Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-10-30

attcr, she went with her boy to inspect
the place where he was to pass the night.
They were gone some time, and when
they did return discovered an extraor-
binary change. The lad had evidently
been weeping; in fact, he still held
handsome white cambria handkerchief
to his eyes. His mothers face was
suffused sbo, too, occasionally used her
handkerchief Positively, she was the
image of grief and despair. / at once
asked the cause of these unhappy dem
onstrations.
"'Ohp she exclaimed, 'cculd you but
see the horrible spot where they were
going to put Willie-such a wretched,
dirty, dismal place! 1t just broke the
poor boys heart. No, my dear, you shall
not go there. Here is sofa right by
mammals state-room. You shall lie on &C.
"The fact is, / had secured my state
room when purchased my ticket, before
leaving Boston. If there is any one
thing / am specially averse to it is the
sharing a room with another person. Up
to now, notwithstanding my sympathy
in her distress, had resolutely kept
silent through all the talking on the train
about poor Willie and how he was to
sleep. But with the grieved look and
unhappy expression of this lovely Great
frain? Come l said, / can put an end
to this difficulty. The young gentleman
can share my room. Don't say word.
He can do so as well as not The
widows smiles were radiant through her
tears; Willie himself looked up from his
white cambria handkerchief and said,
Thank you, sir ] took him off directly
and put him in the room, and hurried
back to receive fresh thanks from his
mamma.
"It was a lovely moonlight night, and
escorted her to q seat on the prone
nade-deck and took one beside her. My
heart beat nervously when | found | had
her all to myself. If / ever was happy
in my life, it was on that eventful even
ing. | was not at all surprised to find
the lady exceedingly well-informed and
very agreeable in conversation. The ab
sence of her little boy (as she called him)
made her more reserved (Which | was
i,lnneaI 80 .svCiOU). cuC uiu not run on
with the same volubility, but rather
waited for me to start topics of cOnver-
sation, which lent an additional charm, if
that were possible, to her presence. We
talked about everything; upon every sub
ject she seemed equally at home. What
delighted me most was that she did not
volunteer her opinions or sentiments, but
permitted me to draw them out, exhibit
ing, as l thought, more and more of mod
esty and reserve as we became better ac-
quainted. / discovered, in the course of
conversation, that she had travelled, and,
as | myself am an old UOydgeur, we found
an agreeable subject in talking of places
and incidents with which both were fa-
miliar. She had been up the Nile; so
had l. She had been through the Suez
Canal; so had |. She had visited the
Holy Land, even as l myself had done.
Indeed, on comparing dates, we discov-
cred that we were there the same identi-
cal season and the same month. l eX-
claimed: who knows but we encount-
cred each other going up the Mount of
Olivesr
al am certain we did not she re-
piled.
"' But why?' asked.
"' am sure should have recollccted
your she exclaimed, impulsively. Then,
instantly checking herself, she added, |
have an extraordinary faculty for re-
mcmbcring faces, which at times is al
most annoying
"Was | mistaken? Did the moonlight
deceive me? think not. Even now
feel confident that l detected bushes
over her face, and an almost impercep-
tible confusion of manner as she fastened
to make this explanation. The subject
was changed to home topics; to matters
of society, fashion; to discussion of
city life and country life. In all the con-
versatien not one word was uttered by
this charming young woman about her
irreparable loss, her lonely condition or
her altered circumstances. She did not
indulge in that touching small-talk
which some widows so profusely employ
to interest and engross an admirer. Had
it not been for her volubility in making
| explanations of her reasons for residing
| in Brooklyn l could not have brought
| myself to believe that she was widow
at all. Her previous manner, | confess,
when ! thought of it, did crate little on
my feelings, but my personal vanity
and don't deny l have my share-in-
vented solution. This lovely young
widow had been-aheml-taken with me
at first sight and she determined honor
| ably, very honorably, to explain her own
situation at the eoutset-brutdtement as the
French say. Hence her haste to make
| the revelation. In fine, | could now per
ceive plainly that her almost loquacious
manner was due entirely to her feeling
| ill at ease in my presence, and it was not
| till we began to be better acquainted
that she appeared her true self Happy
in this explanation, the moments sped
| fast. AS one by one quilted the deck
with the advance of the evening, | OBJ
served my companion glance timidly
around, and when the only remaining
lady (besides HERSELF left she also arose
in quiet, dignified way, and said IT was
later than she imagined. | could offer
no possible reason for detaining her l
conducted her to the door of her state.
room and ventured to offer my hand as
wished her goodnight. She took 1t with
naturalness. 1t thrilled me to the heart,
| shall see you IN the morning, she said
sweetly, when you bring Willie back to
me- "Confound the boyw muttered
| To myself as hurried away. / had for
gotten all about him. =
"The little fellow was sleeping soundly
when l entered my state-room. He had
taken the lower berth, which struck me
as an impertinent proceeding, till re-
fiected that the boy might have thought
the upper one was the most desirable
As looked on his innocent face as 1t lay
upturned | saw traces of resemblance ia
the mother, and my heart softened
toward him. Besides, l was in an
ecstatic state, and felt friendly to the
whole human race. | lay awake more
than an hour will not undertake tC
describe my emotions or the tumultuouS
thoughts which filed my breast. My
time has come said to myself, After
all these years without heart-interest
here am, gone beyond reclaim! / will
endure no suspense; Tomorrow shall de
eide my fatep Solaced by this resolu
tion. fell asleep.
When awoke the boat had already
reached the dock in New York and wal
lying motionless. 1t was early, however
and resolved to keep quiet for half al
hour and enjoy my thoughts, which wer'
sweetened by visions of the last even
, ing's experiences. Twas in the height o
my enjoyment when my stateroom com
!, panion, whose presence had again quit
, lost sight Of, emerged from his berth
J and proceeded to dress himself. Al
: though, as | have intimated, could no
; help regarding the boy in the light OF
+ nuisance, still, so long as he was wit