Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-10-20
THE RED TENEMENT.

Hontns, although knew nothing Of hin,
except bis name wis Simon Webber. I he
came Interested the first time saw him
aud my interest never waned for the ne ~
hfty-two weeks. There was "A rustic seat
on the corner Of the street lust opposite 10
where lived, and on this he was seated tire
nrst time ! saw him. By his side was I
dark haired, brown eyed child--the only
person whom he 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 for
about three hours, then, taking the child,s
hand IN bis, walked away and did not see
him again for two weeks.
II was on Sunday morning, as It WIS be
fore, and near the same hour when he seaf.
ca himself In the same place, and divided
MS attention between the child and what |
thought TO be my house He staid there
Tor about two hours, then went away me- he
did before. After he had turned The cor.
ner stepped out on the banauette and sur.
veyed my premises to see II could discover
wherein lay the attraction for the man. but
! tailed, 10 went indoors no wiser than
when came out.
pondered over It for some time, and lust
~ concluded to give it no more thought /
saw Simon again in his usual place and as
much occupied ~ ever In house gazing.
And there he came with the child always
on Sunday-twice month for the next ten
months. He had good looking, though q
very serious face, and the child was quite
pretty. Many a woman smiled at the little
one and threw second glance at him.
My housenaid, A girl Of sixteen, became
very absentminded, and my powder box
and pinchiug irons were far more frequent,
iy in her room than In mine. This made
me think Of something else, and after no
ticing her more closely saw her sitting at
the window, considerably bedecked and
adorned. coquetting with or at 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 be
nod his head to her, and long after she left
ne continued to come at regular intervals.
And continually wondered what his bust.
ness was-if my house was haunted and he
on the lookout for the ghost. This was not
very soothing thought, SO | determined
to put the question to him and rest easily
or uneasily, according to his answer.
when did he looked at me calmly for a
moment, then replied: "Your house haunt.
edf Not that know Of" and without say.
ing another word he turned the corner
leading the child, and went back wonder.
ing II he was altogether right in his mind
and this continued to think over until
one day several months later.
There had been severe storm the night
before, particularly damaging to the cleo.
trio wires. Many of the poles were split
from end to end. others bent, and most al
them lying fiat on the ground. Wires
were kinked, twisted in knots and scat
tered all over the streets. Betimes the
next morning men were busily engaged in
setting new poles and putting the fixtures
into proper condition. AS glanced down
the long line of men working like so MANY
bees my eyes fell on the familiar face Of
Simon Weber, whom had not seen fol-
several weeks, and his little companion.
The little one sat on the lower step of q
cottage, swinging her feet and seemingly
perfectly contented with herself and The
world in general. 1t was too cold, thought
for child of such tender years to be Sc
long without fire, so permission to brine
her indoors was granted me reluctantly by
Simon.
he stood at my door waiting for the child
but at my earnest solicitation he came il
and partook with great zest cup of steam
ing coffee AS he returned to me the cup
he said gravely: you some time ago asked
me question which answered rather un
civilly. was very unhappy that morn
ing. Knowing this. hope you will pardon
me-"
After replied he dropped his eyes to the
floor, and allowing them to follow the out
lines of a figure in the carpet, he in hi.
slow, measured tone went on.
II think you must have seen me man,
times on this street, looking intently Al
| something which you no doubt for time
imagined to be this house, but it was not
The red tenement sits one block back o.
there. To avoid the publicity that would
have been the consequence of going on thu
street on which it was built | came here
where pretty fair view of it is to be hat
by looking between AIS and Al, n little west
ward, which gave you the impression tha
| was watching your house. Three year
ago was lineman and had been since
was quite youth. One evening just abou
dusk, went up to pole that hadn't beef
in order for quite awhile. While was ex
| dIulLluS sOult Vi lut WHITES Il voice ASKED
me, almost in whisper. to come dow
minute. OF course my first impuls
before moving an inch was to look TO
the person, and saw II young woman
standing at the base of the pole
I'm one moment | was beside her. look
| ing into her pretty face and wondering VIII
she was and what her business could b
with lineman. She looked around
| little nervously, then said: Won't yot
| please lend me your spurs for one mo
ment' | stayed out "A little late SO dar
not climb the stairs, and there's but on
other way to reach my room-by climbing
the pole. must hurry or he'll see me
Please don't refuse
| ~ was SO astonshed at the request tina
| took no time to ask myself whether sh
was risking her life or not, but went bacl
up the pole as fast as | could, markin,
with chalk where she should put he
hands, and quicker than it takes to tell it
| strapped my spurs around her feet ant
watched her ascend that pole almost a
well as could.
| when she reached the top she gave
spring, and clinging to the window for on
moment to regain her breath she made
swinging motion and landed safely in he
room. She disappeared for a few seconds
then tossed into my hands my spur
wrapped in thick towel, together with
slip of paper on which was written: Dom
think strangely Of me- will explain frs
opportunity | thank you a thousan,
| times
"That pole was on the right hand corne
Of the red tenement looking north. | ha'
been there many times, but had never seel
her before, but that may have been attrib
uted to the fact of my never looking to tn