Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1893-10-19
THE RED TENEMENT.


and my interest never waned for the next
hfty-two weeks There WIS A rustic sea,
oI Tue GOrher OF the street just opposite to
Snere IiVed, and on this he WAS seated the
Irst Tune | saw him. By his side was a
uarK haired, brown eyed child-the only
person whom he looked at the second time
ana 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 his, walked away and did not see
him again for two weeks
II was on Sunday morning. as 1t WAS be-
lore, and near the same hour when he scat
ca himself in the same place, and divided
MS attention between the child and what
thought to he my house. He staid there
LOT ABOUT two hours, then went away as he
ula before. After he had turned the cor.
ner stepped out on the banquette and sur.
Veyed my premises to see if | could discover
wherein lay the attraction for the man, but
TAILED, so went indoors no wiser than
when | came out.
pondered over it for some time. and inst
as concluded to give it no more tbongbt
saw simon again in his usual place and as
much occupied as 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
very serious face, and the child was quite
pretty. Many a woman smiled at the little
one and threw second glance at him.
My housemaid, girl of sixteen, became
very absentminded, and my powder box
ana plnching irons were far more frequent
ly in her room than in mine. This made
me think of something else, and after no
tlclng her more closely saw her sitting Mt
the window, considerably bedecked and
adorned, coquetting with or at Simon
Webber.
thought at once that she was the mag.
net which had such drawing effect upon
the man, but In this was mistaken. as |
afterward found out, for not once did he
nod his head to her, and long after she left
he continued to come at regular intervals
And continually wondered what his busi.
ness was Il my house was haunted and ne
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
moment then replied: "Your house haunt.
edi Not that know Of" and without say
ing another word he turned the corner.
leading the child, and went back wonder
ing If 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 Of
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 Webber, whom 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. 1t was too cold, thought,
for child of such tender years to be so
long without fire, so permission to bring
her indoors was 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 "A 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 figure in the carpet, he in his
slow, measured tone went on.
81 think you must have seen me many
times on this street, looking intently at
something which you no doubt for time
imagined to he this honse, but it was not.
The red tenement sits one block back OF
there To avoid the publicity that would
have been the consequence Of going on the
street on which it was built | came here
where Il pretty fair view Of it is to be had
by looking between AS and Al, n little west
ward, which gave you the impression that
! was watching your house. Three years
ago ! was a lineman and had been since
was quite ayouth. One evening just about
dusk, went up to pole that hadn't beer
In order for quite awhile. While was ex
amining some Of the wires n voice asked
me, almost in a whisper, to come dowr
minute. Of course my first impulse
before moving an inch was to look foi
the person, and | saw young woman
standing at the base of the pole.
AN one moment | was beside her, look
ing into her pretty face and wondering whc
she was and what her business could b,
with a lineman. She looked around
little nervously. then said: Won't yor
please lend me your spurs for one mo
menti | stayed out little late 30 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
81 was so astonished at the request tha
| took no time to ask myself whether sh,
was risking her life or not, but went bacl
up the pole as fast rs | could. marking
with chalk where she should put he
hands and quicker than it takes to tell 1t
! strapped my spurs around her feet ant
watched her ascend that pole almost a
well as could.
"When she reached the top she gave
sprung, anu CllnBlnS W the HlHuON lOT ON
moment to regain her breath she made
swinging motion and landed safely in he
room. She disappeared for few seconds
then tossed into my hands my spur
wrapped in a thick towel, together with
slip OF paper on which was written: DON
think strangely OF me. will explain frs
opportunity. thank you a thousant
times
THAT pole was on the right hand corne
Of the red tenement looking north. hai
been there many times, but had never seei
her before, but that may have been attrih
uted to the fact Of my never looking to tn
right or left, or ever having paid any at
tention TO anybody's windows, or even an
! one nm the st rect walked a few block