The Ordway new era., 1907-10-25

ANA the young girl. who had been
Sittihg IN one of the bay windows laid
Gown her work and disappeared from
''e view OF the Young man who had
1ren watching her from the other bay
window. and who now took up his
"pFk ana tried to 20 on with II,
Numbers 50 and Il Walnut street
formed double house In pleasant.
though questionable. quarter of the
suburban city Of WhIterow. Number
~ was occupied by Mrs Martha Hig-
RlhSon and her small but select board
ing house. Number Il had been va
cant up to within shor, time. but a
FAMILY had lately moved in. consisting
rs iar as the observation of the neigh
Dors went. OF a middle.aGcd man and
woman and girl OF lS-presumably
lather mother and daughter. II had
been learned that the name Of the fam
ily was Mayhem and that the male
head Of 1t. who appeared to be a con
!irmcd invalid. had served galautIy in
the war OF the rebellion as a major OF
volunteers. Also that he was now in
receipt of pension In supposed re-
payment for the loss of the health he
had left behind him in the Virginia
swamps. To exc out this necessarily
rather scant income the daughter dec
Grated china-Or at least 1t was in
ferrcd that such might be the case
from the fact of her being seen dur
Ing part OF every day industriously
painting pottery In the front bay win.
dow.
Wentworth Dcrricott. bachelor. aged
&c. had been in possession OF Mrs. HiS-
ginson's second floor for nearly year.
by occupation he was a reviewer OF
published books and reader OF an
published ones. Derricott lOnGed TO
make Miss Bell Mayhcw's acquaint-
snce. No doubt he would get TO know
her eventually. for Mrs. ilIgginson
would make n nciGhborly call. In the
purse of time. and. In the course OF
t:mc that call would be returned. and
thus gradually n way to an acquaint-
anceship between the two households
would be paved. But all that form and
ceremony. might take several weeks.
Derricott had been accustomed to
look upon himself as hardened ana
tard.hearted bachelor. Now. on
sudden, he discovered that there was
a soft place somewhere about him. the
presence of which he had not suspect
ed. The joys OF single.blessedness.
W lich he knew. began TO grow aim
before dreams of the delights oil mar
ricd bliss, which. as yet, he knew not.
He was not hGbitually an early riser,
but one morning. in consequence OF
work neglected the day before. he got
M with the sun. and made n discoV-
cry which proved to be OF some impor-
tance to him. He had just finished his
preliminary toilet and seated himself
for doing n stint before he could be
disturbed by the breakfast bell when.
CHANGING to glance downward. he saw
in the street figure which at once
arrested his attention. \ young lady
in a becoming blue suit was In the act
of mounting a bicycle in front OF No.
Al He thought he never had beheld
a more pleasing spectacle than MISS
BeIl Mayhew-for of course 1t was she
looked at that moment. and he gazed
nj her with all his eyes so long as he
was vouchsafed the privilege. After
she had ridden away out of sight he
resumed his work. or tried to do so.
hut It is to be feared that the mnch
he had hoped to accomplish proved IN
the end to be lamentably little. lie
that he had bicycle up
garret and he determined to give IL.
and himself, much more exercise thah
fornerIy That very day he got the
machine downstairs and put 1t In or
der.
He did not always ride in the morn
ing and he never ventured 10 start
out at the same time that she dld. ne
refrained from doing any
thing which might even remotely
cause her annoyance. or lead her u
suspect how glad he would nave peen
If they could have taken their daiis
in company. lie ire
,uently met her, though-he did no'
feel that duty called upon MIN "
avoid that-sometimes going, some
lines returning. twice or thrice far
from home. On the last.named occas.
'ons he would have bowed slightly haa
he dared. for since they saw eacn
thor 60 often, why were they not III
, manner. acquaintances?-only she
never gave him the chance, or seemed
- show the slightest inclination 10 en-
courage such familiarity.
one morning, very early, before sun
.,.o IN fact. he went out for ride.
.Sherl not be stirring for an hour
:. ho thought. land can get home
rain before she starts.
what was his surprise. however.
while traversing favorite u. IN VI .o"
'..a,vr ~ as the Sheldon turnpike. to
Ano" Familiar figure not very far /
'Sps - uoi, Mayhew moving |