Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-08-06

iOWnSley, WlIe-klIlefs, ehy 1es, I've been
loitcrin' around here all day. Had news
I'd have a companion in misery ifI'd wait
u little. I've died once of suspense; an
now I'm likely 20 suffer from il again if
you don't Kick the bucket pretty lively"
TOwnsley's face became purple with
passion Willie this loquaciOus soul deliv-
cred his speech but just as he was about
TO cry out with rage he was brought back
TO a realizing sense of his own condition
by his soul, which was now making des-
perate efforts to free itself White sue
ceeded the purple in Townships face.
blood oozed from his mouth, and dead
faint made his head rest heavily on old
Mother Earth.
A pretty clever dodge. this dead faint
of yours" continued Krieff. coming down
from the fence and seating himself tailor
fashion beside the still, white, bruised body
of Townsley " But I'm bound 10 wait for
you, and I'm bound to have out my say.
Your body is as cold this minute as that
shell of mine in the medical college; but
here's your soul turned listener, and here's
what I've got 10 say
died like man, you've heard, )" said
kriet, gently, dropping his voice, and
Throwing aside his rough manner in his
Intense earnesmess. "Do you know WHY :
Because was dead to begin with Itwasii'
the gdllows that killed Kriefr, though that
institution freed his soul. Krieff died of a
broken heart, and died years ago. Who
took his life? Awoman. Who broke my
heart? My wife.
DO you think didn't love that lit
tie armful of a Lucy when l married
her? | loved her from the ribbon in her
hair to the bowon herslipper. worshiped
her.
81 used to know somethin' of God in
those days. Used to think | could feel
him near, holdin' an keepin Lucy an me
in the hollow of His hand But when Lu-
cy crept away from Him let go too, and
clung to her When man loves awoman
rs | loved her, she can lead him any
where. He will follow her to heaven, or
she may drag him to hell, if she pleases
That is where Lucy dragged me. She
didn't mean to, suppose. She didn't
know it, most likely. But there amt
nothing else for man when woman he
loves an would die for stops givin' love
back.
You see lost my money, an Lucy
went with gaat.-I ooulslsi't believe ,I.o -
married me for that little property of mine
till she twitted me of deceivin' her and
buyin' her lovewith counterfeit bills. This
from that little armful that l loved sol
But it didn't crush me. Well have gold
in their place, Lucy, says [ you shall be
a rich mans wife yet, darlin', only love me.
| haint got the heart to work without
that But work grew scarce instead of
plenty, an was in such rush to make
money for her | lost all | gained in hur-
ryin' from one promisin' chance to an
other
"'Other men make money, why can't
you?' she would say And would say it
over an over to myself: Other men make
money, why can't you?' After that, when
| got little sums, | speculated with 'em in
poor mans small way. | gambled at
the nearest grog-shop to win fortune for
Lucy. But she sneered at me when
lost, an when | got ahead would forget
the look of love an encouragement /
craved.
81 had no peace at home-no comfort.
She taught the little 'un to make fun of
me, its father. 'Oh, Lucyp said /, one
day, you're a-killin' mean love you
sOl' You can't die any too soon,' said
couldn't believe she meant it, cause twas
Lucy as said ii. Folks called me hen
pecked, because in my love l threw my
self down for her to walk upon to make
the life-iourney easier.
MY heart didn't break, though, till
she rot to lovin' Tom-a good-for-nothin',
worthless scamp-an' then all hope died
within me. l took TO drinkin' then.
used to come home pretty drunk some
times, but never laid finger on Lucy.
l always crept off alone till | was myself
again.
"All except that one night, when had
crept away an come back again sudden,
my brain all on tire-all except that one
night when, comm back, found her sit
tin close TO Tom; saw her givin' him
handfuls of touches on face and throat q
would have died years before that TO have
had one lovin' touch from Luoy's finger
tips; saw her kissin' and kissed heard
her tall1in' to him in tones which woke up
all the memories of my happy long-ago,
an croonin' to him of the bright future
comm when a drunkard's grave should
have swallowed up John Krietf, an she
an Tom Porter should be in their own
| cozy home. Tom kissed her after that an
called her his angel.
"They didn't see me till come out tC
the light, with the pistol.
"'Tom, says |, craZed with liquor anC
passion, your angel in heaven, perhaps
but never herei'
fired then an Lucy fell dead.
IAN this was indistinct while in the
body, but it comes back fresh and clear Il
me now. | could have saved my life by
dishonorin' Lucy's name; but even if
hadn't cared to keep her white to thu
world, yet would have kept still. haC
no desire to plead my case. | was dead
was heart-broken, an | longed to get ou
of the world
There's some one else that's heart
broken in this world. There's little WON
an down in a dark cellar sproutin' pOta
toes this minute, whose husband ha!
killed her. Her soul isn't free yet-bu
she's dead just the same. That woman il
Townsley's wife. Your soul is a-hearin
of me if you amt" pursued Krieff, touch
ing the cold, white face and Strengthening
Townships fingers. You didn't shoe
your wife with pistol but you let he
die a slow, lingerin', terrible death! Yol
killed her in a cruel, heartless manner
You starved her. Do you think if IL
had wife like yours, Townsley, I'd hav
been the man | wasp'
Tears filled Krieff's eyes.
You were poor man when you
jamie married yOu-poorer than L eve
was. Your social position was beneat
hers. You were an awkward, homely
y
if ever there was a woman as married TO
love it was jamie Jordan.
You began life humbly, jamie wa
delicate reared an dainty; but to do with
out for Philip was no hardship. Whe
? you hit success she kissed you. Whel
you missed il she kissed you just til
same. You had little heaven of it TO
three or four years. Then continued pro:
perty made you selfish. You got so ia
ahead you couldn't stop to come back 70
the love an the kisses of jamie. Som'
times she followed you, tryin' to wal
abreast with you, an tryin' to keep up I'll
dear old times. But she wasn't welcom
she was in the way. You cOuldn
bother to be f9Olin' an kissin' all I'll
time. She must settle down an be sens
Bile. 'Doin' without for Philip had bee
her sweet delight in the dark days; bl
now, when the goid6n light shone arount
your mean spirit kept her doin' withou
s.,ae haf 1nh Wi M