, 1897-03-18
VILLAGE PRIDE.

street children. Yet the labor had no
perccptihlc effect. The metal shrnr like
light, but so it did when she BEGAN to
clean it. 1t had ,Lunr like that vrstcr
day and the day before. and indeed
every day for 90 wears. There was Il
smooth circle all around the knock
or where her delicate hands had
worn into the hand, black wood Of the
door. Nevertheless the old lady rubbed
away lust aS size had done every morn
ing since the spring If 1898. when She
was brought. II bride, into that house.
She was ,hc pride of Greenwich village
then, and she meant to he still.
On this particular frosty morning
Mrs. LcyCcn tarricd 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. N,ith,r was il
diverted to her customary INSPECTION of
the ncighburs' knockers. Theirs pli-;cn-
ed like hers, and, besides, every time
she looked UP her ewes tulrrd tn but
one door, that Of the lcu>r in front of
which stood two STURDY hu1S,s aud II
truck.
Pretty soon the door opened and II
young man in u %cart,r's Ll,usr came
out. He saw the cid lazy acIoss tic
street, though he prct,nGcd not 70. He
busted himself ostcntaticuslv about the
horses heads for Il omcn and then
turned back to the truck. Mrs. Lcyecn
had seen him. She bent herself Earnest
ly to the knockcr and in II few strokes
finished it off. The she faced toward
| the street and fixed the tluckman with
her eyes till he had to lcok up.
Good morning. Aunt Martha" he
| said rs he dotted his cap.
She bcckoncd to him to come to her.
Good morning, Percy" she answer
ed pleasantly lis he approached her, cap
in hand. Come in Il moment. wish
to speak with you"
The interview he had dreaded for
weeks was upon linn 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 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 Il pitiful
figure of humility. but in the mcckncss
of his soul there was the chccrfulncss
of tinality.
''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.
ill., -. " . az: 49,
true that 1 hcar-you mean to marry
this girl?"
Eyes, Aunt Martha. | was going to
| tell YOU, but knowing as YOU were ag'in
| it-knowins that you would not like to
| have me do SOL was afraid to come to
| you about it
Don't twirl your cap, my dcar.
Gentlemen cont do that, you know"
He stuck his cap between his knees.
Il am sorry. Percy, You felt that
way. 1t 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 daush-
ter, | am told, of II German in Hudson
street"
That's right, aunt. Her father has
the biggest corner grocery over there,
and he has made his pilc-I mean has
made money since he's been there"
How long has he been herc?'
Going on % wear. Oh, he's almost
an old Ninth wartcr now. He's some
in politics. and his family is right in it."
"Percy, l never knew them"
Il know, but You wouldn't. 1t amt
my fault. l wanted to have them all
over to mothers so as you could Lc i'll.
troduced to them"
The old lady looked as though she
would answer this, but did not. She
was silent Il lctclc she pro.
cpeded:
80 her, father is a grocer"
YES. like Mr.. Jamison. who you
like well enough"
,oor T," ni;ston,uros ot Lisf univ an S
,,o"a, aItor ,Lnt Tha I,m;snn. a,o 81
tho ol5ost Eraouv;ch f,mil;os on ro,b
10 ua 80 nr"nor hr ,anassi.r This
So, ~ whoH, wa snooL;n. ano
Nv nho;co
Ivan Amt ,or,b, ice Nc good ne
being n truckman, and better"
Mrs Levern WINGED
"yo, MIGHT have icon , iud,e lilo
vour father cro senator like vEnr prond-