Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-10-21
early psrt of the day, with a calico dress
ON and an Umbrella over her headl


on and an umbrella over her headl
III thought it most likely you would
take fairer weather for your business to
Malburg. Quite storm to ride in. Glad
you didn't forget TO cau and tell me the
news from home"
This show of indifference was quite un
called for. Squire Linton had not noticed
the widows silk dress; and ii he had was
not the man to take encouragement from
trifles.
"She didn't understand my letter, or
else didn't mean to. She isn't the woman
TO meet man half way" thought he, de.
jectedly; and only liked her the better
for it.
"Mra whslen, you-you don't mean
to say you are permanently engaged ?"
"No, not at all. l shall leave next
week."
Malvina," said he, clutching at for
lorn hope" Malvina, you didn't write
and tell mo not to callf'
II couldn't very well, Mr.. Linton.
never got your letter till to day"
The Squire's faint heart dropped lower
"But, James, am glad to have you call
me 'Malvina.' 1t sounds like the good
| old times when you and used to go to
singing school together"
The handsome face lighted.
80 you remember those old times, NAL
vina and how you wouldn't let me be as
attentive as tried to be. You knew what
my mind was long before l spoke word;
but there was always somebody between
u.s."
ayes; 1t was Ann Price," said the wild
ow, innocently.
"You know very well I mean Peter
Whalen. had never set eyes on Ann
then. She lived at Martha's Vineyard,
and Peter was the one that introduced us
the year you were married"
ooh, yes, now 1 remember Well,
James, we both did as we were moved to
do and am sure you had no reason to
regret anything"
"True, very true. Ann was noble soul,
far too good for me. / was very fortu
nate man, Malvina."
Eyes, and she was fortunate woman"
quoth Mrs Whalen, with generous
warmth for she had seen the day when
she envied Ann, and contrasted the de-
ceased Peter not very faVorably with
James.
Thank you, Mslvina. SO it isn't-that
is to say-if you should refuse NE Sec
oRd time, it wouldn't be because you real
ly have anything against me? There is
some consolation in that"
"a second time9 No, James; oh, no p
said the widow, tenderly.
"It would be because of my encum-
brances; my poor, dear little children"
"Well, / don't know about that, either,
James"
Mrs. Whalen's eyes were suffusedi but
Squire Linton dared not look at her.
"Yes, and still m ore, because you don't
feel really inclined toward me; that Is
what you mean, suppose ?"
az don't know, James"
Her words were still lower and ten.
derer.
Hearts can not be controlled, Malvi.
ma. You never did feel for me as l did
for you in the days that are past, and il
doesn't stand to reason that you ever can
now. / was fool to think of such q
thing. l hope you will never lay it up
against me, but let US be friends the same
as ever"
Friends, certainly, James," said the
widow, jumping up to set book straight
on the center-table.
"Yes, knew it could be nothing more
, Malvina; still, can not say l am quite
prepared for this disappointment. In hel
last days Ann looked into the future, anc
grieved for me left without her.
know said she, 'there is one woman IL
the world who could almost fill my place
for you though you need not think i
: pains me to say it, for nothing would give
. me more satisfaction than to feel sure Nal
| vins Whslen would bring up my chill
1 dren."
The widow was weeping.
!, "Now have hurt your feelings, Nal
vina. did rot intend to sllude to such {
a painful thing. hope you won't thinl
! for moment had any object
"Any object ?" sobbed the widow
"what object?"
: "Why, to work upon your sympathies
Malvina. l know how tender-heartet
}, you are, and would scorn to take ad
vantage of your sensibility. No, yo'
have refused me because you cannot low
: me, and l am the last man"
q "Refused your When?"
"Why, Just now. But, Malvina, no on
could have done it more delicately. YoV
did all you could to soften the blow"
9 There was a convulsive shaking Of tn
4 portly figure before him; Mrs. Whalel
y was laughing.
= at don't refuse before Pm-asked,
sobbed she, hysterically. "And, Jane
q Linton, if you think you've offered your
= self to me this time, any more than yo
n did before, you are very much mistaken.
" The Squire opened his honest, brow
4 eyes.
q = What-what did you say, MalvinaS
/. "You merely told me you shouldn't d
it, and didn't mean to-"
- "Now, my dear"
- at was Just so sixteen years ago." sal
the widow, with q bashful glance dowI
~ ward. "You said you-you-. Wei
=. you intimated then that Peter was i
e the way. Perhaps might have refuse
a you, James, perha ps not; but, dear know
= / never had the chance"
a "Malvina Turner cried Squire Lii
y y ton, with sudden courage; "you don
= = mean to say there was the faintest poss
II bility?"
ie The widow covered her face with ht
:. hands. How could she answer withoI
:, . compromising the deceased Peterp
n "Or is now9 But, possible or imposs
> BILE, you shall have the chance to receiN
m me this time. offer you my hand wit
10 my whole heart in it. Say NO, Malvins
,e "What if l don't want to, James
nj murmured the widow.
~ "Oh, -Malyins, you wouldn't trihe vii
= msT -, IL. :, J. !, :. ~ 49,, = :,
a Jamesp said she, archly. "It would
er buCu plty W ulnhppOAut yOu-
d Actually, now !" cried James, seizil
at her hand rapturously, ait does seem
,st me, Malvina, as if you were giving Il
er some encouragementp
1y "Indeedl And it does seem to N
rs. James," returned the widow, frankl
"that you are rather dull, or you wou
ed have seen that am attached to you, a
to have been for some time"
as "Now, MSlvina, If you say that fro
I'd. the depths of your soul you make me
*, happlest man living"
ng "There, there, James, don't let's
on foolish at our time of life" said MalVil
zee her heart running over into her face, a
to setting it aglow with joy. "Don't let
be foolish 1must go now and get Sol
lg- light wood; we need a little fire on
TO hearth"
lot All this while Mr.. Means was selli
al, cheese, mold and all, with great satisf
not tion. And while Malvina and "the hi
1T susr nhatftnas daIfo,