Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-04-21
THE VILLAGE PRIDE.

ishing her brass knocker. Her long, thin
hands rubbed and rubbed till the little
white curls on her forehead danced like
street children. Yet the labor had no
perceptible effect. The metal shone like
light, but so it did when she began to
clean it. 1t had shone like that yester-
day and the day before, and indeed
every day for 60 years. There was a
smooth circle all around the knock
Ell where her delicate hands had
worn into the hard, black wood of the
door. Nevertheless the old lady rubbed
away just as she had done every morn
ing since the spring of 1888, when she
was brought, bride, into that house.
She was the pride of Greenwich village
then, and she meant to be still.
On this particular frosty morning
Mrs. Leyeen tarried longer than usual
at her task. After the lions head was
satisfactory even to her sharp eyes she
worked on. But it was evident in the
chances she shot across Bank street that
her attention was not given wholly to
the work of her hands. Neither was it
diverted to her customary inspection of
the neighbors' knockers. Theirs glisten-
ed like hers, and, besides, every time
she looked up her eyes turned to but
one door, that of the house in front OF
which stood two sturdy horses and a
truck
Pretty soon the door opened and a
young man in carters blouse came
out. He saw the old lady across the
street, though he pretended not to. He
busted himself ostentatiously about the
horses heads for a moment and then
turned back to the truck. Mrs Leveen
had seen him. She bent herself earnest
ly to the knocker and in a few strokes
finished it off. The she faced toward
the street and fixed the truckman with
her eyes till he had to look up.
Good morning, Aunt MARTHA" he
said as he dotted his cap.
She beckoned to him to come to her.
"Good morning, Percy" she answer
ed pleasantly as he approached her, cap
in hand. Come i'll a moment. I wish
to speak with you
The interview he had dreaded for
weeks was upon him now. He knew
from the first it was inevitable, but day
after day he had put it off, emitting his
usual calls on his aunt and avoiding
her sight and summons. Now that she
had caught him he was glad. As he fol
lowed the old lady into her prim, com
Portable sitting room he made pitiful
figure Of humility, but in the meekness
of his soul there was the cheerfulness
Of finality.
"'Sit down, Percy, she said in the
sweet toned voice he loved.
He took the chair she indicated and
she seated herself in her old rocker.
''Percy, DEAR" she began, ''is this
true that I hear-you mean to marry
this girl?"
eyes, Aunt Martha. was going to
tell you, but knowing as you were ag'in
it-knowing that you would not like to
have me do So was afraid to come to
you about it."
Don't twirl your cap, my dear
Gentlemen don't do that, you know"
He stuck his cap between his knees
II am sorry, Percy, you felt that
way. It is my intention always to be
kind and sympathetic. You should have
been quite sure would have heard your
story through with understanding. Now
tell me everything. She is the daugh-
ter, am told, Of a German in Hudson
street.
That's right, aunt. Her father has
the biggest corner grocery over there,
and he has made his pile--I mean has
made money since he's been there. -
"How long has he been here?"
''Going on Is year. Oh, he's almost
an old Ninth warder now. He's some
in politics, and his family is right in it.
"Percy, I never knew them"
II know, but you wouldn't 1t amt
my fault wanted to have them all
over to mothers SO as you could be in
PRODUCED to Them
The old lady looked as though she
would answer this, but did not. She
was silent moment before she pro-
ceeded:
So her father is grocer?"
Eyes, like Mr.. Jamison, who You
like well enough Il.
Mr.. Jamison is gentleman, my
dear. The misfortunes of his family can
never alter that. The Jamisons are of
the Oldest Greenwich families on both
sides. He is a grocer by necessity. This
person Of whom we are speaking is one
by choice
"Well, Aunt Martha, it's as good as
being truckman, and better"
Mrs. Leveen WINGED.
"You might have been a judge like
your father or senator like your grand
father. I wanted you to enter political
life
Politics is pretty low down these
days." Percy remarked. ut amt what
it was. Besides, tried to get an Office
from Mike McNamara, but he said
wouldn't do in any Office where the pay
was as much as the trucking pays And
I guess that's about SO. Z
The last sentence was cheerfully
spoken. Mrs. Leveen looked at her
nephew's ruddy cheeks and sighed.
II do wish, Percy" she said gently,
''that you could have found some one in
Greenwich. That part Of Hudson street
where these people live is way beyond