The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1897-11-16
PRIDE OF THE VILLAGE.
BY LINCOLN STEPHENS.


Mrs. Sylvester Dean Leveen was pol
sshing her brass knocker. Her long,
Thin hands rubbed and rubbed till the
h1t1e white curls on her forehead danced
dixie street children Yet the labor had
mo perceptible effect The metal shone
si&e light, but so it did when she began
In clean it. 1t had shone like that yes
Se7,1oy and the day before, and, in
a1eetl every day for co years. There
vasts 3 smooth circle all a,oGud the
S-aNeker where her delicate hands had
S'scn into the hard. b!acl, wood Ct hc
sSoSar. Nevertheless The old iGGy rubbed
vaxsay just as she had done every morn
eng since the spring of 1853, when she
was brought. a bride, into the house.
sshe was the pride Of Greenwich village
then, and she mea-st to be still.
On this particular frosty. morning
Mrs Leycen tarried longer than usual
at her task After the lions head was
satisfactory evenlto her sharp eyes, she
worked on. But II was evident in the
glances she shot across Bank street that
her attention was not given wholly TO
the work Of her hands. Ne.thtr was 1t
diverted TO Inconsistency inspection Of
the neighbours Knockers. Theirs glis-
sened like hers, and, besides, every tine
she looked up her eyes turned TO but
one door, that of the house in front of
which stood two sturdy horses and .
track.
Pretty soon the door ops ned end Il
yoang man in carriers blouse came out.
&c saw the old sady across the street,
tinough he pretended not to. He busted
himself ostRatatiously about the horses
heads for moment and then turned
hack to the trucn. llrs. Lcvcen had
no the knockcr and in few strckes fin
Rshed il of. Then she faced towards the
ssfreet and fixed the truclman with her
eyes gill he had to look up.
Good morning, Aunt Martha" he
said, as he dofycd his cap.
She beckoncd to him to come to her.
Good morning, Percy" she answered
psensanfly, as he approached her, cap in
hzrnd. "Come in n moment. l wish to
speak with you"
The interview he had dreaded for
Nvesl0s was upon him now. lie knew
from the first il was inevitable, but day
after day he had put 1T Off, emitting his
usual calls on his aunt, and avoiding her
sight and summons. Now that she had
s-xQght him he was glad. AS he fol-
kowed the old lady into her prim, corr
Eortable sItting-room he made pitiful
figure of humility, but in the meelsEcss
sod his soul there was the cheerfulncsa
al finalify.
'';Sit down, Percy" she said, in the
ssweet-toned voice he loved.
He took the chair she indicated, and
she seated herself in her old rocker.
Percy, dear" she began, sis tlis true
Tlhat 4 hear; you mean to marry this
girl?"
-'1es, Aunt Martha. / was going 10
tell you, but knowing as you were agin
H-knowing that sou would net like
10 have me do So was afraid to come
TO you about it,"
Don't twill your cap, my dear; gen.
tsemen don't do that, you know
He stuck his cap Between his knees.
Il am sorry, Percy, you felt that way.
IL is my intention always TO be Kind
szDd sympathetic. Nou should have
t5een quite sure would have heard your
STORY through with understanding.
Now. tell me everything. She is the
] am told, of q German in
Hudson street"
That's right, aunt. Her father has
shn biggest corner grocery over there.
n1d he has made his pile-I mean has
tnade money since he's been there"
''How 2or- has he been here?"
Going on % years. He's almost an
cld Ninth-warder now. Hes some in
politics, and his family is right in it,"
Percy! never knew them"
"a know, but you wouldn't. 1t amt
my fault I wanted to have them all
ssVer 10 mothers so as YOU could be in
troduced to them"
The old lady looked as though she
would answerthis, but she did not. She
was silent moment before she pro-
Ceeded.
$50 her father is a grocer?"
YES; like Mr.. Jamison, who you
like well enough"
MIR. Jamison is a gentleman, my dear
The misfortulcs OF his family can never
alter that. The Jam.Gons arc of the old
est Greenwich families on both sides.
he is grocer by necessity. This per-