The record-union., 1898-03-07
The ROMANCE OF WILLIE.


mail box. stood the woman whom ne
adored Her plenteous figure resisted
in swelling curves the molding grasp
Of the black waist and dampened skirt
Two small feet showed beneath
hem clutched up. An arm, right-a
gled, supported in the socket OF
rounded palm the glistening umbrella.
The collar of the brown Russian blouse
pressed the round white ears among
sable hair A glooming wide-plumcd
hat droored over the olive oval splashed
with subcutaneous reds, each side the
straight nose.
Brown bovine eyes swan beneath
the serene white brow punctuated by
the semi rarentheses of inky eyebrows.
a drowsy mouth was upheld by the
pointed chin. which pol1ed daZzlingiy
outward through the dotted veil.
Il beg your pardon, Miss Lavigne:.'
Willie called TO her, coming up with
his hat off. quite moist, isn't it. just
left the effice?'
Her even teeth smiled at him and she
bowed.
Yes! It rains all the time now.
Why are you putting down your UNI
brella?''
Willie made a gesture at the crash
ing tangle of wheels in the street.
BY TIE way, let me call that cab
and take you home"
The crowd had hemmed them into
the gutter by this time.
Thank you very much. I'm not 60
ing directly home. Here is my car
now. Good night"
She seized the handrail of an up
town cable car and merged into the
doWncast jam of men and women upon
it's rear platform. Willie clamhesed
over the rear wheel of a hanson stalled
in front of him. Twisting around the
side, he spoke to the cabman
Follow that car" he said, and
sprawled out on the cushion.
The cable car slid slowly northwar1
with banging bell, holding back for
tardy rear wheels and humping the
tails of obstinate trucks. Pedestrians
Scurried across beneath the gripman's
very nose.
The lowering cloud of decision on
Willies smooth shaven, innocent face
cast Il shadow of determination into his
blue eyes.
Welt" he asserted, ''if l marry Miss
Lavigne J. won't be the first business
man who married his typewriter, and
/ won't be the first business man who
made himself happy ever after"
On every crossing few damp people
dug'their way out of the car and We're
replaced by soaking persons, who bur-
rowed their way in.
Miss Lavigne transferred east on a
jangling white car The cab followed
east also. Soon the short trees and
peering lamps of Tompkins square came
dead ahead.
I'll get fired from the firm all right
when the old man finds out" rumin-
ated The passenger in the hanson.
Willie tipped his black derby back
ward over his blonde center parted
hair.
Anyway. l can do bookkeeping and
earn a living"
He thrust his slim white hands into
the side pockets of his brown tweed
suit and pushed aside his macintosh
TO do So
That's the third time she has avoid
ed me. ard I'm going TO find out wnere
she lives now and why she gave us that
false address on Lexington avenue.
His chin sank over the high white
collar ana rested on the plaid club tie
His Saze settled upon his black wet
boots.
Il believe that she is some aristo-
cratic girl in hard luck. She has to
work for living and doesn't want any
of her old friends to know it. La
vigne, I.avigne, That must be a
French name. Maybe it's assumed"
Once more the passenger pursued
changed cars. The cab followed closely
the blue lights of the plunging car as it
eastern border of the square.
Then the smell of the tenements folded
in around them-that indescribable odor
which is made UP Of perspiration, OF
cooking and of decay. that oily aroma OF
the poor forever the permeable ghost
which hugs misery. The squirting store
lights looked tearfulIy at the glistening
asphalt. Uttered with sticks and paper.
The children of the pavement slid over
its shining surface.
They talk more in the Ghetto than
dhey do anywhere else in the city. Con-
versation here really forms part of the
street noise The shuttle of gritty shoes
on the Shiny sidewalk the flap of soggy
clothing and the gargle of YiddIsh
echoed up the living walls of this can
yon of the Ghetto.
Lavigne dropped easily to the street and
merged in the oblong black blotch of
doorway of the tenements. The pursu-
ing hanson halted and Willie sent it
away.
He leaned on the dripping iron hand
rails leading to the dismal entrance and
gazed for long time into a store. This
store resembled n human life. That is to
say. the snowy goods crowded the mar
row window for all passers by to see.
while the interior was nearly bare. AS
he did so he reflected.
she is on some errand of mercy. Suf-
fering makes a soul more kind. 1t
shows a noble heart in a patrician body
at any rate"
Finally he looked UP at the houses
while he determined on the next step.
The sullen tenements shook fists of
fire escapes at each other through the
drizzle Their bleary eyes-the lighted
windows-shone mutually resentfui as
they realized that each was stealing the
Others bread.
Willie entered the door between the
rails. The fan-spread tips of his right
fingers brushed the grimy wall. The left
slid UP the sticky banister. His muddy
boots scraped over the resisting knots
on the wooden stairs and secured into
the worn hollows All around him was
the smell-stronger on the first landing.
A dusty light came over the transom on
the left. \ voice came out also. He
knocked.
The door opened for foot, and a
stupid yellow woman looked craftily