass hung white curtains; but the glass
root was uncovered.
One morning, impeled by the curiosity
which is born of loneliness, lent over
my window ledge and peeped down. |
saw below little kitchen, with little
table and little stove.
AT the little table sat-my wife. What
l mean is that that imaginary being whose
football l was always hearing on my floor,
who in day dreams sat at my table ana
poured ont tea, whose actual absence | con-
soled myself for by supposing that she had
gone to take tea with her mother, sat there
IN proper person, round, dmpled. black
eyed as my fancy painted her.
She was eating her breakfast all a one,
and she looked as though she did not like
it. | was sure-sure from the very first
that she was not married, and from my
unseen post | watched her every move
ment until my black servant. with the re-
mark. "Massa, dem dere gridde cakes is
gettin' spilled" aroused me from my rev.
erie.
However, that was not the last time l
saw her. She sat good deal in that con-
servat0ry, the most blooming rose il ever
nourlshed within its glass walls. She
sewed there, and read books there, as we'll
as ate there. l saw her cOnc0ct dainty
buildings for one, and pies which lasted
her four days, ana was as sure that Proy-
dence intended her for me as though l had
asked an oracle and been told so.
With an opera glass l could read the
very pages of the book she read. and all
the while she had no idea that an eve was
on her. AT last took step-a bold one
for me. 1 bought a book-the last new
one of an authorizes she seemed interested
Inland left it at her door with this on the
fly leaf:
Dear Madam: You were so much in
terested in that last book of Mrs. Ed
wards that | ven ture to send you another,
which hope may prove as interesting.
You will, perhaps, be surprised when tell
you that you read the first four chapters
of that book without stopping; that you
then marked the place with book marker
with harp on it.; that you cried al The
tenth chapter and kissed the book when
you closed it. YOUR SPIRIT FRIEND"
Through my peeping place | saw the
little woman take III the book; saw her
read the inscription with amaZement, put
her hand to her head and ponder, and then
draw one of the white curtains and look
out. A young man was shaving himself at
window opposite. | saw that she at
once pitched upon him as the sender of
the book.
The next day she put blne shades up.
Once, watching her from above as though
l were an angelic being without wings, |
saw her come in from walk with autumn
leaves in her hand. Afterward she ironed
them and made little wreath of them,
which she hung up over a little 10 oking-
glass. The next day l bought and left at
the door some dollhouse roses.
''Since you care for autumn leaves you
will care for these" as usual.
This time she laughed softly aud put
them in water and sat looking at them a
long while. Then she peeped out of her
window again. The young man was not
at tie opposite easement. Then she shook
her head. aud after time she took
damask rose from the bunch and put it in
her hair. The next time sent the flowers
l wrote on the card:
You wore damask rose from the last
bunch | sent you. viii you nut yellow
tea rose in your hair this timer"
How / watched! l saw her look, hal
pleased, half frightened. At first she only
put the roses in vase, but at last she did
take one, and il was tea rose, and pinned
il in her black braids. / kissed my hand
To hex from my elevated situation, but she
did not know il.
so for al least six months watched, and
sent her flowers aud fruit and books and
little gifts of all sorts. But as for asking
our mutual landlord for an introduction /
never thought of that-it never occurred
10 me. should not have dared to speak
to her If had been introduced.
The autumn and the winter passed and
it was often so cold that l was obliged to
scrape away the frost from my peepinp
place to see her; but l did il, and let me
assure you that | did it most respectfully.
and with the most gentlemanly feelings.
played the spy, bit it was with the deep
est veneratiOn.
Spring came. Little green buds were on
the trees; and she opened the window to
let In the air, and wore pretty, light
colored garments Now that The window
was opened she drew her table further
away from 1t and nearer the wall. This
was more convenient to me.
One evening she sat down at her table
to write letter, and / got my glass and
found that could see the words upon the
paper. My hope was that she would
ailude to her unknown friend. 1t was
gratified. She did. After some talk of
persons and things l knew nothing of, she
wrote thus:
Now, dearest Lizzie, will tell You of
the strangest thing that has happened to
me. L nave no friends in the city, nor
nave L seen any one watching me-: but
from some mysterious source books, pa
pers. magazines, flowers and fruit are
sent to me. l have had tickets to NATL
nees. at first l was afraid to 60 to them.
but l tried 1t, and no one spoke to or
looked at me. Everything this unknown
does is done delicaIely. / really have be-
gun to be interested in him. Who can be
be p often say to myself why does he
hide himself? Ii he likes me why does he
mt oh foir int ndt,a