Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-07-16

.
ley than TO himself
The words, following that look, were u
whole book of revelation to me- Hap
PLY, Lumley did not notice. His face
showed some surprise mingled with that
placid satisfaction the successful man al |
ways wears.
All" he returned, shaking his head |
knowingly, "is that the way the land lies? |
| knew YOU were always close-mouthed, |
but disappointment never suspected |
that. She, whoever it was, had precious |
bad taste when she looked the other way!" |
and he ran his eye admiringly over the !
others splendid proportions, and manly |
handsome face.
"She never refused me-" broke in Lum-
ley's Pardner, in low, smothcred tone,
his eyes still fastened intently on the pict-
ure. "I-never asked her; but she knew
my mind, and thought | knew hers.
was sure she would wait for me until
came back. 1t was for her went away"
But you wrote TO her" questioned
! Lumley, with genuine interest.
Not a word-not line. | am a poor
scribe. But she knew me well enough to
need no written assurance of my inten
tions. Every day would be lived for
her. There could be no doubt of that in
! her mind"
Lumley made a hasty gesture of dissent
And there, old man, was precisely where
you failed to connectl 1t don't do, you
know, for women to take too much for
granted. They like to be well fortified
and then you are the surest to win if
you take them by storm. Why, my Lu-
| lie"
"She don't look as though she ever
walked over true heart with her dainty
feet and that glad little smile just curving
her lipsl" broke in Lumley's Pardner, his
white face still bent on the picture. His
deep voice trembled little over the last
words
"Lulie is truth itself" answered Lum-
lev, quickly. "She never loved anybody
! but me- To be sure, she had admirers
how could she help that and be what she
fis9-but she loves me truly You can see
it in her eyesm
Lumley's Pardncr turned tleathly pale.
He caught the table by one hand as if to
steady himself and fairly hurled the pict-
ure acfossfo Lumley. 1t missed its mark
and fell to the floor. As he saw it fall all
the fierceness died out of his eyes and a
frightened look crept into them.
" Pick her up" he said, with timid ap-
prehension, as though it were a human
being to whom, in a moment of passion,
he had committed some act of violence.
II didn't mean to do that-poor little
motherr-that last word seemed TO give
him stronger footing with himself. 81
was thinking how my wife married another
man and never let me know"
Come, come, old man, don't take it so
to heart" said Lumley, soothingly.
"There'll be a pleasant home, dear lit
tie woman, and brighteyed children in
the future for you yeti
Lumley's Pardner brought down his
fist like sledge-hammer; then he leaned
forward in his seat, with a feverish eager
ness in his manner which he tried hard
to keep out of his voice:
Tell me, how would you have given
up your Lulie?''
Lumley laughed with easy, careless
good-nat "You put me in a tight
, place. he said "But, supposing the
, case. the first question should ask would
be: Did she go over to the enemy's camp
in other words, forsake me for an old
rival ~
"N-n-or' answered Lumley's Pardner,
slowly Z" 1t was some one | had never
J seen. I've nothing ag'in the man."
: "Why, then" went on Lumley-" truth
sometimes cuts hard, old fellow-I think
it was your fault, and not the girls. It's
4 mans privilege to speak his mind; q
3 woman's destiny to fold her hands and
e wait. She can never be quite sure unless
he has spoken out Then perhaps another
who has learned to love her does speak
| She feels the need of love in her life
women as often marry to be loved as be
: cause they love. Then, instead of wasting
!, her life for that which may never come tC
/ her, she takes up the fate lying at her feet
: Does she go very much astray?"
Lumley's Pardner dropped his head up
q on his breast. Poor girl! Inever though
G of that" he said.
It do not know just how it was that re
h membered all the words so plain. Their
" was no more said, and, feeling guilty-lik
a for stealing a mates secret which was no
e meant for me to know, | crept to m.
IL shanty, bunked in, and let the broker
pick lie over until morning.
l l always felt sorry for Lumley Pardne
d after that.
o Well, for time things went on in tn
e old way Then Lumley's Pardner cam
= down with mountain fever, and Lumle
e nursed him through it. He was as tende
l. as a woman, was Lumley! When | use
" to drop in of nights, occasionally to len
g hand at watching, the sick mans eye
n would follow him about the room in
1t helpless, beseeching way that was pititr
l. to see.
| Itwas only the ghost of LulHley's Pare
p, ner that got up from it, but the two wei
d always higher together after that.
d When Lumley got back to the claim an
N Lumley's Pardner was just able to craN
about, they came into wonderful strea
Is of luck. Lumley struck into big gpocke
4. and there they were, in the turn of di
rich men. Mining, after ALL is game
70 chance-you buy your ticket but 1t dot
he not always win; there are plenty of blanl
4 to every prize.
I'd 1t does not matter the exact amount tn
I'd prize netted, if | had remembered it. Lun
lg ley was iubilant over his pile" anXiol
ne to sell out and leave the mines; so nOboc
e. was surprised when his partner boug
rs him out for a good round sum, saying,
d. his quiet way, that he guessed he'd st'
ne and see the thing through.
ne 1t was very quiet in camp the mornir
Ill that Lumley went away. The boys we
sorry to lose him, for he had not any b
de well -wishers among us.
Je. Well, six months went by, and tn
ew came little white letter scrlbed' in
ws dainty woman's hand to Lumley's Pal
' ner. The man trembled all over Ikea le
Id when it was put into his hand, took
ng into his cabin and shut fast the do'
re- Within the next half hour he came O
l again in a desperate hurry saddled J
yas mule and rode off down the trail.
to NUneXpected business!' was his III
+ ty explanation. Could not say how so
he he might be back.
US The news came to us at last by pan
ly; of traders stopping to noon in can
wn Then | knew what those marks OF wea
ife ness about his mouth stood for Luml
had never left the city at all! He had
YER down to the gaming-table one night a
the gotten up from 1t the next morni
ely poorer than he had come into
md mines. He had first won, then lost, a
ley lost and won, and won again; and I'll
lst, that last total blank stared him in
ess face.
he Lmley could never give up at that
he must win il all backl Luck was surely
the store for him vet! He haunted the ga