Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-10-28
how it happenedsto take place

worth UrOpertyf retuTned MIS-. WOOtlceCk,
who like a wise SgdnaaL neverackndwl
edged a'defeat "But for all that, I don't
commend it in him, and had as lief tell
him so at his dinner table"
While thus the hidden affairs of the doc
tors family were . bling discussed. apd
stirred up in the Hollow as d hen sdrs
among dead leaves, on the Hill they were
being carefully covered over like the lost
Babes in the Woods. 1t was never the
Seacrest fashion to parade the family skel-
-etons like family Jewels. so they ate and
drank and talked and laughed,and tried
to look at the elderly bride without shud7
dering. tp1e tt 'ftl tD
But her age was not the worst of it. She
was homely. And her homeliness was not
the worst, She.was stiff and unattmctive
in manner well as person And il was
hardly the consolation, that, perhaps, it
should have been, to perceive the unlinli-
ted fondness that the boy bridegroom had
for his aged oonIpanion. For 1t is realIy'a
comfort, though small one, to see our
friends chafe under degradation. Accept
ing slavery with contenhnent makes the
captive twice slave ... ...
However, the less the family felt like
saying sweet things the more they pressed
the sugared cake, the ice cream, and the
Strawberries upon their new member But
all this time there was something in tho
background waiting to be brought for
ward and it was the bride who had the
courage first to touch it, r.'fl
Ernest" she began, with the dominant
air of an elderly aunt, IAN explanation is
due to your father and mother-and your
sister" she added, glancing sharply at
Miriam, who was fairly sea-sck with dis
gust, and sorrow, and modification. Il
" Yes, Lily, tell them" answered Ernest,
looking at her as though she were sugar
candy.
The idea of calling that old, black, greasy
thing Lily"
"The truth is, then, said Lily, turning
her withered face away from Ernest as
though it cost her an effort, "by the will
of the uncle from whom had my money,
unless | married before a certain date, l
lost it all. And a knsman, who was
heir-at-law, was very anxious tc inherit
it." rltt
The old cur wanted Lily, himself" in
terposed Ernest, land he thought if he
got her properly he would be sure to get
her. AT any rate, he was resolved to have
that.
Miriam fairly groaned; and even fairy
hearted Mrs. Seacrest dropped her napkin
ring on the floor, and came up from stoop-
ing for it with wet eyelashes. To think
that Ernest had sold himself for this
woman's gold! So Mrs Woodcock, down
in the Hollow, was right after all. ,
But, as though she suspected the nature
of their thoughts, Lily went on:
=" | had some trouble in persuading Ern-
est" said she, looking at him fondly
Inl, ola x,rli 10 ,In
her gray curls and settled her cap ('I know
you had!' calculated Miriam, inaudbly).
He had notion it would be more heroic
to take me after lost my property. But
| had right to it, and l wanted to keep
it,"
Z. " We had jolly time, though, dodging
old Drymar. He is about discovering
now, Lily, that he isn't so sharp as he
thought he was" said Ernest, bursting into
a joyous laugh that nobody felt the heart
to join in.
Then he took from his pocket the mar
riage certificate, dated that very day 1t
seemed he had telegraphed to his father to
meet him and his wife at the station not
more than five minutes after she had be-
come his wife
"W We had to turn pretty sharp corners to
keep out of Drymar's way" continued
Ernest, still chuckling. " He thought he
had Lily safely locked in her room while
he went for a justice, thinking he could
frighten her into a marriage with him, or
at any rate keep her away from any other
man till the day had gone by. But Lily
was better at picking locks than he
thought and she came TO me- poor thing,
SO out of breath and frightened. '''','
Enests voice grew lender and pitiful at
the thought, and he took Lily's hand in his
with caressing gesture.
II have loved her ever since | have been
in college, and she knew it, but we had to
keep it to ourselves on old Drymar's ac-
count. And was dying to marry her
but didn't like the idea of marrying for
money exactly. However, there wasn't
any help for it then, mother, you see. Dry
mar was her legal guardian until she mar
ried, or was of a certain age. So chum
and l fixed her up in bridal dress, and here
we are
Upon that the irrepressible young bride
groom got up and kissed his bride, then he
led her from the room, saying over his
shoulder:
1--WE will be back directly"
When they were gone, a sorrowful sigh
bubbled out of the mothers soul.
Poor boy" said she; "his heart is all
right, and | cannot blame him" 81
Il blame him for falling in love with his
grandmother, in the first place. said Miriy
am, severely. "And her having money
makes it more horrible. 1t seems so sor-
did, even though we may know better.'
Almost before she had done speaking
they heard Ernest's. step on the stairs, and
his voice in such loving, happy tones that
f1tn n a. 1 nj,
Then he appeared with his bright, curling
head and his sunny eyes, SO like his moth
ers. But with him came, instead of the
wrinkled old bride, a fair-faced, blushing
girl, with shower of golden hair, and all
the beauty of youth and happiness on her
sweet face. A lily truly beautiful and
pure. --,.t sis ,ratF 81.
"Wc had to fix her up that way, .chum
and |, for fear old Drymar would meet us, I"
cried Ernest, with burst of'boyish delight
at the astonished and relieved faces of the
family; "and it has been such fun to watch
Miriam this evening. Father and mother
kept in better"
Mon dieul Do you call that little erea.
ture old enough TO be, Ernests gTpndmoth-
err" whispered Madamoiselle Widger to
Mrs. Woodcock, leaning over her pew rail
ing on the next Sabbath, as the Seacrests
came into church, gfi. rgggl
Mrs. Woodcock looked, took of. her
glasses, wiped them, and looked again.
. "Mefcy on me! And sat as near her
that day as | am to the minister now How
body's eyes will deceive themw she
cried. rrraf~n eHaE "a rg
Mrs. Ross, residing near Concord, N.
II, put her baby to sleep and retired.
During the night she arose, walked seven
miles to the house of Mr.. j. w. Hatch,
through mud and rain, and asleep Mr..
Hatch, at an early hour, found her stand
ing by his door, bareheaded, and with arms
folded, asking that she might go in and
rest. Mr., Hatch Hospitality showed the
lady in, and she sat down and proceeded to
warm herself, called for Bible read ate
breakfast, and finally laid down on a couch,
holding her head as If in considerable
pain. She continued to sleep until noon,
when she awoke in great surprise, and ask
ed where she was and how she came there.
Mr.. Hatch gave her dinner and kindly
took her home, where the family were
searching in the woods and by the river
1. =.