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


himself at home in any society, and, what
Ia more, could make every one else feel 90
too, II not little too much 50 at times,
for he was somewhat eccentric. As for
Laura Tredgold, there could not be two
opinions about her: she had the blacklist
eyes, the prettiest face, and the best for.
tune Of any girl in Stspminster more,
she was known 10 be good.tempered, un.
assuming, and, In a word, nice
Now, although the Tredgolds had been
settled for four years in our town, and
notwithstanding one after another of the
best and most well.to-do Of our young
gentlemen, young professional men, and
young tradesmep, bad laid continual siege
to her hear. during that time, Miss Tired,
gold was still disengaged. She referred all
suitors to her father, who professed TO be
fiattered by their attentions, but told each
of them, with never-fsiling affability he
had other intentions respecting his daugh-
ter's future This was his continual reply
to all applioations--'he had other inten-
tions respecting his daughters future
and he never varied word. but delivered
IL with equal good hulnor and courtesy In
every case. .tfEt 1H III
"Stepminster was puzzled as to what
those intentions could be. 1t was demon.
strable that Miss Tredgold was not en-
gagged elsewhere. They never received
visitors from distance; and more than
one disappointed suitor ascertained,
through his servants, from the Tredgolds'
servants, that Miss TredgOld was actually
free still.
"I became acquainted with the family
through my connection with private
musical society for the practice of vocal
and instrumental chamber music. The So
ciety had been founded very recently by
Mr.. Tredgold, himself no mean amateur
on the double-bsss. We met at members
houses alternately, and managed to spend
some of the pleasantest evenings can call
to mind in this way. My own part in the
performances was chiefly confined TO
singing tenor. Laura Tredgold played the
piano or organ with real nervous feeling,
soprano voice. My great interest in the
study and practice of music led Mr..
Tredgold TO invite me to his house rather
frequently, to try over some of Mendels-
sohns trios with Laura and himself, un-
Til l became constant visitor, always
welcome to their home and table.
at went on like this for q good bit, and
the trios frequently came down to duets
between Miss Tredgold and me, whilst her
father would add double. bass oNigdtO
to her piano accompaniment. At last
grew very miserable. began to feel that
loved Laura Tredgold, and that my po-
sition as a miserable one.eyed inspector
of nuisances was an insuperable barrier
to telling her SO, and much less her affable
old father, rasping away at his double bass
in happy Inconsistencies of my feelings
tried to stiie these feelings, and to look
upon our acquaintance simply in the light
of q musical one. / am afraid the very eff.
fort made to hide them must have In
some way betrayed them to Laura, for
became impressed with growing convic
ton that she knew what / felt, and that
her own inclinations were at least not un,
favorable towards me. I noticed, OF
thought l did, that when 1 entered the
room q faint blush would overspread heI
cheek-that she would look round and
single out mine from among the other faces
at the meetings of the musical society
and that, having found it, her eyes
would stay restfully and sat
isfled on mine for moment
her deep, lustrous, dark eyes-before turn
ing with greater unconsern upon the rest
And when she parted from me of an even
ing, remember how she would raist
those eyes to mine with a gentle expires
sion that made me dizzy to think abou
as l would run out of the house and re
fleet on my one-eyed ness. Laura had
speaking eyes, as folks say. They were
not bashful eyes, but mild and gentle anC
when l looked into their depths, they
seemed to flash back already a favorable
answer to what lopged to, yet dared not
ask. That the longer l reflected ON the
oOoial inannalitu INV YnOoitinr
ald hers, the more resolved became a.
least to try my fate, and hear at worst my
rejection, will be readily understood by
the lad who has read his first love-story. i
was not so much this-it was my eye.
dared not tell her, lest, if she rejected me
it should get bruited about Stepminste
that the Board had one-eyed inspector
That would be ruin. 1t was clear to me ]
must keep this secret locked up in my
own-eyelid. But suppose 1 should b
married with my glass eye, and never tel
my wife? should be found out? Their,
would be an end to sll confidence, for
should be q wretched deceiver and woult
it not be obtaining a wife and fortun
under false pretenses?
However, candidly, 1 only expectet
rejection of my suit, after the experienc
of 80 many more eligible young men thai
myself And should ], for this, put m,
eye in any ones power, and lose my plac
as inspector? No. would risk keeping
the secret, and know my fate first.
could easily tel her afterwards. Excus
my not dwelling on the terms in which
laid bare the state of my feelings to Laur
Tredgold. 1t is neither here nor ther
TO the story.
"'I have loved you, Mr.. Crossley,' sh
said with emotion, 'and only you.
have never loved another. Yet fear
can never be yours You do not know
not know che continued, sobbing on m
shoulder, what brought us TO Stepminstel
No. you don't know. Yet, if you will as
my father, first, for his consent to you
suit, and next to tell you what brought U
| TO Stepminster, if his answer to the firi
is favorable to your desire, and if his al
swer to the second is satisfactory to you
mind, 1 will be your wife
"This seemed queer to me. What di
care what brought them 20 Stepminster
Absolutely nothing.
"Whilst we had been talking-LauT
and 1.-The old gentleman had been u
stSirs, to rummage out some new trios tc
our next practice.
"'Lovely thingsP said Mr.. Tredgol'
| pAttlng them aftecuonately.
"Could have little conversation wit
you, Mr.. Tredgold, in priVateI'
40, nonsense Not now. l kno
what you've got to say-or guess. That
all my eye, sir he said severely: we al
going to practice now. o, they are low
ly thingsr and he took an enthusiast
rasp at his double-bass. We will talk,
you like, after supper, when Laura go'
to bed. Now, then-one, two, three
"And off we went into chamber musi
1t was very constrained affair, after VIII
knew, and what Laura knew, and VIII
we both judged, feel sure, that he SCENE
to know was coming. For three bless'
hours we kept this up then supper cam
which thought never would end.
, last, Laura kissed her father, and wis
ing me goodnight, resting her full, da
eyes on mine with q new and happi
meaning In them, retired.
s'Wel, Mr. crossley,' the old gent
} man began, when he heAEd -Laura's f.,
| steps die away up the stairs we
{ sir, expect know what you ha
) TO say. may a. well be candid, a
: tell you am no: taken by 81
! prise. ! have had q good ma