Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-03-12

gently. Now and again, too, she led
him in mental paths he had never before
trodden; showed him fresh intellectual
results she had wrought out for herself
| In the midst OF her over.busy life. Thus
PENS professional visits gradually re-
solved themselves into friendly chats, in
which the mother often took part, and at
last so far yielded to the strong magnet.
ism of the small doctors presence that
she welcomed her with cordiality that
would have surprised herself had she
thought about it.
And by reason Of these talks John
Campbell came to see and understand
a phase of life from which his circum-
stances had shut him away. He learned
also Pens own story, not through any
voluntary confession, but by chance
drOppings that gave him key to the
whole. He discovered In plying amaze
ment how, just as she was entering on
womanhood, her father had died, and left
next to nothing for her mother, an inva-
lid brother and herself to live upon;
how she saw she must take the mans
place in the family and be its head and
support; how she had tried to sew, to
teach, to sell goods over q counter, and
could in neither way earn enough to sus.
tain herself, much less those dependent
on her; how she finally determined to
study medicine, and had gone without
food to buy books, had gone nearly in
rags to pay for her tuition; how when
her examination had passed she began to
practice and at last won for those she
loved and cared for comfortable home
and the means to keep it so.
And hearing all this, and reflecling
upon 1t, John Campbell developed into a
changed, his theories broadened, his ex-
pressed opinions liberalized He looked
back over his forty luxurious years, and
saw not one thing accomplished, not
sacrifice rendered, not struggle made
which was comparable in any degree
with what this little woman, with her
fine presence and exquisite manners, had,
all unaided, accomplished, sacrificed,
struggled for. Then he grew very hum.
BILE. In the fullness of his heart he said
my friend, believe in my whole life i
have never done anything for any human
being. / have lived among my books,
and with few friends no wiser than |
as to what life really is. If you would
only help me / should like to do some
good in the future" And then and there
they made a solemn compact to help one
another to help their fellows.
They kept the compact. PENS wise
little head planned new ways to aid the
poor and sick and unfortunate, for whom
she always had kind of feeling of kim
ship, and Johns wealth and abundant
leisure were willing tributaries to her
projects. But of all the people they as
sisted none received more genuine help
than they from one another. She led
him to knowledge OF human suffering,
to higher belief in human worth He
gave her a whole side of existence which
she had never before come near, though
her soul longed passionately for it: the
world of art and culture he opened TO
her; he fed her intellect with the food it
had ever hungered for.
If they had been younger they would
have seen sentimental danger in all this
near companionship. AS 1t was it would
be lard to tell which of them was the
more astonished when one day, after
they had been discussing some fresh
| scheme of benevolence, John Campbell
suddenly laid his hand on the small doc
tors shoulder and said, quickiy Little
Pen, will you be my wlfe?"
This was the enc precipitate thing he
had ever done. Ten minutes previous
nothing had been further from his mind
than asking anybody to be his wife, least
of all this energetic little creature, who
trotted about in all weathers, always
CHEEKY and hopeful, trying to make peo-
pie better than she had found them
But the words uttered, there came into
his consciousness such wealth of love
for her, such a desire to take her out
and away from the hard path she was
treading so bravely, that he waited
breathlessly for her words. They came
slowly. He could feel her trembling
under his hand. Her smooth cheeks
| flushed family.
"Your wife, Mr.. CampbellP" she said,
softly, as if she could not realize the inn
port Of his speech.
"Yes, my wife, Pen, he repeated, eager
ly, covering both her hands, which sought
to hide her eyes, with one of his. "Why
should you not be my wife, my darlingH
You have been my friend, my COM
panion, my helpmate. All that / have
ever done that was worth doing has been
at your instigation and with your aid
1t only remains that you should be my
wne. Tell me, dear, that you will not
fail me now when most l need you"
But am so old, john" happily un.
conscious of the confession made in the
use of his name. :" am past thirty, you
know" coloring reddest red; land I'm
but one thing, and I'm poor; and then
never thought anybody would love mel"
dropping into the nearest seat in pas
sion of tears.
Perhaps that last sentence lay at the
base of the whole. At any rate the lover
thought so, for he just picked the little
woman up in his arms and said, while he
wiped away the tears: "Now, Miss Pen,
| am going to answer your objections
every one. To begin with, if you are
past thirty, which l don't in the least
believe-the records are wrong-I am
past forty, fact fear there is no Just
reason to doubt. Secondly, I deny in
toto that you are not pretty There is
abundant evidence to the contrary at
this moment" turning up the sweet face
and planting an emphatic kiss on the
ripe, rosy lips. Thirdly, if you don't
know but one thing it is high time you
did; and how can you ever study while
you lead your present life? Fourthly
if you are poor there is all the more
need for your marrying a man who is
rich-myself, for example. Fifthly, you
tod me this very morning that you had
a friend you should take into partner.
ship if you felt that you could afford
to. Now to her you can freely
make over your practice, not only
with my consent, but at my express com
mand. Lastly, finally, and forever,
love you with my whole soul, and / pro
pose to marry you this day month, what
ever your views on the subject may be
So you might as well resign yourself tC
your fate. Now, ma'am, what have yor
to say against all thisS"
Pen had nothing to say, and if she haC
had she couldn't have said it. Sh'
could have assisted in delicate surgica
operation with perfect calmness, becaus,
discipline had done its work with her
But in the hands of the man she love-
she was plastic as the veriest girl. Al
the difficulties in her way were smoothet
by the magic of his loving touch, and be
fore she could realize her full happines
she found herself his proud and cherished
wife.