Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-05-28

I
have taken. For myself, | settled all
this before / took up this life. l don't
sec why our American girls feel as they
do. l should prefer to keep quite out of
the way of Sights and snubs. But
and her tone grew merry, betraying what
a delightful companion she could be-
but I shall be most happy to receive
YOu, Mrs. Lucas, TO tender you the hospi-
talities of my own domain. I'll promise
you, at any hour of the day, good fire,
a clean hearth, the easiest chair and a
sincere welcome"
well, you're right, perhaps" said
Mrs. Lucas at last She accepted a chair
by Miss Truesdelps cracking fire as she
spoke. Z" But why, since you are so
| grandly right and so grandly strong, are
you here in my kitchen? You would be
more truly in your own place as precep-
tress over in the seminary yonder."
No; excuse me. Pm not at all difIu-
sive. ! like to think my own thoughts
leisurely and to the end. l like employ
ment for the hands and the consequent
leisure II gives the brain Besides L have
not developing force sufficient to warrant
my taking other minds into my direc-
ton"
"But why are you Aere?" persisted
Mrs. Lucas. "You're accustomed to
meeting your equals upon an equality,
else you wouldn't have such stock of
self-respect,"
A warm color stole over Miss Trues-
dell's cheek during the moment of ST
lence.
"As woman to woman now, suggested
Mrs. Lucas, archly.
"Thank you. Well, as you've OWNED,
there's little story a simple one, how
avpr I want como fHffnau Thpra is
plenty to do at home, where, as you say,
| do meet my equals upon an equality.
But daughters work brings me no share
in the rustic incomes. have no interest
in the sheepfolds and granary bins; the
daughters of a farmer seldom do have.
At home can secure my wardrobe and
books with difficulty. Once it was not a
vital matter. Now, dear Mrs. Lucas
am engaged to be married to poor
man. We don't want to wait for years
| had meditated seeking employment.
saw your advertisement IcOncluded to
come and keep house under your roof in
stead of my fathers, receive wages, and
buy my beds, carpets and china. There
fore behold met"
The sweetness and courage and elo-
quence lay in her smile and blush, and
the way she raised her eyes to the other
woman for sympathy.
"This is very brave in you" said
Juliet, speaking in character. :" But we
women can do such things and delight
ourselves in them when a man is worth
it, can't we? Only it wouldn't be house
work I should choose" she added, re-
membering her shortcomings. "He is
poor, you say. Well, there are places
where it will do to be poor. You will
go West, Miss Truesdell, and live in some
noble rural eighborhood and preserve
your independence and simplicity to the
end. Even were you rich l should like
you to do so. Society does make such
another woman of the best of US"
"Tries, maybe, but does not always
completely succeed"
Mrs Lucas smiled. "Ah, you mistake
me. I am ambitious for me and mine,
/ don't allow my own family to practice
the localities, assure you. admire, in
the abstract, such women as you. But
mind, were you my sister or cousin, l
would don't know what wouldn't do
before I'd permit you to take such a
brave, simple course-and for poor
man, tooln
Miss Truesdell looked at her with
sudden keenness She finished the long
measurement with a sigh. ''Safe only
so long as l remain a woman in the alb
stractp"
1t was stormy, and "no one came in"
The mistress in full dress sat with her
serving woman before the ruddy kitchen
fire, and had the &c "cozy evening" There
is such a thing as falling into friendship
as well as love, and it had happened to
Mrs. Lucas. AS she chatted she resolved
upon various impracticable Chivalries to-
ward the sweet and noble stranger She
! thpm UphpmnnflU
will keep house together like friends.
Her society would reconcile me to an
hour or two in the kitchen daily. | will
arrange to give her leisure and good
toilets. 1t might often be SO among
women of refinement. The rich women
might often thus serve poorer friend
with home, culture and society"
Meantime Miss Truesdell was hearing
of Father and Mother Lucas and Father
and Mother Guinness, of Sister Clara
Lucas and of Brother Rolfe Guinness
Concerning these latter Mrs. Lucas
waxed earnest II wish you could see
Clara 1t Is such a feast of color-rose
and snow and gold and blue-and then
TO have Rolfe beside her! But come with
me and will show you their pictures
Miss Truesdell was taken into the par.
lor. She was duly conscious, perhaps
Rolfe" was pointed out, but she pre-
ferred to stand before Clara's picture
This "Clara" to her proved to be scarce
ly the daughter of the morning which
Mrs. Lucas had described nevertheless
she gaZed at her with long curiosity
A." His Clara was Clara Lucas, then"
And is there not little love- story tC
tellg" She indicated Rolfe's portrait
and turned toward Mrs. Lucas
mo, there isn't, j am sorry to say
There ought to be- But Rolfe is $3.50
; well, so shockingly himself, He ii
poor,,is nothing but an insurance agent
! He'll be here Christmas, and you'll see
him. Now CLARA has fortune. She II
lovely, as you see, and-well. she Ger
tainly appreciates my lordly brother
But he-oh, Miss Iruesdell, he has en-
gagged himself to u girl that nobody
knows or can knoW-a country girl. Par
| don me. But don't expect me to go on
l exclaim sometimes i never can dis
cuss it. never have allowed Rolfe MIN
] self to say two words to me; don't ever
! Know her name. My only brother anC
Clara Fred's only sister Can't you se'
1 what shame il is, Miss Truesdell?"
. Miss Truesdell assured her of he
Y sympathy as they went out. But in tn,
: hall she missed her handkerchief. Sh'
t returned. Shutting the door, she grope'
d around and found it, Then she hurriedl,
went up to Rolfe Guinness portrait, Sh
e looked straight up into the gay, blacl
E eyes. There was very happy, merr,
r light in her own. You were right
: Rolfe. am woman after her owl
e heart. And what if LEI her find it ou
now that such an odd thing has hap
q pened?"
/ She leaned forward, and pressed he
}, cheek to the picture, and went out again
l She had fully intended never to 81
i down in the Lucas sittingrooms; but he
0 mistress, coZily enscOnced in u tayorit
t chair, pushed an easy seat toward her 81
e pleasantly il was difficult to refuse with
! out rudeness. While she fingered the.
J. heard the gate
4 $50 early dear mel Won't you pleas