True stories of old Houston and Houstonians: historical and personal sketches / by S. O. Young. Page: 49
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HOUSTON AND HOUSTONIANS 49
not four blocks from this very place, that fairly took my breath
away. But it started downtown and was two or three days
culminating.
"Monday afternoon I was standing on the corner of Tremont
and Market when one of the most beautiful and prominent
ladies in the city drove by. Just as she was opposite'
where I was standing she bowed and smiled. I thought, of
course, that she was bowing to some acquaintance behind me
and took no notice of it. She drove down the street and when
she returned she repeated the bow and smiled so sweetly that
there was no mistaking that it was all meant for me, and in a
moment I was regularly sweeping the sidewalk with my hat.
The next evening the same thing was repeated and when she
came back she ordered her driver to come near the curb and
beckoned for me to come to her."
At this point of the story a little fellow named Smith, which
was really his name, butted in. He was so excited that he could
scarcely talk. "I'll bet you a thousand dollars to one I can
call her name," he said. "Don't be afraid, Frank, I won't give
you away, but if you will come to one side I'll whisper it to you
and you'll see I'm right." '
Le Mott paid no attention to Smith, but went on with his story.
"When I got near the carriage the lady leaned out, and calling
me by my name, asked me if she could trust me. You bet I
told her she could, and that I would willingly die ito be fpf
service to her. She told me not to be rash in making extravagant
promises, because she was going to hold me to any promise
I might make. Then she drove away after asking me to be at
the same place the next afternoon at 5 o'clock."
Here Smith butted in again, swearing that he knew the lady
and that he would bet any one present a thousand dollars and
leave it to Le Mott to say if he was wrong or not. He also
repeated his assurance to Le Mott that he need not fear his divulging
the name. Le Mott did not notice the interruption further
than to remain silent until we could shut Smith off, then
he continued:
"The next afternoon I was on the spot an hour ahead of time.
Promptly at 5 that carriage drove up and the lady, calling me
to her, managed to slip me a dainty little note, which I slipped
into my pocket." Here Smith became terribly excited and
insisted on whispering the lady's name in Le Mott's ear, but
we interfered and got him quiet after some trouble.
"She then drove away, after giving me a sweet smile, and I
hastened to a secluded place Where I could read that note. It
was very short and was simply this: 'Meet me tomorrow afternoon
on the boulevard near the foot of Tremont Street at as
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Young, Samuel Oliver. True stories of old Houston and Houstonians: historical and personal sketches / by S. O. Young., book, 1913; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth24646/m1/49/?rotate=270: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.