The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-08-08
THE BROKEN CHAIR,

o"oHNSo OAiihDCQ inc i've lights
OF stairs which led to his room. The ascent
made, no stopped moment on tho last
Landing. From this landing opened two
doors one at the right hand, one at tho
lett. He took key from his pocket, looked
long time Mt tho door on the right, ut
tered great sigh, then opened the door
Mt tho left. He turned his head, looked
again at tho right hand door uttered a
second great sigh, and entered his own
apartment.
Onco there no dotted his coat, put away
ms bundles, took chair, placed it against
the wall and himself astride of it, lighted
cigar, and, remaining thus, watched tho
little rings of smoke ascend to tho ceiling,
whilo every five minutes no pressed his
ear to the partition.
He stayed there for half hour or so.
smoking several cigarettes and pressing
his car several times to tho wall At last
his face, till then dull and melancholy,
took on ali expression of joy Some ono
was moving on tho other side
'Sho has rcturncdP' ho exclaimed
In moment there was heard tho noiso
of chairs and dishes
Sho is going to dincl'' cried Jacques,
and no pressed his ear still closer to tho
partition, trying to follow the least move
mcnt OF his ncighbor. He was not ablo
to SEQ her, but no was happy to hear her,
to he near her
To SEQ her no moro! That was great
grief to Jacques. Formerly no had seen
her often.
He made plans to meet her on tho stair
way. For that ho would remain in tho
street whole hours together Then, when
he perceived her afar off, he would como
back, mount Il few flights in order to give
her time to arrive, and Immediately de-
SpnnGinC SIC If h,-n
joy of n single look in her face
But ho always felt so troubled to SEQ her
pass before him, so grave and so reserved,
that he salutcd her more awkwardly than
the most awkward schoolboy and lowered
his eyes without daring to raise them.
He had tried hard to DO less timid, had
practiccd graceful salutations, invented
prctcXts for conversation, imagined wise
remarks, but all this forcthought was in
vain. Each time that tho adorcd being
passed jacques salutcd her moro awk-
wardly. Once he even let fall his hat.
Then dospairing Of conquering his cmbar-
rassmcnt and timidity and trembling lest
no should mako bad impression upon
her he had renowned seeing her. For"
no thought, what if should happen not
to please her! 1t is better not to SEQ her
than to displcaso her.
jacques had arranged his life thus, tax
ing caro- never to go out or como in Mt tho
Same time rs his neighbour. And ho con-
tented himself with living beside her and
near her without her having tho least
suspicion of his existence
Without being able TO SEQ her he was
nevertheless acquainted with her.
She was named Charlotte. Shc worked
by the day, setting forth early in the
morning and returning late in tho even
ing. And chg was honest. Oh, yes, very
honest and Woodworking, for very far into
tho night she occupied herself with tho
needle
Jacques felt himself filled with admira-
ton for this brave and beautiful girl, who
alone in tho world-shc was certainly
alone, for she never received any visits
knew so well how to resist the temptations
which bcfall one so young and fair.
She had como TO the house the year be-
fore. The first time Jacques had seen her
he noticed that she was prctty-that was
all. At first he had given little attention
to her His love for her had come to him
little by little, her attraction for him fore
ing its way, SO to speak, through the par
ttion.
Tho Thought came to him ,ntc ut night
when he entered his home Il wonder if
sho has retired, " and when coming; out
early i'll the morning he thought, Il won
der If she is awake Littlo by little tho
thought OF tho morning became bound
without interruption to the thought OF
tho evening. 1t became tho thought OF
his entire life. jacques was now well cs-
tablished in his affection for Charlotte
He adorcd her, and he knew that he should
adore her always.
If sho had permitted him to speak to
her, or if he had had courage to speak to
her, his declaration and his confession of
faith would not have been long 1t would
have been this only:
"Madcmoiscllc, love you. Will you he
my wifc?''
But, alas, to offer ones hand to won-
al 1T Is necessary to have something with
in it, and jacques had nothing He was
painter-onc of those artists rich in
hopes only, who intended to have some
day his hotel in Monccau park but now
his canvascs did not sell, and during these
later days not single purchaser or pre-.
MUM had happened his way, so that the
poor boy had been Obliged to pawn for his
rent his few furnishings till there remain
ed, except his bed, only one poor cane seat
ed chair-a chair so old, so broken, SO tot
tering, 1T was u miracle that it could hold
itself together with him astridc it,
jacques was always there astrdc of his
old chair trying to trace through the thin
partition the goings and comings of his
pretty ncighbor. AS the blind by touch
alone gain an adequate knowledge of the
form of objects, the young artist by the
rustling of Charlotte's dress against the
furniture, by the distance and approach
of her step, by her silence even, had arrv-
ed at u sense of seeing her which was al.
most as good rs IL visit with her face to
face. Now she is setting the table. "
'Sho dimes" She has finished now
She is sitting down" She scws.'
Sometimes, always on horseback in his