The morning call., 1893-09-11
ACROSS THE FENCE

The distance from the house fronts of a
certain uptown street in New York and
those of the street behind was only 200
feet, but the social distance could not be
expressed by a string of figures a mile
long. On one street the people were
swell" with all that the word implies !;
on the other was an occasional fiat" house
and even several stables. The people who
lived in the humber row were good
enough. perhaps; indeed. Mrs. UlstODe,
who resided in the handsomest house in
the better street, and had as much good
will as money, freely admitted to herself
and her family that difference in the
social positions of people was often due
only to the accident of wealth, which
sometimes befell families not entirely de-
serving of it.
Still, when one day her only son, who
was self-ndulGent and masteTful. as we'll
as very fine looking, astounded the family
by declaring that he would marry that
handsome girl who lived just across the
back fence, Mrs. UlstOne vowed TO herself,
by the blood of all her ancestors, that no
such girl should profit by the accident of
the UlstOne wealth.
WEat provoked Mrs. Ulstone most was
that her sons lnfatuation came about
through the back fence itself. When Ul-
stone ST., who had been brought up in the
country, bought the lot on which he built
his new city house, he noticed that his
neighbOr in the rear had a very pretty gar
den. Gardens are about as scarce ID New
7 rk as IN the Desert OF Sahara, so old
Ulstone obtained permission to put up a
new division fence, which he made as
light and open as possible, and then had
men plant his own black yard" regardless
of exuense. The neghbor's gardener
proved tn be his wife, and as time went on
the little girl who often assisted her be-
came a signify young woman-a fact
which soon made itself known to the
younger Ulstune, whose tastes in this re-
spect were as broad as maidenhood itself.
But how was Mrs. UlstOne TO prevent
the match, if her sons heart was set upon
it? The young man was ver able lady
killer; his eyes alone, when he was moved
TO use them, had made dozens of heart
aches in succession, each for the sake of a
few weeks amusement. He was quite
equal to introducing himself, carrying
everything before him, running away with
the girl, marrying her, and trusting his
family to receive the bride when the storm
of indignation had spent itself. He had
had his own way all his life; he was not
likely to fail now, for this was the first
time he had ever spoken Of marriage. Oh,
that fateful fence! But something must
be done at once, for the young man never
= =
when he had set his heart on anything.
PERHAPS he already knew the girl; ne never
had been communicative about his own
affairs. probably because few Of them were
likely to meet the family approval. Mrs.
Ulstone did not know her neighbOr' S
daughter by sight.
AS she unused and tormented her aristo-
cratic mind she glanced through the back
window OF her drawlDg-roGm through the
discriminating fence and saw youthful
figure going from one flower bed TO anoth-
er. TIE features she could not distinguish
at that distance, but she bethought herself
of her operaglass, which she quickly
brought into service.
Really" she informed herself, my son
has taste. The girl has good face and ig-
ure. So much the worse for us"
The glass was small, so she got a stronger
one from her sons room and continued her
observations.
"Pd gladly have that girl for daugh-
ter" she said to herself five minutes later
eff she had money and was of our set. How
graceful she is! And her face is as refined
and good as it is pretty. l suppose that is
her mother coming from the back door
yes, l can see the family resemblance.
What motherly face she has! She doesn't
look a bit proud or mbtiOus either. She
is not the woman to let another mother
heart to be broken"
Mrs. Ulstoue continued for some no.
ments to study the mother and daughter
through the best glasses that money had
been able TO buy for her son, but suddenly
she stopped aud exclaimed
There's no time like the present"
Within fifteen minutes Mrs. Ulstone was
attired TO make a call, although any men,
Der of the family would have believed she
was starting for one of her frequent char
liable visitatlons OF the sick poor, for her
dress. cloak and hat, although costly and
entirely becoming. were severely plain.
She went into the back street. rang the
bell of the house of her neighbo of the gar
den, and was admitted by the young
woman of the family, before whom she &C
tually trem bied as she said:
Can see the lady of the bouse?"
She was shown into coZy little parlor,
furnished in quite as good taste as her
own. although everything in it-so a quick
mental estimate concluded-cOst less than
the pOrtieres which divided her parlors.
For several minutes she heard quick step.
overhead then there was rather heavy
tread on the stairs and the lady of the
house entered with dignity, although with
some wonder in her cOuntenance. Mrs
Ulstone had carefully refrained FROM send
ing up her card-there was no knowing
how much some well-neaning people
might make of such a courtesy; but she
said, with entire kindness of manner:
Il am Mrs. Ulstone. madam Deig h.
Dor OF yours for years. though we've moi
CHANGED TO meet. Cities are heartes'
places. l assure you that ! don't know
one In twentq of the families an my own
street, long though I've lived there"
Just like me," responded the neighbor,