Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-07-04

shudder and glanced up. Amos Wilson
was leaning little forward, looking
steadily at Della, with a strange fire light
ing his sleepy eye,.
"The deed is ready for your signature,
Mr.. Lindsay" Seldom said briskly,
"yours and Mrs Lindsay's."
His voice broke the weird spell which
had seemed to hold them, and Paul Leices-
ter got up from his seat by the kitchen
door, and came and stood by the table
while the deed was signed and the
money, seven hundred dollars, counted
and given to Mr. Lindsay, who in turn
handed over the mortgage of the home
stead to Mr.. Wilson. Then he turned
abruptly and went out. Mr.. Seldom looked
after him with his quick, bright eyes, but
no one else appeared to notice itas being
anything unusual that hired man should
intrude his presence upon such an occa-
sion.
And now the business is over, will
take the opportunity of saying word
about this same Paul Leicester.
First, he was stranger in Dalton; that
is, he had been there but little over two
months, having come early in April. He
had seemed so anxious for employment,
and offered to work so cheaply withal
payment until Christmas-that Mr.. Lind
say had thought it best to take him. He
could not work the large farm alone, and
was specially anxious to do a good deal
this season, to try to recover himself.
Mr.. Leicester was not very much used
to farm work, it was quite evident but
he was so ready to learn, and so quiet and
persistent about everything he undertook,
that Mr. Lindsay was delighted with his
bargain. He was extremely Teticent at
first, but by degrees he had grown more
free, and once or twice supplied them
with such genial flow of wit and spirits
that Mr.. Lindsay had declared himself
unable to see what sent him there, man
of his abilities.
And now q word in regard to Mr.. Lind
says embarrassments. For three consec-
utive seasons the harvests had been ex-
tremely light in this section, scarcely
paying for the outlaying of money and
labor, to say nothing of profit. Then the
expense of living was considerable, for
ten persons required no small amount of
food, to make no mention of garments
that will wax old. Added to this was a
long and severe illness, lasting all winter
and running him behind to such an ex-
tent, that he saw no other way to go on
with his work than to hire money. This
it was next to impossible to do, and after
some pretty severe struggles with his
pride, he so far overcame it as to write to
Julian Richardson, a second cousin, living
in New Orleans, and reputed very wealthy.
He had never seen him, but had heard
that he was unmarried and somewhat
eccentric. And So in this strait, he
ventured to appeal to him. He wrote the
first letter in February, but il was unan-
swered. After waiting in a state of nerv-
Gus anxiety and suspense for two or three
weeks, he wrote again. This time his
letter was returned, after being opened,
but without a line or word in answer. He
struggled along a month or two more,
and then he went to see Amos Wilson,
with the final result have heretofore de-
scribed.
The days slipped away like golden sands
and the summer grew in beauty and
brightness to Della Lindsay. The sun
shine fell into her heart as softly as it cap
ped the green, blossomy hills. The daily
drudgery of toll became suddenly tighten
ed and Illuminated by this same golden
glow, and the world grew dear, and life
looked only a sweet and beautiful dream.
Into this supreme atmosphere, one day,
a sudden cloud broke. 1t had been no
larger than mans hand; for weeks she
had not discovered it, and was therefore
totally unprepared for the great darkness
that came upon her. She had returned
from long ramble over the prairie, her
hands loaded with blossoms, and stood by
the door describing theirnames and habits
to Paul Leicester, whose grave face was
softened into rare, tender smile, when
ever the pretty brown eyes and wild-rOse
| xtrapa Iiffa1 n his face
"Della, my dear, | want you a mo-
ment," her father said, coming out of the
entry.
Without word she followed him in
the blossoms still in her hands, and some
of them dropped to the floor as she walk
| ed.
"Come in this way, my child" Mr.
| Lindsay said, passing before her and open
| ing the door into the parlor, where, sharp
| ly outlined against the sunset sky, stood
! Amos Wilson, his back to the window ,ant
his great, ungainly form showing in bolC
relief against the light.
Somehow the feeling of depression
which had so weighed her down on tn,
day the homestead was mOrtgaged cam,
upon her again, and she felt her face grow
white and rigid.
Mr.. Lindsay closed the door carefully
and came forward to his daughters side
Della" he said, struggling to appea
calm, "Mr. Wilson has done me the honol
to ask permission to pay his court to IN,
daughter. l have told him my girl i
free to answer for herself-what shall j
be, Della ?n
Della cast one quick glance into he
fathers face, and saw all its eager hop
and anxiety, Then she turned to Amo
Wilson, who had taken step forward
and was looking at her sharply from un
der his low brows, his pale face burning
with faint opaline tints. Involuntarilysh
shuddered and drew back.
Il do not love Mr.. Wilson, father" sh
said family.
"But you can learn to love him, Della?
he asked quickly, his lips twitching mel
vously.
mo, father, cannot" she answered
this time firmly. 81 thank Mr.. Wilson
for the honor he has done me- but l d
not love him, and you do not ask me +
marry a man do not love, father?"
mo, my child, do not ask that" Ii
said gently, but with "A chord of sadnes
and disappointment in his voice.
Poor Della how suddenly the cloud ha
descended and enveloped her. Wit
the two men together, She knew wha
her refusal had meant to her father Sh
knew the load which chafed and frette
him so might have been lifted with a sin
pie movement of her lips, and yet she ha
not given it-she could not give it! DroI
ping her blossoms as she went, she hui
ried out to little arbOr of old vines i
the garden, and there, alone with the pity
ing twilight and the stars, she sobbed ou
the first bitterness of her regret and pair
She heard Mr.. Wilson come out and g
f away, and then, Il little later, heard ste
in the garden-a step that sent the bloc
Z in fierce, sudden torrent to her hear
, and then to her checks,
! "You are not fepenting so soon, Dellay
and Paul Leicester came and took tn
wet, flushed face between his cool palm
/ tenderly.
"Oh, couldn't marry that man; VIII
/ should he ever think Of such thingi
! Della asked, pitifully. "And father
+ She stODDed abruDtlV but he felt how n,