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


OF the most trivial character In likes and
dislikes, there was perfect unanimity be-
tween us. II may seem very absurd in
stance TO give OF this unanimity, II is so tri-
hing. But have always had great an
tipathy to flies. very nearly exposed my
secret on one occasion before the Board,
owing to flies. II was autumn aud
fly had been buzzing about my
face, singing me for long time
whilst reading Report. Then | missed
him | thought he was gone. Meantime,
that fly was intently engaged in my glass
eye. II was wonder the Board never
noticed it; If they had, should have
been found out At home, have devoted
great deal Of my leisure, in the AT-season,
to devising traps and poisonous sweet
meats for them, and l have fy.cages In
every room. l was almost afraid Laura
would think this suspicious; but no, she
never did. Her skin is particularly deli
cate and sensitive Laura did not like
flies; was glad of that
There was one thing, / must say,
caused me no little annoyance about
Laura. II was only little thing in itself,
and no doubt ought to have been above
feeling hurt at such triie. Still, ever so
little thing when it's in your eye, for in
stance, as q speck of dust, does cause a
great deal of annoyance. With the con.
geniality of feeling between us, certainly
did feel hurt that Laura should keep her
desk constantly and consistently locked
from me. l wanted some ink one day.
| knew she had some in her desk, and
asked for the keys. The way abe hustled
about 10 open that desk herself, and the
excuses she made to prevent my going to
it, were masterpiece of female diplo.
macy. 1t was not that wanted to go to
her desk 30 much as that didn't like be-
ing locked away from it. Itpreyed on my
mind when l considered the mutual conf.
denoe that should subsist between man
and wife. To be sure, had not told her
about my glass eye-that was the only
secret / had from Laura-but then she
didn't know that, and che at least be.
lieved had withheld nothing whatsoever
from her, so that there was no excuse for
her Withholding anything from me. An
other thing to do with the desk was this |;
Laura had received at least two let
ters since our marriage, not in
female handwriting, which she very
artfully caloled and persuaded me
out of wanting to see l knew they
were in the desk. And there was GER
tain neat little parcel-'a present, she said,
from a friend That went into the desk,
too. But why this mysteryH A harmless
deception on my part was excussble,
but could not bear deception in other
people.
"By and by, from this very little seed,
there grew up sort of coustraint be-
tween us, until Laura, observing it, at last
threw me her keys, aud calling me bad
Penny "a playful title of reproach), bade
me examine her desk myself, and not be
suspicious about nothing. Then l felt
ashamed of myself, and wouldn't do It,
Then Laura insisted on turning 1t out be-
fore my eyes, and showing me its con.
tents. would not read the letters, but l
saw a little box with a brooch in it, which
much doubted being the same she had
received in the packet alluded to. 1t was
all very well her calling me a horrid
Bluebeard,' but l knew the handwriting
on the paper enclosing it was not the
same, for l distinctly remembered that
writing.
zone day, coming home tired after a
tagging mornings work at inspecting, !
found my household in great confusion.
| One of my female domestics was crying,
and on my entering the house, she began,
20, if you please, sir, missus have fell
"FellP fellY l asked in amazement.
What do you mean, girl?'
"Fell, sir; fell down stairs and hurt
herself
Where is she?' 1 asked, pushing past
her to seek my wife.
e"'I hope you'll bear up, sir-but
missus have gone. Gone, sir-left
the house, the servant added, seeing
my look of incredulity. Il was up
stairs, cleanin' of myself for dinner the
girl continued, when heard, somethin'
fall on the stairs, and heard missus
scream. went and helped her up, fol
she had fell and hurt her forehead. She
went to her room cryin' very much, and
wouldn't let us do nothin' for her. She
put on her things sir, and went out al
4 most directly afterwards, sayin' she had
left note for you, sir. She was sobbin
very much when she left
"Seriously sgitated about my wife, rar
up stairs, and found on Lsura's dressing
table the following note:
"DEAREsT PEN,-Forgive my leaving
vou thus. have suffered much from de
ceiving you 30 long, but never thought i
would come to this. Do not follow me
my peace depends upon it. You will soor
know all. My father will know of my
going. LAURA
"Cool, upon my word. Was this tn,
woman whom had loved, and cherished
and adored, and kept no secret from p
that is, nothing worth mentioning,-to e
and own to a systematic course of decep
tion ? And her father base. accomplic,
too he knew of her going. Clasping my
hands frantically to my forehead, C
woman, woman look upon the wreck yoI
have madeI' l exclaimed. The emotion
was too powerful, for my glass eye fell ou
a | lx.ysfh Rhs 80 ha ak
itself TO fragments at my feet. On seconC
thoughts, l was glad she could not lool
upon the wreck she had made
yet, could believe Laura false
Then the demon of jealousy whispered Il
me about the letters, and the 'presen
from friend hardly dared to thinl
about the agitation she had invariably be
trayed when had referred to this subject
At least would go 10 her father, MI
Tredgold,-go and wiring the truth from
him, deceitful impostor that he was,-ant
know the worst.
"But stay. 1t was utterly impossibl
to go as wss-without my eye. l ha,
been accustomed to keep a spare ey
against emergencies in my desk at the In
J spector's office. had broken that
month ago, and though had written 70
q new one to be addressed to the office,
! had not yet arrived. Delay was agonil
ing; but could certainly do nothing I'll
. l had been TO London and got my Visio
i repaired.
Holding my handkerchief TO my fac
3 set off Immediately TO the railway sts
/ ton, telling all the inquiring friends VIII
stopped me, that something had blown
: my eye, (this was no fib, for gunpowde
had, years beforeD. Arrived there, ei
gerly inquired if my wife had been see
! to leave. She had, the station master tol
, me she had In fact left by the previou
! train, with ticket for London-apparen
ly much distressed in mind-dressed !
2 travelling costume, with thick black We
!. on. Evidently for thapurpose Of avoiC
I. ing recognition as much as possible, / d
cided. was therefore on the very roa
I TO overtake her, while, as my train WI
a express, should be in London within a
!. hour Of the time at which she could a
: rive. tsH
9 "on reaching London, after few III
successful inquiries at the Waterloo te
/ ETaiuua raaRarffnor q 1adxy a N Yrro,f,,, Al