The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-11-27
NlURIEII.
Br viRGiSIA F. TOWN END.

1t was an old yellow-brown, two story house,
and there was nothing striking or original III its
physiognomy or belongings, that know Of A
high picket fence ran all around the 'front.' and be-
fore this grew immense locust, picturesque in
ITSELF and making cool, shadowy quiet about
the building in the warmest August moons.
Mrs. Ward, the widow Ward lived here who
took boarderS whenever the tavern gave indications
OF plethora spun yarn for mothers with large FAM
lilies, kept COW, sold milk ; and in short like n
thorough Yankee woman, managed to support her
self dependently and respectfully hv her own
head and hands, for which all due honor be herein
awarded her. You can sec her now duSting the
window-panes for she has Just given the parlor its
weekly sweeping She is small, straight, wry with
sharp quick motions and posiiiUc sort Of eye
and mouth which would be a physiugnomists best
key to her charM ter
But, after all it is with Mrs. Wards odgrr over
head, and not with herself that have at pres
snt to do. He came in about half an hour ago,
rom the tavern where he takes his meals, for the
large rooms there aro just now al occupied.
He hna thrown open tho two windows in front, and
the on the right for he has u remarkable liking
for sunshine aud fresh air.
lie is walking up and down the room now, hum
ing snatchcs Of songs or rrlap>ng into rcvrrie,
not altogether an agreeable one, it seems, by the
occasional knitting Of his forehead. and the rest
lossnrSS OF his manner.
He il very Young slcmlcrnni Of middling height
not handsome but finc-ooking--a gentleman "by
the honor of man well by the will oI
God" .r
The lines around the mouth arc strOng--he has
force and will the CyCs Of a rich hazel grey, smile
out one moment with pleasant, happy thoughts
then darken down with sad or yeNatiuus ones; he
has 6nc feelings and impulses From those pre-.
nses you must draw your own infcreliccs of his
character.
Suddenly he speaks out with that nervous alb
ruptneSs which marks his whole manner I..
Two weeks more in this dull dronng, disagree
able place. ! declare, it is more than can sta1d
I'd psck up and start of this very day if my con
science was IL little tougher than it is. But prom
ised that anxious mother ofminc I'd staysix weeks
and so wilt If don't go insane before the time is
up and hang myself Id get the promise rcscindcd
pretty quick il she weren't in Alabama, ,nndit would
take week for the letter to goand another to bring
me an answer It's all sheer nonsense my coming
up hore to Meadow Brook for the bracing air, fol
no reason in the world, saving that mother ant
uncle Lawton must take it into their wise head
that was growing thin, and must inherit consrimp
ton because my father died Of it.
Here am twenty years old and well as any
fellow in my class. It's too bad. Goodncss--what'
that 7"
There was sudden swaying and dasiring o
boughs against the side window, little hal
su,othered shrek, and then small, sun-brownc'
face peeped out from the green branches on Nor
man Guilds
-Why, child. alive. how did YOU get up here =
Don't you know you'll fall aud break your neck
inyoluntarily reaching out his arms TO the child
rescue.
II wanted those two big peaches on that bough
80 climbed up here TO get EN-. oh dearS In
going for the light bough swaycd to and fro un
der the speaker
mo you're not. Take tight hold Of my hands
There, now, give one spring won't let you go"
A moment later, and painting with fright an
exertion, the little girl was safely landed in tn
chamber.
She was a strange looking child, dark and thir
with no soft outlines delicate coloring with moth
ing pretty or attractive about her unless 1t NIGH
be her hair and eyes. The one lay in tangled skelr
about her face but it was a rich goldenish BROW
and betwixt it, looked out the wild, large, brigf
eyes -
An old, faded calico dress, which must original
have been intended for a much larger person, and
still older and equally ill-fttng pair OF shoes con
pleted the chids tout ensemble
Norman Guilds took in all this at a glance.
WAS hy nature and education very fastidiOus. II
had met the little girl under any other circumsta
co.. or IL he had not just done her favor which {
WAYS warns ones heart toward another he won
not have spoken toher.. As it was, he aske
aWhat is your nameg
..Muriel Heith,"
~Muriel Heith" He had great fancy for m
,;cal and neculinr names THAT name soun
very sweetly. never heard it before. Where
you i've.
Hero with Miss Ward
We'll what do you do here Haven't you
relations p