The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-04

There was no doubt about 1t. Zeno-
bia avenue needed repaving and need
ed It badly.
The street, slumbering for years In
blissful unconsciousness of its rutted
cobblestones had become important
The East Palmyra Land and Improve
ment company had taken possession OF
the sleepy suburb to which it led and,
by the arts which modern advertise
ment knows, caused rows of smart cot
hages to spring up as If by magic, and
to find ready purchasers. An increas-
ing volume of traffic rolled along Zeno-
bia avenue not more smoothly than the
course of true love, and proficient mas
ters' of profanity grew eloquent in its
dispraise. A thin, blue, sulphurous
haze of unparliamentary remarks hung
in it's placid atmosphere and slowly
settled with the dust upon its iniquit-
Gus surface. Bicyclists fell foul of 1t
not seldom, and added lurid language
as they paid toll in broken spokes and
twisted tubing. The improvement COM
pany, grown a power by the use of
brass bands in hunting customers and
tent picnics as a means of proving the
homelike quality of thin slices of''med-
der" fretted over the delay.
For it was only a delay. The special
committee of the common council was
able each fortnight or so to report pro-
gress which no one else could see; and
the mysterious they" agreed that
work would begin Immediately. But it
didn't.
Really, it makes me feel almost like
a thief to be taking their money,
James Halsted Otis said, for about the
third or fourth time, to Miss Stoddard
Otis had quickly become confidential
with Miss Stoddard, nartly because he
was lonely and a stranger, more be
cause he had nothing in the world to
do but most of all because she was un-
deniably pretty.
I'm supposed to be something of an
expert on paving" Otis went on in a
grumbling tone, cor wouldn't be here
OF course old Murdock's Incompetent
sible neglect of his business is the real
reason. By rights the city engineer
ought to be able to manage a little
thing like this we'll enough. It's a
months job at most, once started
whether you pave with asphalt or brick
or granite block or-Dutch cheese. Yet
here I've been for six weeks submitting
estimates for the use of every known
and unknown road metal, and the be-
ginning of the work is no nearer thar
before. OF course l get my pay just
the same, but"
But you find your stay in Palmyra
tedious?" suggested Miss toddard, de-
lnurely.
"Tedousn cried Otis. "Why, Faith
you must know-I beg your pardon
Miss Stoddard. You do know very wei
that 1 am walking in FOOLS paradise
in Palmyra, and that the ground you
walk on isis paved with bricks OF
pure gold, for me-
There was in his voice the cadence
that touches the heart that is willing
to be touched. Faith Stoddard looked
up at his face for a moment-she was q
little thing with a demure, Madonna.
like beauty that made no enemies-anC
then the long, dark lashes swept dowr
upon her cheek again and she flushed
and was so silent she fancied Otis
could hear the beating of her heart.
"Perhaps-perhaps do know it," sh,
said at last, so softly that he had tC
bend low to catch the words; but
think you might-might tell me-
Otis was not more hopelessly idiotit
than most young men in love. HI
acted upon the suggestion so energet
ically that presently a rosy glow stole
upon and conquered the blue haz,
over Zenobia avenue and it and all the
world looked bright.