The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1909-09-10
The Girl Across
the Way


person works at a window. Yes, this
person is girl. of course. There
wouldn't be any sense i'm taking off
ones coat and recording lot of facts
about two men working at two win
dows at opposite sides of court,
would there?
Now a young woman, If she be Of
face and form and garb that consti-
tute balm to the optics may be
source of much inspiration-if one
may believe all that gets into print.
Still, If the truth be known in the
case OF this young man, he might
have accomplished more for his en-
ployer IL there had been no haired,
rated young creature across the way.
For the sight of the girl across the
way and concentration were things
apart The young man would look
at the figure across the court when
there were figures on paper right in
front of him that he might have
looked at Once he was offered a bet
ter job with another firm, but he staid
where he was for the sake of the
view.
Don't get a wrong impression. II
was not in fiirtatious spirit that the
young man gaZed absently across the
court. The creature at the window
opposite was not the kind that
couldn't make her eyes behave She
had her lamps under perfect control.
There was something about her that
dispelled any notion one might have
TO get familiar without a formal intro
duction.
She had a sweetly serious counte-
nance that made one think she must
be great help to her mother. There
was something unusual about her. She
had her soft, lustrous hair propped up
some with rats, it is true, but not to
extremes. Her eyes were full of gen.
tleness and she smiled often Not at
anybody though-just smiled good
humoredly as she took dictation or
went ahead with her work.
The young man across the court di-
viding his attention between the two
kinds of figures had never heard her
voice, but he knew that it was soft
and low and resonant. She didn't come
to work with a different outfit. on
every day, either But she always
wore color combinations that seemed
TO have grown up together and her
shirtwaists were wonderfully fresh
and neat. That was one thing that
appealed TO the young man opposite
She looked like a girl who could make
herself presentable without spending
so much money that whoever started
in to make out the checks would be
obliged TO quit going to good tailor
for his own clothes.
In the six months or more that the
young man had been looking across
the court at the features of his ideal,
their eyes had never met squarely-
not once. She would look over occa-
sionally in a dreamy way, but when
the two lines of vision were about TO
become concident she would glance
leisurely away. II was impossible for
one to send any wireless, Honest,
know you'd like me" message TO her.
Pretty refreshing, too, the young man
opposite told the boys in the office.
She wasn't going around making
any chance acQuaintances, but he was
willing to bet that once a fellow got
TO know her real well she was the
sort of girl who would take keen
interest H. him. would chide him for
not wearing a vest on a cool evening
when he might catch cold, and would
notice every time he wore new neck
tie He went around thinking such
thoughts as that al day long 1t was
a shame. he kept remarking. that a
girl like that bad 10 earn her own liv
ing and brush elbows with a sordid
business world.
At last-and this was only ten days
or so ago-he found himself in the
realization of one Of his foudest hopes.
He met her! 1t happened out at the
beach She had gone out with her
sister. and her sisters gentleman
friend and this friend was acquainted
with an old friend of our hero who
was out there. and things worked out
so that everybody was introduced all
hands around. The young man of the
window on the court and the creature
of the window opposite strolled away
TO talk things over until the next
dance should start up.
"I've saw you at the window thou
sand times" she began. "Of course |
never liked to rubber or nothin' Nav
always brought We girls up not to
stare at no one, and the boss jest
about throws a fit if he sees anybody
in the Office lookin' as II they wasn't
tending striekly to biz. | never have
knew such place to work. I'd have
went to some other office long ago
only the pays pretty good and need
the cush."
Thus did she talk on, spreading bad
grammar and bromides at every
breath.
The young man danced with her
silently and then excused himself. His
illusion was so rudely shattered that
he felt like a man who had been
struck over the ear with paving
brick. Next week he is going to have
his desk moved away from the win
dow.