The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-01-23


"Mr. Bishop, | believe the gentleman who wrote
this lettcr?"
And she drew my cpistc from her pocket.
/" The same, madam"
al came, sir, to say that would accept your
propositions If you still wish it, we have
mot"
was about to say that wished il more than
ever since had seen her but fortunately rccollect
cd in time, that compliments to my house keeper
were no proper part Of the programme and very de-
corously concluded my engagement in mattcr-ot-
fact and business manner.
The next week she entered upon her duties.
had never known what it was to be so comfortable,
| NV house was a model of convenience and simple
elegance; at least, my sister-in-law, Which, she
went over it, previous to Mrs. SMITHS commence
ment pronounced it perfect. l had sort of home
feeling that | had never known before; room
enough Cor all my possessio,,s: place to welcome
my friends to; very agreeable companion in my |
house-kecper whc;, chose to talk to her, unob |
trusive minister to my comfort when was silent.
True Mrs, Bishop found, whenever she honorcd
me with 3 visit that something or other was not |
ordered as she managed it in poor Roberts time.
use-kecpers even the best of thcm,' she was
wont to remark. "requirc a little looking after.
|
ones affairs, as onu's own relations" Her com
mcns did not give me much uncasncss.
| went home one day little earlier than usual.
thought quiet chat with my house-kceper. over
the ding room fire would not be unpleasant. l had
begun already, to take altogether miro interest in
her than was prepared to acknowledge to myself
pictured, as hurried home, the table handsome
ly laid, and Mrs. Smith in her neat, quiet dress,
I ! Al. it;nr, far
the dinner to be brought up. As reached my
own door, however, found it open, and three chill
4 dren of varying ages, taking most ail6ctionatc
farewell of my housc-keepcr. never cared enough
for any one before to expericnc. such an emotion
as jealousy, but think other word would ade-
quatey describe my feelings l walked into the
parlor and shut the door. Presently Mrs. Smith
made her appearance.
81 am very sorry s,r," she began.
&" Not at all, madam"
l. 90 but ! am. | remember your stipulatons
about the children, perfectly. | surely did not
T mean they should annoy you l presumed you
;. would have no objections to their coming some
: times in your absence and like to thcmas Of
/ ten as can but they shall not be here again at an
IS hour when you're likely to come"
q She must have thought me ungracious boor,
for growled out.
u "No matter--no matter at ALL"
was in i'll humor. The pleasant anticipations
n with which hurried home had not been realized.
Moreover, suspected l was becoming too much
Interested in my house keeper to like TO be remind
N cd that others had stronger claims upon her. That
> evening sat on one side of the bright fire and Mrs
le Smith on the other. abhor fumaces-it is one OF
l. nv whms ! loved when was boy TO make
ID pictures in the fire, and the habit and have grown
old together. We had sat silently for some time
le saw iii cmbcrs little boats sailing on oN
:. ingly side by side. At length asked.
i-1 'Wha was Mr.. Smiths business, madam"
}" "a merchant lie in dry goods firm; and
ir able to give US every luxury until he failed
e. So that was it. Io had failed and died, and lcf
her all those children to support locked into thC
e. fire again The boats had driftcd far apart anC
e. were sailing down fame colored river
, "IIe ON the one side-shc ON the other"
muscd on, half sorowfully, until at length
said, speaking unconsciously out loud
j., Perhaps could have stood the children, if i
!, weren't for thinking she had loved somebody else
;, She'd be looking back and all the time comparing
me with No. l."
"Sir"
Ny voice had attracted Mrs Smiths attention
from her book but she had not evidently understood
what l said, and looking up inquiringly
!, Thank fortune for that. I laughed little.
- 'Nothing. | was not speaking to you. In fact
in fact l think was talking in my sleep"
She looked down again, and watched her in
" :, stead Of the fire. She was prcttyprettier than
" had given her credit for at first thought, too sh'
Z nightbe younger than thirty, as surveyed he
now. There was a delicate peach blossom color oi
her check, an innocent. almost girlish expression
:! her WELL cheek and blossom were nothing to me
-, | got up and went to bed.
VI The next day, my sistcr-in-law came to see me
u As usual, she had plenty of suggestions to make
: Mrs Smith, which that lady received in silence
c but with peculiar twinkle in her eyes. A
Ct length Mrs. Bishop followed into the library.
y "Well, Sandie," she remarked, seating herself
I" since YOU do not disposed TO fulfill my pre-
'' dicton and marry your house-keeper, suppose
'' may speak Of her freely. have thought from tn
y first, that she a very artlul woman. havcn
IL doubt that when she here, she meant to MARI
YOU She is very attentive now, but of course sh
e has her motives. | can see. Ii any trial shoull
H. come YOU would find out who your friends were"
Mrs. Bishop was right in is, for the trial di,
% come and / saw who my friend was, my owl
h' friend.
er was taken i'll early in the spring. My sickness
came on suddenly. l was attacked with sever
IT, headache and sharp pains in my back. The frs
or two days Mrs Bishop spent in assiduous care Q
y, me though to confess the truth, her attentions
he were unwelcomc and would far rather have beer
w abandoned to the tender mercics Of my houseLecp
lg er. who rarely came into the when my sister
m in-law was there. The third morning my physi
er clan pronounced my disease smallpox. Even il
sh that moment of terror | looked at Eliza Bishop
It Her face palcd and could her hands shake
he She spoke in IA trembling voice
,y ''I wish could stay with you Sandie wish
OF could. Ifit only for myself, would, but fn
rd my children"
ny 81 would not have you stay" answered. :"
" would not have you run the risk for worlds.
Id trust you have not endangered yourself Good
rs bye, sister Eliza"
a. She went out of the room, and ] turned TO Mrs
IN Smith who standing near.
snow you must go, also. The doctor will fin
cd some one to me, and YOU too, must look on
he for your children"
en- II must look out for you, sir. My duty is here
to now. Live or die, will stay with you while yo
p need me-"
at The little womans voice was firm, and her eye
to shone with a clear, resolutc light. | had no
thought she possessed so much will and courage.