Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-01-01

light, though don't fancy faces framed
in glt. On, what superb teeth" as he
smiled in response to a remark from his
who added to his extreme
the further misfortune of be.
ing hard of hearing.
"Plucky young woman, no mistake"
that gentleman was saying, in the loud
whisper peculiar to the deaf. "Runs
like deer | wouldn't mind Icing as
spry myself" added he with an unctuous
laugh, which spread over his bulky fig
ure in tidal waves, escaping through his
throat with spasmodic gurgling like
water from a narrow-necked bottle.
Most people find mirth contagious, and
this was especially true of Emily Hans
com. Indeed, her father said If laugh
were anywhere within reasonable dis
tance she was sure to catch it in her dim
pies. However that might be as u gen
eral fact, they were brimming now with
merriment as, eavesdropping in her turn,
she met the young mans amused glance.
"She's got the real grit" went on the
old gentleman, his laughter subsiding in
wheezy gasps like those one hears from
pump running down. "Makes me
think Of the old-iashioned girls we had
when you and were young, sir"
His companion bowed with preternat-
ural gravity, but could not resist the
temptation of glancing backward to see
if the remark had been overheard, and,
as he turned, poor Emily, struggling in
vain for self-control, burst into u hys-
terical giggle.
"I-I beg your pardon, sir" she pant
ed, going off into a fresh paroxysm,
while the deaf gentleman, serenely un-
conscious, pared an apple, his lips max
ing strange contortions as they followed
the motion of the knife.
Don't apologize for an act so invol-
untary, pray, madam" said the young
man, smiling, especially as our friends
intirmity saves HIM from being wounded
by it. BY the way, let me congratulate
you on proving the proverb false which
AYERS that listeners never hear good of
themselves"
"Thank you, sir" responded Emily,
mischievously. "What I've overheard
flatters me vastly, I'm sure, even though
your contemporary does consider me
oldfashioned"
Old-fashioned! Now that's willful
garbling of meaning. BY virtue of my
venerable years, ALLOW me to protest
against it,"
cage shall be respected; ! garble no
Sdiu <Anu
then, having regained her composure, it
suddenly occurred to her to wonder if it
were quite the proper thug to be jesting
so familiarly with a stranger, and she
leaned back in her seat, settling her chin
in her neck to look dignifed.
Her eyes ached from reading, and she
amused herself by studying her fellow
travellers till this became monotonous.
She was tired of seeing the old gentle.
man in front MUNICH slices of apple be-
| tween his toOthless gums, his nose and
chin alternately approaching and re-
treating like partners balancing in q
dance, and if he paused from this occu-
patton she was uneasily eXpectant of
some further remark concerning herself
| 1t was positive relief when he left the
car at Lawrence.
| Without, the wind blew, driving the
snow in whirling wreaths against the
windows, whose frosted panes served
only to shut out the prospect Within
rose subdued murmur of voices, ac.
cented occasionally by a murmur less
subdued from fractions infant going tC
grandma's Thanksgiving Through al
this jar and confusion Mrs. Pressy slept
placidly on, erect as lighthouse, and
like one with revolving lamp, little
antic as to her head as she made obei
sance to the drowsy god. But when a
length the train came to dead halt he
eyes snapped open with startling alb
ruptness of overripe seed-vessels, anC
she gazed about her with an air of sleep
less vigilance.
{" Is this Berwick, think, Emily?"
ave passed Berwick some time ago
auntie."
Slightly disconnected, Mrs. Press,
scraped the frost from the glass with he
serviceable thumb nail, and surveyed tn
landscape.
"Why, child, we're nowhere There
nothing in sight but stumps. Depen
upon it, something's broke
The gentleman in front went to recon
noiter, and, presently returning, set he
heart at rest on that point.
II is nothing serious, madam. Tn
fire is out, and we shall be delayed al
hour or two while they get up steam
that's all"
Shiftless work. Great housekeeper
they'd be if they can't keep even one pc
boiling"
Housekeeping is weak point wit
my sex, I'm afraid" laughed the youn
man, continuing the conversation wit
an eagerness really flattering to the goo
lady, who was conscious of being gifte
in repartee. With her far. seeing glasse
removed to rest her tired eyes, ho'
should she see that while he talked wit
her he was covertly admiring her wiz
some niece?
But indeed everybody was sociabl
that afternoon. This detention, annoy
} ing to all, seemed to arouse a spirit G
universal friendliness. Naturally W
like people who suffer the same affliC
tions we do, just as the very plainest G
us like our own reflections in the glass
, Under the influence of this commo
: sympathy the stationary car soon wor
the aspect OF a village picnic, lunch ba'
kets circulating freely, and general gooC
fellowship prevailing.
Better offer them something" sul
: gested Aunt Flavilla, standing the pi
ture ON end, while her bonnet disaI
!, peared mysteriously behind it, like th
head of turtle drawn into its she'll
With blush of mingled amusemeI
7 and vexation Emily complied, profferin
: the blond gentleman pickles and sane
T wiches, her aunt meantime preparin
l herself for lunch by pinning her ties t
J gether at the top of her crown, out {
the way of falling crumbs-an exceller
arrangement for preserving their spO
lessness, though conveying the som
what unpleasant impression that ii
, worthy lady was carrying her head in
sling.
Now, child, I'm all ready but m
. glasses. / thought clapped 'em in m
I pocket, but seems ] didn't
"IOa don't need them now, aunti
= I'll find them when we've lunched.
THE prophet Elijah was fed by +
r vens believe, but am more favore
J than he" said the gentleman, gayly boy
! ing to Emily with complimentary smi
which might imply that he himself W,
} being ministered unto by dove.
"Then you don't give black waite
the preference, sirY"
, "Nonsense Of course he doesn'
G childw put i'm Mrs. Pressy, who felt tn
a she had right to at least widow
!. thirds in the conversation. Just see
/, my glasses are here behind the shaw
strap, will you?"
= So the three chatted on in desultol
] way to take up the time. Mrs. Press
4 | hU tha OF fraria froniy cordial lit