Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-12-03


little lady was young girl, but so pale |
and hollow-eyed, that at first glance J
might have taken her for twice her age |
q My DEAR L said. taking her hand, |
" you have come here to look for some
fffend. Do you know whether he is living !
or not?
She pante,l outsa breath or two and her
pale lipssfashioned the word " deadr' /
i turned to the table and poured her !
glass Of wine. She took itobediently, aud !
leaned her head against the back of the |
chair, but with her widely searching eyes
still fixed on me.
"Will you tell me his name?" I said
She strove to speak, but seemed unable
to utter the name. Then she put her |
hand to the bosom of her dress, and |
taking therefrom card photograph, held |
it toward me, but without relinquishing IT, |
looked and saw fine likeness of Ber-
nard Heine, in civilians dress, evidently
taken two or three years before
The sight electrified me. l glanced up
at the white forehead, and there were the
pale yellow locks drawn back from it, and
there was the violet blue of the eyes, in
which Heine had never seen such anguish,
so that only the color was left true of his
description.
"You dear little creature" !" exclaimed,
taking her in my arms, and tenderly re-
moving. her bonnet and shawl that
might hold her more closely. $50 you
| love Bernard well enough to come here
for him."
"Can get him ?" she whispered faint
| ly, too much exhausted to weep. "I
have come for him. / came as soon as
l heard, and have not slept or eaten
since" |s..| ...t
"Yes, you can get him I" said, hardly
knowing how to temper the news had
for her. "You can have him forever
Do you. know, dear, there was mistake
! madeY" 5.AtlF .lA..'l ~
She lifted her head from my shoulder,
and clasped my hand in her shaking
palms, her startled eyes on my face.
BE happy" l said joyfully. He
The sweet head nodded aside, and she
slipt down fainting.
| 1t wasn't long before she revived but it
was long before could quiet her, and per-
| suade her, not only that Heine lived, but
it was best she should not rush to him that
minute At length bethought me of the
little curtained window in my room look
ing into the ward and drawing the eur
tain partly away, gave her peep at him,
as he sat there reading. Trembling all
over, she stood, and, without removing her
eyes, drank in the sight, as one perishing
of thirst drinks in water. The tears began
| to flow fast and the sobs to come.
| 81 loved him so all the time, she said;
"and once l thought he loved me. But it
seems not, or else they made mischief be-
| tween US. l would never have sought him
living, never but when thought him
dead, my pride was in the dust. l would
have crawled here on my knees, if could
| 40 hprn in n nthnr How no oln
and sober he looks Is he very ?"
"No; his foot has been bad, but it is
getting on so well that he can walk about
little with crutch."
"Ihave suffered so during the last year,"
she sobbed, but wiping her streamingeyes
that she might not lose sight of him. at
has worn me to shadow. And l couldn't
tell anybody. They thought that l was
in consumption, and let them think it !;
but it was only heartache, and that is
worse. You may think it strange, dear
lady, that talk so to you," stretching
out little white hand to me, but unable
to remove her eyes from him." but this
shock has broken my reserve, and l must
speak once, or dier
"Dear child, confide in me, az said;
"and trust also the future. Now l must
go back to the ward. Will you stay here
alone Or do you wish to go in now to see
him9" 10
ooh, no /" she cried in alarm, the blood
pouring into her face "What would he
think? l only wanted to go in when l
didn't know what was about. Wouldn't
have him know, not for worlds, that am
| hereW
"What you will go back without speak
/ ing to him, or letting him knowS" 1
asked 514Sf zS$
~ TA q
me that he lives. Dead, l might have
claimed him; but living, l am nothing to
him" -,- ---
| help saying. 81 He has told me of you,
and think he prefers, you to any other.
| Besides, you should pity as we'll as love
him. He thinks that he has scarcely a
| friend in the world That is what he looks
| so pale and sober about now"
! "But don't tell him i am herep she
pleaded, as | went out of the door and
turning to promise, l saw the light of a
new hope blooming in her face.
could think of nothing else, and made
every excuse to go often and speak to
Heine, that she might see him more and
look up. But she nor could see no smile
on his face, though he had seldom more
reason to smile. Little did he know
| llOoI lONlllA JCo HCAC llllll
| went back to my room presently, and
the more saw of this young stranger, the
more I admired her, and the less l wonder
ed at him for loving her. She was so
sweet and dainty and such a strong,
| true heart beat in her breast. / did not
like her less that she persisted she must go
back the next morning, and refused me
permission to tell him of her coming,
though had no intention of obeying her.
She stayed with me that night, and was
| expecting to start in the morning at 10
o'clock. My morning labors done, went
and sat by Heine's bed, mindful of the
| eyes that unseen watched us.
Heine," / said, wouldn't you like to
know how Helen Ayre took the news of
| your death?" ..t.ss
old cheerfGinesss gone. J At my question,
he half turned away his head.
"Nop he answered, bitterly. "I have
had enough"
"0h, very well, thenl won't tell you.
But thought you might care to know"
/ said, carelessly."
| i"What do you mean," he exclaimed,
1 turning his eager face to me again.
ooh, it's no matter" 1 said, making a
pretense of going away. "lf you don't
feel any interest"
| a powerful manu- graspeu my WrlsI ana
heldme Heine must have been strongly
moved to do that. He did not even apollo
| gize when resumed my seat somewhat
1disconcerted at such an exhibition before
a score or 30 of men who couldn't know
what the matter waR r."
Has she written 2" he asked, trembling
with impatiepce. .-,-,
"No;' but happen to know her She
had business in Washington, and called to
see me-" 'n7
"Darn these womeni What torments
they are p he exclaimed, fercely. "Why
don't you tell meSp ~ i. LEX
I forgave him ON the spot, for he couldn't
help il f-.fF --.rv
Hsfhe poor little soul was very much
griayed, though. you don't deserve it,"
said "But / comforted her. You
were a wretch to desert such creature,