Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-06-11


role. and staggered round Cape Horny
or down, far down, beneath those waves,
sileu and still forever?
"Joor, dear Tomr said Mrs Parlxc,
wjtla quivering sigh. And tears began
10 III the soft, gray eyes ut the thought.
knock came at the outer door. IN
Ter uncle was up stairs asleep in his
owl bed II was nearly ten o'Clock--a
lat, hour for any neighbor to be dropping
in 10 borrow the newspaper or hold a
friendly chat over the blazing fire. But
Mis-. Parke was not one of those silly
wom,n who arc afraid of shadow, and
SO sh went at once and opened the door.
A bll, stalwart man stood there in
sailors dress
He heart gave great bound, but
| grew quiet again when she heard the
| tones of the rough, coarse voice.
does Mrs. Pafke live here?"
"She does"
"Can ! see herr"
"T am Mrs. Parke."
"Then have a message to give you,
ma'tm-from my Captain"
"Captain who?"
"Capt Parke, ma'am-him as was
your husband" was the grufreply.
Was!
She asked him in as civilly as she
could, and gave him chair before the
blazing fire. His face was nearly COW
cred by forest of red hair and whisk-
ers, but in her agitation she scarcely
looked at him. r..... ...
"lYas, did you say9" she gasped.
Has anything happened' Is-mY hus-
|. Now, don't you take on like that,
ma'am," said the gruH voice, with touch
of kindness in its tone. can't a-bear
to see woman cry. 1t just about kills
me- ..
is he dead' Tell me that" she
cried.
(" No."
She drew long, deep breath and sank
bsck into her chair, the color coming
hack into her lips and cheeks by faint
degrees. .j.-.-s...
HDashed if I can make tout, any
way, said the sailor, with n wondering
look, "The Captain he says to me (:
You go and find her out, Jack, and tell
her so and so from me. But if you hear
as how she's married, or likely to be,
along of my not heaving in sight through
all these years, why then just keep your
tongue in your head and sheer off as fast
as you can before you make any mis-
chief for her Them was the Captains
very words, ma'am, and more than hall
expected 10 have to 60 back and leave
my errand as it was. But you look as if
you likedthe Captain yet-upon my soul
you do"
Like him" said Mrs. Parke, with an
indignant glance. Why shouldn't l?
What do you mean? Isn't he my own
Who n haitian ;rrI, ts,l
him, as you call it, than II"
Right you are, ma'amln said the sail.
or. sexultantly. "And glad enough am ]
to have such good news to take back to
the Captain. You see, ma am, he knew
Just how handsome and pretty you are,
and he was afraid that you might have O
grudge against him, on account of your
quarreling, when you were both too
young to know any better. And so he
says to me, Jack, says he, if you fad
she has "a kind look or word for me still,
tell her behaved like brute to her in
the old days, but if she'll only forgive
me for it, and take me back again, I'll
make it all up to her, on my soul l will :
and do believe, he viii, ma'am, really
do believe he will. For he would Just
give his eyes to see you as am seeing
you now, would the Captain-I know he
would What am to tell himfn
"Tell himl Why did he send you at
all? Why didn't he come himselfp'
cried Mrs. Parke, springing to her feet.
"HOw CAM tell your No one ought to
hear what have to say except him, and
no one shall! Where is he? Take me
to him." p a1e- se-r -.....
"Will you go with me, ma'am? Will
you really?" said the sailor, sprlnging to
his feet in his turn, q = vyf r-v
A'sOf course will. -" = "
-@ When?n
"Now." .-sEr F+EsE EHEEg...
at is late, ma'am, you know, and I'm
stranger"
II don't care if it is midnight. And
he is your Captainl Pm not afraid TO sc
with you. Let me get my bonnet and
shawh" sirta~ T r..,..T s.
'sWaitone moment, ma'am," said the
man, hesitating. He told me to tell
YOU all. ~ ass8a 18rvHN b s..... t..
Tell it, then y or ,'fehs~vg
" He has been very sick. His health is
poor and he has lost all his strength
lie shall be well cared for here. Let
us go.p 7aI ijy. .--a
"And-an-an accident, ma'am, on
board ship-he lost his arm ----n
ooh, my poor Toni"
"And leg, ma'am." ...
The soft, gray eyes were full of tears
And-and-an eye; and he has to
wear q black patch all over the side oI
his face where the gunpowder blew him
up,p the man went on.
"Toml Toni Oh how you have SUI.
fered, poor dearP' she was crying.
"And he said / was to tell you all
ma'am, before you came anigh him. The
ship is lost; he hasn't penny in the
world and he isn't strong enough tC
work now.". ANA mere ggos 2 =
"Oh, why do you keep me waiting
here?n she cried. =" Let me go to him
Poor, SICK, blind, maimed-Gand not tc
knowl Poor Toni Dear Toni Take
me to him at once if you have any mer
cy in your heart Come, 1 am ready
nowm ..... ......-...
She ran into the other room and came
out again wearing her bonnet and shawl
Where was the sailorY fuF rrr.s '"
A red wig and whiskers lay on Tho
floor, in company with slouched ha
and an cid pea-jacket. And on the heartl
stood handsome, stalwart man, in
naval uniform, his limbs sound, his fac,
clear and fair his blue eyes bright anc
| beautiful as ever.
"Maryw cried the old, musical voic,
thatrshe remembered so well. "Forgiv,
mo for trying you so-forgfve me all
Oh, my dazzling wife, tho future shall
atone for the past, if love and truth cal
make you happyp r,g yH.,
-"Tom-dear Tomln was all her an
swer. And then he had her in his arm
and their lips met in q Kiss that seale'
the pardon Of bothl I.t lEl.. .l
Mrs. Parke's uncle was somewhat as
tonished When he got up the next morn
ing and saw the new inmate of tn
lh0usehold. fAnd three oldbachelors an
four widowers could look forward hope
fully no longer to the seven years." 70
Mrs. Parke was ''grass widow" n
longer, and seemed most provokingl
well satisfied TO find these things " thus,
as poor Artemus Ward used TO say.-A
y. Weekly.
Tine Rev. J. G. Holland has been m,
| ligning reporters. If this becomes geI
orally known he might as well leave I'll