Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-07-10
PRIDE OF THE VILLAGE.
BY LINCOLN sTEFFENs.

Mrs. Sylvester Dean Leveen was pol
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
ike light, but so it did when she began
to clean it. 1t had shone like that yes
terday and the day before, and, in
deed, every day for GO years. There
vas a smooth circle all around the
knocker 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 the house.
She was the pride of Greenwich village
| then, and she meant to be still.
On this particular frosty morning
Mrs. Leveen 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 neighbours knockers. Theirs glis-
tened 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 carriers 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. Leyeen had
seen him. She bent herself earnestly
to the knoeker and in few strokes fin
ished it off. Then she faced towards the
street and fixed the truclman 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 answered
pleasantly, as he approached her, cap in
hand. "Come in a moment. 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 1t 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 iinality.
"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, lis this true
that | hear; you mean to marry this
girl?"
"Yes, Aunt Martha. was going to
tell you, but knowing as you were agin
it--knowing that you would not ike
to have me do SOL was afraid to come
| to you about it,"
Don't twirl your cap, my dear; gen
tlemen 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
daughter, / am told, of German in
! Hudson street"
That's right, aunt. Her father has
the biggest corner grocery over there
! and he has made his pile'-l mean mas
made money since he's been there.
How long has he been here?
Going on 25 years. He's almost an
old Whitewater now. He's some IN
politics, and his family is right in It,
Percy never knew them.
Il know, but you wouldn't. IL am !
my fault. ! wanted to have them All
over to mothers so as you could be IN
troduced to them"
The old lady looked as though she
would answer this, but she did not. she
was silent moment before she pro-
ceeded.
80 her father is grocer
eyes; like Mr.. Jamison, who you
like well enough
MIR. Jamison is gentleman, my uO''A :
The misfortunes of his family can never
alter that. The Jamisons are OF the Old
est Greenwich families on both sides
He is grocer by necessity. This per-
son of whom we are speaking is one by
choice"
well, Aunt Martha it's as good as
being truckman, and better.
Mrs. Leyeen WINGED.
You might have been a judge, like
your father, or q senator, like your
grandfather. l wanted you to enter po-
litical life"
Politics is pretty low down these
days" Percy remarked. ut amt what
il was. Besides, l tried to get an Of
flee from Mike Mcnamara, but he said
wouldn't do in any where the pay was