Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-09-09

JnOugn nc mOurneu the mtbstnB girl, and
so was obliged to believe that there had
been nothing between them but a flirta-
tion. A fow weeks passed and ], saw
him no more, and on inquiry learned
that he had received AN engagement in
some South American city 10 which he
had departed.
l eoiue now to the third incident,
which for time puzzled me extremely,
but which can here be disposed of QUICK
ly. One warm evening in the summer
following the events already, narrated,
was following out a rule ! had adopted
OF walking, every evening could get
away from my desk, at least FIVE, miles
rapidly, as o health preservstive. On
this particular .eyepjng1 had crossed the
Schuylkih at the Wire Bridge, and was
trottsnB away under, a bright moonlight,
my back being turned to the orb, when
l saw a couple coming toward me with
I he rays full in their faces AZ q glance
l took in both figures. The one was
John Barrett, and the other--good Heav-
ems was the lady of the forged cheque,
nhshged as to the style aud every point
OF her dress, but the same in every Inca
ment and in the expression of the face ;
for never could l mistake that cold blue
eye-and stony look, which made her in
the moonlight seem like an animated
statue. l stared her full in the face, hut
to this day cannot tell whether l stood
still as they passed or went on at my reg
uiar pace. l remember looking after
them and noticing that John never turned
his sheGd something told me that he had
not recognized me. BY the time had
recovered my presence of mind they were
out of sight, and as all my efforts to trace
them were in vain, drew the conclusion
that my first supposition was wrong, and
that / had been seen and purposely avoid
en-. The storm of conflicting emotions in
which went home that night was terri.
BILE. Never before had any suspicion OF
John entered my mind, but here was real
evidence, and the duty of revealing it
seemed clear and unavoidable. We had
never been very friendly, but the daily
intercourse of years had produced a GER
tain intimacy, and on my part at least a
feeling of regard; and l was now in q
state of agony. walked the streets TIL
the last allowable hour, and when
reached my room found John already
there. 1t was plain from his composed
even cheerful look, that l had not been
seen ; but soon a steady glance showed
that he noticed something in my face that
differed from his usual expression. could
see the change myself as l glanced at
the glass. At last the question came from
him: ,n ,.' t...L-, -N O.
"What is the matterS" .....,I & t'
81 saw you this evening""
"Ahi did your Why didn't you
speak" -'t' u" .r 9 tvH
This staggered me little, for there was
pleasant smile upon his face.
You know the reason why"
ooh, you needn't have minded that. ]
would have introduced you"
Good Heavensl What did the man
mean. only exclaimed,
Introduced mep
"Yes, certainly She's a very clever
girl. I'm very fond of her, and had
met her few months sooner, there's nc
knowing what might have happened.
was bringing her home from her broth
er's, where she had been spending the af.
ternoon."
/ echoed his words: .t''
"a clever girlp
Yes, very clever. What do you
mean ?"
"Mesnl Why, John, do you know with
whom you were walking, or do you think
1 nave IOrgolten her 2
"'Forgotten herr DO l know with
whom l was walkingr What the deuce
do you mean?"
"Oo you talk to me in this way, know.
ing that the woman you were walking
with is the one TO whom you paid the
forged cheques" '7..I- rf.
The smile went out of his face now
but his lip curled in derision. / was
getting frightened. There was a dead
silence of some seconds. At last ht
spoke:
"See here, Warrener If l had evel
seen you drink, | should say you were
drunk. AS it is, can only believe you tC
be laboring under some hallucination, fol
know you would not dare to- try such 8
thing as this on me as joke. 'sEN
l was speechless. He went on:
"The young lady with whom you saw
me is of unimpeachable character. nev
er met her until within few months
and she no more looks like the woman
who brought that accursed eheque thar
she looks like you. Your madness ant
folly, possibly, would lead you to repea
this tale TO Others and in so doing, though
you cannot permanently injure her or me
you could revive the sorest subject of my
life, and bring an estimable girl into no
toriety and suspicion. To avert all this
if you are not too positively insane to Sc,
truth when it is set before you, viii
give you chance TO meet me with tn,
same lady, at the same place and sam,
hour, to morrow evening speak to he
and satisfy yourself of your delusion. Il
the meantime, let nae advise you to sleel
of the wild air your countenance wears
1t won't look well in the Office tomorrow
Good night" ui4u1 trr ruurutr
He turned from me coldly, and in
few minutes was abed and apparentl,
asleep.
That night l tossed and tumbled fear
fully in my bed. The GOODNESS and conf
dence of Barrett had staggered my conviC
tlons. turned the matter over in m,
thoughts, and wondered whether it wer
possible that the memory of this womal
dwelling always on my mind could haY
led me TO identify her appearance will
that of another. remembered how tW,
or three times within the past year | haC
caught sight OF faces in the street which
had startled me for moment by resem
blance to that of the woman whom l haC
seen but for two minutes, but whose fea
lures remained too deeply engraVen il
my memory to allow of any mistake O
uncertainty after a full examination o
those which had recalled them. - o.. p
The next day went about my work q
composedly as could, and waited TO
evening AS Barrett left the office h
said, coldly, "Remember-eighto O'clock.
nodded, and at the hour mentioned
found myself slowly traversing the patl
| had trodden so quickly the night before
The moon was obscured this evening, bu
it was not really dark, and my heart bea
wildly as l saw the two figures approach
ing in relief against the sky. There wa
no mistaking John Barrett, his figure AM
walk were too marked. AS they drew
near, gathered in the other more dis
tinctly. l saw the form, the dress, th
arrangement of hair, the blue. eyes, tn
cold look, the light complexion, but no
the resemblance of the night before. l
was enough: improbable as it had seem
ed, had deceived myself, and as Barret
introduced me and mentioned the nam
of Miss Brinsmade, felt so abashedl am
penitent that could have gone down o.
my knees on the spot and begged pardon
for my blunder. Not knowing, however
whether John had said word To her o.
the subject, | feared TO broach It, and moi
withstanding the efforts ofboth to remoy
my restraint, very soon sneaked off an