Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-12-23
AN ODD FIX.

.suoo3 l5u AN ODD FIX.
WHEN 1t came at last to asking Samuel
Rowley's consent to pay my addresses to
his ward, knew it was all over with me.
felt that it was all over directly | was
shown into the library where Samuel
Rowley sat before the fire, toasting his
gouty feet, and reading his Times news
paper felt it was so completely all over
with me that | would very gladly have
backed myself out of the room without
q entering into any particulars as to the OBJ
Ject of'ny visit. would have cheerfully
informed him that | was an agent for Bos-
hlters Hairrestorer, and had called with a
sample, which might be returned if not
approved afterone days rubbing. But he
knew me, and | knew him. He under
. stood perfectly well why had solicited
the honor of an interview with him at
. 3tYel Yesoc clock, a. m he'was sharp old
gentleman, who had had his eyes on me
for some time, and was not to be imposed
upon.
He said, "Take seat, Mr.-- for
get your name" and then he fumbled
with ms glasses, and referred to my polite
ar' epistle, which lay on the table near him.
took seat and nursed my hat per-
spired little. l had tremulous motion
OF my knees come on, which made me
look ridiculous. | waited for him to be-
gin, but he did not l began myself, after
one or two secret encounters in my throat
with something which felt very much
, V hkeya cork out of a soda-water bottle
l,t ou are not aware-that is, you eau
not but be aware-that l have long regard
ed your ward Clara with Did you speak,
.'H SirY'.H o--'
No, Sir, I did not speak"
He had given an awful cough Of
Qopelefknock character, but that was ALL
he kept his glasses on his nose, and focused
me, and the operation was unpleasant.
> he was not pleasant in his reception of
my statement either; he was decidedly un-
pleasant, not to say desperately disagreea-
DIE But then he was cross, ill-grained
old fellow; everybody knew it in Wolvers-
u ton, and have no particular reason to dis
guise it here.
/ recommended my statement poured
forth the best feelings of my heart, and
With an eloquence that might have melted
adamant C MESSED to him that Clara was
my one ambition AS have said already,
l-kpew that it was all over with me, but
was poetic even in the midst of my despair
ing consciousness.
!. Mr. Rowley set aside his newspaper,
drew his chair an inch or two closer to
me, put his great hands-rather disposed
to be gouty like his feet--upon his knees,
and surveyed line from head to foot con-
tenaptuously.
"May ask your age, young man9" he
g This was my weak point of defense, but
/ told him. ...t
Seventeen"
"And how did you first become acquaint-
ed with my Clara, who is year your
Junior, the hussyg"
Wei, Mr.! Rowley, it has been a long
attachment. My finishing school at Bees
borough was situated opposite her finish
ing school and we saw each other at
church and think" A
. Y " think that you both ought to be
y horse-whippedH he said, fercely, inter
i, Euptig nfe; "and as for my consent to
Claras engagement to boy like you'll
'3 will even go SO far as to say whipper
=, snapper like you -"
- "a Mhlpper snapper, Sir"
II repeat 1t, whipper snapperW cried
old Rewley becoming very red and apo
plectic in appearance. II decline to listen
to.your preposterous proposal for one in
z stapt.V Clara is only sixteen, and does not
know her own mind-she is mere child"
Rowley"
"Ah, and more sensible, hope Good
morning"
"t"Good- -motning; Sir"
Ibid not wait to tell him Of my expectaI
tons from my grandmother, or to reason
with him on his want of justice and con-
q sideration. l went away crest-fallen and
heart-broken. / dashed from the library
in despair and brought my forehead
against that of my beloved with a concus
sion that was nearly the means of stretch
ing our senseless forms outside the tyrant's
q CEN the victims of his cruel obduracy
y Oiara,' naturally interested in the result |
of my interview with her guardian, had |
forced her pure but anxious soul to listen
at the library keyhole l had retired in |
haste, and floored her.
's0h, my gracious !" she sobbed forth
81 did not know you were coming out
q1ike thatTTOhImy head! Oh, how dread
5lful4 NOhy Alphonse, we must part for
ever!" .,,,...'.
She rested her head on my shoulder, aud
sh many tears. kissed away her tears
q, / patted her head fopdIy, keeping clear of
the Bunps Which / had raised there. l
could scarcely see her golden hair for tears
myself-the water had risen into my eyes
Immediately we had met each other L
sought to calm her emotion. babe her be
firm, and I Recommended vinegar and
brown paper for her damaged brow. l said
> tt@tsLslppldgtryth them. myself when l got
u home. ! told her that would die rather
than relinquish litr she said the same
thing in a burst of uncomfortable emotion;
? we renewed our VOWS of eternal fidelity,
and tore ourselves from each others arms,
d crushed in spirit, but strong yet to resist
oppression. .-r
~ Il told my troubles to Jack Edwards, my
bosom friend and adviser Jack and / had
been ,schOolfellows together; we were
going into, the medical profession together
presently myfather had resolved that l
should walk the hospitals instead of the
? rosy path of love. Jack heard my story,
aHspd said that he would not have stood half
'of old Rowleys nonsense; but what he
would have dohe under the circumstances
y he did not impart to me at the time, and l
n forgot to ask him afterWard. Eu
,'lClara and met clandestinely We were
n lovers 1--WE had been lovers from our youth
the afiinty heart of a guardian who had out
lived. mortal passion was not to stand be-
tween oarfreshi young souls.
gul met Olan'in the village scaled the
park fence, md met her in the greenwood
~ and Jack, good fellow, kept watch on the
door of the Hall and old Rowleys library
" windows with o telescope, lest we should
I, be surprised at any moment Clara and /
passed much of our time talking of what
we should do when she came into her
r property at twenty-one, and my grand.
mother favored me by departing from this
earthly sphere but II was Sharp winter
and our teeth ohattered over our prospects
:, CLARA and ] used to arrange eur meetings
III this wise Ulara had a eonfdant In the
ga me-keeper, Peter Stokes, an invaluable
man, with a weakness for tobacco, and
with heart all charity toward his fellow
araAtalrAa p0ter Wa2 AlWays rafting nm