Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-02-25
JUST ROSS THssQUARE
[Bv Edward W. Townsend |

of it, he found that his heart W
humping almost as if he had ju
finished hundred yard foot race. f
discovered at the same time that I
was laughing aloud aud he brougl
himself sharply to attention, and a
tually stood still for several second
determined to assume at least an ou
ward calm before he actually set foe
on his Mecca, the goal of his ambition
bis fairy land-New York
He repeated to himself the instru,
tions he had written down as he ha
received them from a student f,i. n
who had lived in New York. This
Forty-second street," he said to him
self. land must face it and look for
horse car going to my right Hello
there is one." He bucked through th
interfering line of cabmen and board
ed the car, saying, land keep in thai
car until it passes underneath the ele
waited car line." He was ginning with
in in complete rapture, but maintained
a sober mien until he saw a grim
Egyptian looking pile and then he
blurted out Fifth avenue!'
He could not help that. The joy oil
discovering that the Murray Hill reser
voir corner was so like the pictures o1
it he had studied as to make it rec
ognizable overcame him. and until
Sixth avenue was reached he frankly
smiled back at the smiling passengers,
and gave up, with a sense of relief, the
effort not to appear stranger.
Then the elevated! He could have
drawn working plans for the construc-
ton of an elevated railroad, including
a station, and, indeed, he had done SO
in practice-Philip was an architec-
tural draughtsman-ye the first sight
OF the actual structure was a surprise
and delight to him.
Ride to Bleecker street, he said
reciting his written instructions when
he was seated in downtown train.
The janitor of the lodging house had
received his letters, and told him he
could have the very room his art stu
dent friend had occupied, and when
he was in it and alone. and had taken
one look out of the back window. seen
the one grimy black limhed tree in the
grimy black court, and the back win.
dows facing him on the opposite side
OF the court, and saw a young italian
woman at one of those windows. all
just as his friend had told him. Philip
SO shouted and danced for joy the
Italian looked over and smiled. Where
upon be promptly threw her kiss.
When his trunk came lie put on his
best street clothes, and was surprised
to find that they looked a trifie odd.
not quite SO fine and fashionable as
they seemed when he last wore them
at home. He took his one letter of
Introduction, and, as he went out of
the house, stopped and showed it's ad- |
dress to the janitor When that grim
person read it, he instantly altered the
manner he had at first adopted toward
the new fourth flight back lodger.
DO you know where that is?' Philip
asked.
"Sure, sir; that is just across thet
square. That is North Washington I
square, Cont you see, sir, and this is
South Washington square,
Philip laughed. THAT is my first
Slip" he said. II did not relate the
two sides of the square. | guess l
thought the gentleman lived-why, in
quite different part of the city, and
he glanced about at his cheap sur
well. it is very different part of
town, in one way, sir. It's very swell
lust across the square. and Mr.. Gun
ton, the gentleman your letter is to, is
the richest one on the row. l often
see him."
Philip crossed the square to the ad
dress, sent in his letter and in a few
minutes found himself shaken by both
hands by big, hearty man, who re
peated over and over.
Phil Moriow's boy! Phil Morrow's
boy! Every inch of him. And I've
never seen your father since YOU were
born.n {
When Philip told him that he hoped
to obtain employment in an architects
otfice, Mr.. Gunton exclaimed: Moth
ing easier. Black is the greatest of
them all, as you know, and is not only
my warm personal friend, but has
charge OF great deal of work | hap
pen to control. Well fix that as soon
as you're ready. But not word of
business or affairs now, my boy. The
irst thing is-dinner. Why, not to
night? Any engagements ?n Ii
I've only been in the city two hours,
and know no one but you.''
Phil Morrow's son need know no
'ne but me in New York y said the old {
nan, sententiously. "Then this even {
ng at o'clock. Mrs. Gunton will be I
anxious to see you. She never met I
'our father-she's the second Mrs. {
5unton, and country girl-but she's 8
heard me speak of HIM often enough.
loved your father. l tried often to |
lave him come here.n 1t
AS Philip was leaving the house Mr.. c
fnnton said: "If you have an evening a
lress suit put it on" *
"Oh, l have"
You must not mind my asking you. a
Neither your father nor I had one at t
our age" S
Philip was in half dream as he left v
he Gunton house, and stood gazing at a
he Washington arch. .sImust walk - o
e said to himself, ''or I'll be arrested
OF dancing in the street. It does not
eem possible that it can be true, but a
is true" 6
He started up Fifth avenne, hugging il
lmGaIf with Oh cIo