The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-04-23
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
like 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
was 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 rs she had done every morn
ing since the spring of 1888, when she
was brought, Il bride, into the house.
She was the pride of Greenwich village
then, and she meant to he 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
glances she shot across Bank street that
her attention was not given wholly to
he work of her hands. Neither was il
diverted to her customary inspection of
the neighbor's 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 a carter's 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 Il moment and then turned
hack to the truck Mrs. Leveen had
seen him. She bent herself earnestly
to the knocker and in few strokes fin
i-hed il off. Then she faced towards 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 answered
pleasantly, as he approached her, cap in
hand. Come in n moment. 1 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 callson 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 nc made pitiful
figure of humility, but in the meellness
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. / was going to
tell you, but knowing as you were agin
it-knowing that you would not lire
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, | 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 25 years. He's almost an
old Ninth-warder now. He's some in
politics. and his family is right in it.
percy, / 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
troduced to them"
The old lady looked as though she
would answer this, but she did not. She
was silent a moment before she pro-
ceeded.
so her father is grocer"
YES: like Mr.. Jamison, who you
like well enough
Mr. Jamison is gentleman, my dear.
The misfortunes of his family can never
alter that The Jamisons are of the old
est Greenwich families on both sides.
He is a grocer by necessity. This per
son of whom we are speaking is one by
choice"
well, Aunt Martha it's as good as
being truclanan, and better
MIS- ItNtch
you might have been judge, like
YOUR father, or n senator, like your
grandfather. / wanted you to enter po-
Iitical life"
Politics is pretty low down these
days" Percy remarked. 1T amt what
It was Besides. | tried to get an Of
flee from Mike Mcnamara. but he said L
wouldn't do in any where the pay was
as much as the trucking pays. And
guess that's about So"
The last sentence was cheerfully
spoken. Mrs. Leveen looked at her
nephew's ruddy cheeks and sighed.
Il 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 the outskirts of the old village,
out where the hog fields were till the