The record-union., 1897-02-08
PRIDE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE.

aSnlng her brass knocker. Her long,
Vhln hands rubbed till the little white
curls on her forehead danced like street
children. Yet the labor had no per-
ceptIble effect. The metal shone like
hght, but SO it did when she began to
cream 1T. 1t had shone like that yes
aerday and the day before, and, indeed,
every day for sixty years. There was
a smooth circle all around the knocker
Where her delicate hands had worn into
The hard, black wood of the door. New
ertheless the old lady rubbed away just
as She had done every morning since
the spring of 1888 when she was
brought, a bride, into that 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 lit was evident in
the glanceS she shot across Bank street
that her attention was not given wholly
TO the work of her hands Neither
was it diverted 10 her customary in
speotion of the neighbors' knockers.
Theirs glistened 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
strudy horses and a truck.
Pretty soon the door opened and a
young man in a carter's blouse came
out. He saw the old lady across the
street, though he pretended not to. He
busted himself ostenta tiously about the
horses heads for a moment and then
turned back to the truck. Mrs. Leveen
had seen him. She bent herself earn
estly to the knocker and in a few
Strokes finished it off. Then she faced
towards the street and fixed the truck
man with her eyes till he had to look
up.
Good morning, Aunt Martha" he
said as he doffed his cap.
She beckoned him to come to her.
Good morning, Percy" she an
swered 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 it off, omit
ting his usual calls on his aunt, and
avoiding her sight and summons Now
that she had caught him he was glad.
As he followed the old lady into her
prim, comfortable sitting-room he
made q 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, lis this true
that l hear; you mean to marry this
girl?"
Yes, Aunt Martha. 1 was going to
tell you, but knowing as you were agin
t-knowing that you would not like
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
Il am sorry, Percy, you felt that way.
1t is my intention always to be kind
and sympathetic. You should have
been quite sure 1 would have heard
your story through with understanding
Now tell me everything. She is the
daughter 1 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 piIe-I mean has
made money since he's been here"
How lorg has he been here?"
Going on twenty-five year. Oh, he's
almost an old Ninth Wander now. He's
some in politics and his family is right
in it,"
Percy, l never knew them
4 know, but you wouldn't IT ain't
my fault. 1 wanted to have them all
over to mothers so as you could be
introduced to them.'
The old lady looked as though she
would answer this, but she did not.
She was silent a moment before she
proceeded:
So her father is a grocer?"
Yes. like MIR. Jamison, who YOU like
We'll enough"
Mr.. J2mison is a gentleman. nv
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 ne
cessity. This person Of whom we are
speaking is one by choice"
We'll, Aunt Martha. it's as good a 9
being truckman, and better"
Mrs. Leveen WINGED.
You might have been a Judge like
your father, or a Senator. like vour
grandfather. 1 wanted you to enter
political life'
Politics is pretty low down these
days" Percy remarked. 1T amt what
1t was Besides, I tried to get an office
from Mike Mcnamara, but he said I
wouldn't do in any where the paw was
as much as the trucking pays. And I
guess that's about So"
Inc last sentence was cheerf1ll1v
spoken. Mrs. Leveen looked at her
nephew's ruddy cheeks and sighed
DO wish Percy" she said. gently
THAT you could have found some ono
an Greenwich. That part of Hudson
street where these people live is way
beyond the outskirts OF the old village
out where the hog fields were till ths
Immigrants began to settle around us "
But what's the difference Amt
Martha? It's all one now. There af,,,t
no Greenwich any more It's all inst
new YORK C1ty, so what is the use of
pretending"
The impatience in the young mans
tone amazed his aunt almost as much
as the sentiment he uttered. Never he
fore had he failed 10 show her resnect
On the contrary, the hum mbIeness of his
demeanor had been a grievance to her.
it did not become one of her own hloof,
TO manifest the same awe before her
ahat an ordinary Ninth Warder did.
The old lady Strengthened in her
Chair, the lines about her mouth stiff
ened, and her eyes glisfened like her