Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-06-25

| get tne ground cut from under your teet
with this bewilderipg candor.
|" certainly was sbout 10 say, sir, that
love your daughter; thSt I love her
truly and disinterestedly and that in
making this confession have not an eye
to trr
"'You have not an eye 70 y echoed Mr..
Tredgold, emphasizing the not in very
unpleasant manner.
"'I mean, sir, l am not in the slightest
degree influenced by pecuniary oonsidera-
tions, knowing, though l do, that Miss
| Tredgold's position is very far above mine
from pecuniary point Of view. In fact,
q reflection on this very inequality has for
| long time prevented my declaring the
state of my feelings to Miss Tredgold her.
self, Notwithstanding had reason to hope
that it would be reoiprocated on her part
"Well, sir, can only say have other
intentions respecting my daughters fu'
ture--'
"Mr. Tredgold coughed, The very
words 1t was all over, thought
"'Than pecuniary ones the old gentle
| man added, after a slight pause. They
are very one-eyed sort of consideration,
sir, AFTER ALL MINI.
az acquiesced; but 1 wished he would
not allude to partial blindness even in that
metsphorical manner.
"'But,' Mr.. Tredgold continued, nav.
Ing seen good deal of you for some time
past, | am not disposed to think you
man influenced by considerations OF that
kind. Have you mentioned your senti-
ments to Miss Tredgoldy Yes9 And
they are returned2 Yes? In that
case you may consider the matter settled
so far as my consent is concerned. l am
simply anxious for her happiness. No
| doubt you wonder at my ready assent in
your case to a suit which have refused
number of gentlemen in much better
| positions than your own. have my own
reasons. | do not want money for nay
daughter l can give her as much as l
think it good for any young pair to have
"'What q gem of a father.in-law
thought.
"'fhe fact is l am a student, SIR he
went on, "a humble one, it is true,-of
| individual character as delineated in the
human eye" ~
al began to feel very particularly un.
comfortable.
"tAt one time 1 studied phrenology.
What is moral charscter2 says the phre-
nologist. Moral character, he replies, is
bumps l tried nosology. What is the
index of intelligence? asks the nosologist.
He knows nothing. They are all wrong
together. Where do look to read the
moral and perceptive faculties of the
human mind ?--whither do l turn to
seek for infallible indications that my con-
! fidence shall not be miSplaced' To the
eye, sir The eye is the window of the
soul That is where mans character is
written. Depend upon it, it is all in your
eye -. rr
"Really, this was very disagreeable.
was 80 perplexed could not tell what to
do. 1t flashed through my mind that
had better go down on my knees, and at
once avow myself wretched one eyed i'm
postor, regardless of all consequences to the
| inspectorship. But this is weakness, l
thought. Should give up the secret of
so many years standing, and lose Laura
and the inspectorship at one fell swoop 2
No. With a powerful effort, controlled
my feelings.
al have read your eyes said Mr. Tred-
| gold, 'and must say they impress me
with favorable opinion of the candor
and frsnkness of your disposition
"What guilty being felt
"A very favorable opinion, sir. And
will say have confidence in YOU Plainly,
l like you; and would rather have you
for son-in-law than any other young gen.
tleman know and l believe you will
make Laura a good husband
"For very shame, could hardly find
words suitable to express my acknowledge
ments of his good opinion; but blurted
out something, and the old gentleman
shook me cordially by the hand, and
wished me goodnight:
"'I don't know if you will think me
nduly inquisitive,' said, but l should
ike to ask you one question before CO.,
"Not at ALL You probably mean as
to the amount of the settlement
"No, no. interrupted, coloring. 4 as
sure you that was furthest from my
thoughts. 1t is on very different subject
Your daughter wished me to ask why you
came to Stepminster.' III
"Mr Tredgold looked at me keenly foI
moment, then he replied, with some alb
ruptness, Change of air.-Good. night
"The manner in which he said good
night did not admit Of further converse
tion.
"Why had Laura insisted on my ask
ing this question? Surely not to elicit
such an unsatisfactory piece of informa
tion as this. l fancied l heard the old
gentleman chuckle to himself as he shut
the street.door on me.
"Could there be any reason worth keep
ing secret connected with Mr.. Tredgoldi
coming to Stepminster? Had he dont
anything wrong? Did he want to avoiC
anything, or anybody? 1t did not lool
like it, for he had taken no pains to live 1
quiet, retiring life in the town. Again, ahi
did Laura wish me TO know the reasoI
that had brought them here? 1t mattereC
! nothing to me, that could see. loveC
Laura Tredgold /; that was enough for me
"Then thought about my eye. CoulC
1 tell them, after deceiving them hitherto
The worst of the first step in deception is
, it makes the others 80 easy. did not se
that could. Besides, surely it was NJ
crime to have a glass eye; it was m.
! misfortune. Why should 60 and tel
people: Look here this is glass eye
when they liked it better for believing It u
be real? 1t would be cruel,-heartless BE
sides, Laura did not love me for my eye
! No; Iwould not tell her yet, determined
Il would rather she would find it ou,
Perhaps would lead her on gently to tn
discovery, and 80 break the blow, and b
able to say, La bless me-what didn'
you know it?' That would be the pre-
erable course.
|, %When next saw Laura, she was yer
eager to know if her father had told m
4 anything about the reason which brough
them to settle in Stepminster. meI
toned his reply, and it caused her
good deal of apparent uneasiness.
"He ought TO have told you that, PEI
!, / don't think / ought to be your wife ii
G you know
"Iprotested my utter indifference to th
cause that brought them here, whateVt
it might be. 30
!; "But, Pen,' she said, plucking at hi
= dress" o dear, you ought to know 1t.
= wish could tell you am sure you wi
= regard me with an eye of scorn by and b
= when you find nave kept something frol
= you The tears were coming up in ht
y beautiful eyes as she looked at me.
: "No, l said nothing would ever mah
= me change my opinion of her, as the dea
- est dsrling-Well, we will leave the ep
thets. In fact, asI thought of my secre
o which had not disclosed. II was rather
= relief to me that she should not tell n
!, why they came 10 Stepminster. 1t el
e couraged and excused me, as it were, fo
"a my own reserve. But would much hay
preferred, though, she should have ga
" teVea of acorn inRtAad of an eva Ever