My Gaslight Romance.

New York, 1877

In the few short years after the civil war, the country has undergone a change. Steam-powered technology has swept through the country, turning the most underdeveloped cities into sprawling urban centers.
This is tale of life in the city, as told by an upstate gentleman.

Oh, I am running late. I hurry to get dressed, so I can keep an important date. I grab my hat and cane and head out the door. I manage to catch the Steam-trolley, heading up the street. It is less crowded than usual, on most days, the trolley is packed with the upperclass and lowerclass alike: Aristocrats, Bankers, Laborers, and those of less favorable professions.

I reach my stop: The 7th Street Cafe. I make my way there to meet Maryweather Cartwright, an old and dear friend of mine. Mary is sitting at the table, looking at her watch. I call to her, she turns to me and says: You're late... I apologized to her, and just smiled. I sat down with her, and had lunch: For me, coffee and finger sandwiches, and for her, a cup of tea and a slice of cake.

After lunch, we went for a stroll around Central Park. What used to be a natural forest inside the city, is now dominated by mechanical sculptures, steamboats on the pond, and a clockwork orchestra that plays on the half hour. As the day grew late ,we took the evening trolley home to our respective streets. When Maryweather got to her stop, I kissed her goodbye. I Iook forward to our next get together...