Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-02-19

down and run over by hansOm can. Inc
case was serious one. Not only was her
arm broken, but the whole system had
been seriously deranged by the shock,
and there was reason to fear that
some internal injury had been sus.
to be groundless; and a cure would speed
ily have been effected had she paid closer
attention to the doctors instructions.
But unfortunately, the little lady was
slightly self-willed. The consequence was
a relapse, long convalescence, and very
long doctors BILL though John Bryan had
reduced his charges to minimum, partly
out of pity for her childlike helplessness
and simplicity, partly out of admiration
of the golden glory of her long flowing
tresses AS Constance rather prided her
self upon her ancient descent, than upon
plebeian wealth, two elderly gentlemen,
who had constituted themselves her spe-
cial champions and blackamoors," in.
sisted upon being allowed the privilege of
acting as her bankers on this occasion
and as each stipulated that the other
should know nothing about 1t, Miss Tay-
leur made rather good thing out OF her
illness, the more so as she went oil, after
all, without paying the bill The land
lady, also, had some reason to complain;
for, in consideration of the heavy medical
expenses incurred by her favorite lodger,
she had allowed her to go away for
month for change of air without requiring
a settlement in full previous to her de-
parture. But when six weeks had expir-
ed, and nothing had been heard of Miss
Tayleur's movements, Mrs. Robinson
wrote to her at the address she had given,
inquiring after heC health, and when she
might hope to see her again.
Instead of reply, she received her own
letter: no such person was known, nor
was there any such street in Scarborough.
Then the murder came out. The two old
gentlemen confessed their folly, and DR..
Bryan was informed that his fascinating
patient was suspected of being an adven-
turess. The doctor bore the news with
equanimity he merely expressed his re-
gret at having been deceived by the artless
manners of the "child of earth with the
golden hair" and the affair passed away
from his mind.
In the latter part of October, John
Bryan found himself desperately in
love with the daughter of
prosperous city merchant, residing in Ty
BURMA. Dropping in one evening to try
new duet, he was surprised to find
Miss Wilkinson in a decidedly sulky
humor.
"Tell me-" said he, gently--"tell me,
Charlotte, what is the matter?"
"There is nothing the matter" was the
unsympathetic reply.
pardon me, Charlotte, there is some
thing the matter. Have offended you in
any way? If so, l assure you it was quite
unwittingly on my part"
The soft tone in which he spoke work ed
visibly in his favor. The lips trembled,
and tear stood in each eye. Making a
vain effort to be calm, she asked with af.
fected indifference,
BY the way, do you happen to know
Miss Constance Tayleur?"
"Well, wish could say No." said he,
laughing. "But surely, Charlotte, Miss
Tayleur is not one of your friends
Question for question: How long have
you known her? What is she? Where
is she?"
"Stop, stop, DR.. Bryan, you are bad
catechist you give me no time to reply.
If you particlarly wish it, can obtain her
address from Harriet Fielding, who told
me all about that affair. must say, DR..
Bryan, your conduct was disgraceful. 1t
was not what-what-wh the pSor
girls dignity fairly broke down, and she
burst into tears
|. "My dear Charlotte" said John Bryan,
tenderly soothing her, "you have been
entirely misinformed as to the matter"
Whereupon he quietly told her the whole
history, and obtained ready credence for
his truthful tale.
"But who is this Harriet FieldingH" he
asked.
Charlotte Wilkinson laughed a merry
little laugh, and nodded towards her faith
er, who either was, or seemed to be, sound
asleep in an easy. chair, with book lying
upon his knees.
"To tell you the truth, John, Harriet
Fielding is rather friend of dear papa's
than mine"
Here snort was heard to issue. from
the easy chair.
az can't say that we know anything at
all about her, except what she told us her.
self as we travelled up together from Has.
tings. She told US, or rather papa (anoth-
er growD, that she was going up to Lon
don to look out for a situation as house
keeper to quiet elderly widower "a series
of low growls), and asked papa to tell
her what to do. So papa Gerry kindly re-
commended her to Mrs. Watkins board
ing-house, and even promised to take her
there himself"
"But how is it that l have never met
her here?" asked Mr.. Bryan.
90, that's just it. Papa asked her to
! come and spend this evening with US, and
promised her some good music, as you
were coming When she heard your
name she uttered sharp cry and turned
quite pale. As soon as papa had left us,
she told me that you had Tilted her dear
friend, Constance Tayleur, and declared
that nothing on earth would ever induce
her to meet you"
"Im very sorry, am sure, to be de-
prived of the pleasure of making Miss
Fielding's acquaintance but was not
aware that | was such a terrible ogre
among confding spinsters. What sort of
person is she?"
90, she is little. fairy, with the sweet
est voice and the most silvery laugh in
the whole world; and such hair-a per-
feet cascade of gold when she loosens the
band and lets it fall down over her shoul-
ders."
"Show me her photograph !" exclaimed
the young doctor, springing to his feet and
pouncing upon an album. "Show me her
photograph, Charlotte. 1t is the little
witch herself, or am Dutchman p
DIR. John Bryan was no Dutchman.
The sun-picture clearly established the
identity of Harriet Fielding and Con-
stance Tayleur; but fierce was Mr.. VIII
kinson's indignation on discovering, as he
said, that he had taken a viper to his
bosom. John Bryan, however, calmed
his fury, and promised very soon to clear
the neighborhood of "the cockatrice."
On the morrow he instructed his friend
Stephen Hawkhurst to proceed against
her with "the utmost rigor of the law
for the recovery of his bill for attendance
and medicines. But it was not the money
he cared about at all His only anxiety,
and 1t was shared by Charlotte Wilkinson,
was to frighten the dangerous schemer to
a sufficient distance from Tyburnia to pre-
vent her from encountering Wilkinson
psre in one of his impressionabls moods.
And as he thought of her youth, her
beauty, her infantile simplicity of man
ner, and then Of her profound duplicity,
he. anscrupulous artfulness, her utter dis
regard for truth, 1t is not surprising that
he, too, should have SIGHED.