Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-04-14

no intention OF contesSing the fact, jun.
bled up names in this peculiarly undesira.
BILE manner. Counseled by anger, Miss
Strickland believed him. She saw Miss
Lalnman read the note-saw her smile
and blush. After that she saw very little
more during the day. And Mr.. Gilbert's
words at the church door seemed to her
no more than gratuitous insult.
Four weeks passed after that Sunday
without word of explanation. Nor did
she once see her lover. Time forgot his
wings, and crept on leaden feet. Miss
Strickland's face grew noticeably paler
and thinner; a look Of expectancy became
almost habitual to her eyes and lips. The
postman's ring startled her. A sudden
voice, a step quicker than usual, gent a
rapid flush into her cheeks, which, fading,
left her paler than before. Instead fsad-
dening, however, she was even gayer and
more vivacious than was usual or perhaps
even natural with her. But her health
sank under the effort, despite her courage,
and at length her mother, becoming
alarmed, proposed sojourn among The
mountains.
So to the mountains they went. But
now, weakened little by ill-health from
which all her pride could not shield her,
Mabel begged for quiet--some pleasant
farm. house, not the great, crowded, noisy
hotel.
Money can find almost anything, and
they discovered the farmhouse, the ideal
farmhouse, large, pleasant, beautifully
situated, and containing, as their hostess
told them, but three or four boarders be.
side themselves.
1t would be perfect" said Mabel,
sinking on the couch when the landlady
had left them" it would be perfect, If
there was nobody, mamma, but just you
and me-" ..
The day following their arrival Miss
Strickland was too unwell to go down
stairs at ALL but the next evening, feel
ing better, she went down to tea. Mrs
Kittrell, the landlady, casually remarked
that two of her boarders had walked that
afternoon to the top of hill famous for its
view. Miss Strickland, she added would
find them very pleasant, lively people,
and she hoped would like them,
"Oh, no doubt of it /" said Miss Strick
land, with languid politeness. "What are
their names, Mrs. Kittrelly'
1.-THE two that have been speaking of
are from your city, too. How pleasant if
you should happen to know them! They
are MIR. Arthur Gilbert and Miss Alice
Lahnman."
There was a scarcely perceptible pause.
Miss Strickland brushed something from
her shoulder.
81 beg your pardon, Mrs. Kittrell. L
know Miss Lahnman very we'll indeed,
and have met Mr. Gilbert several times,
also, though so casually l can scarcely
call him an acquaintance Then the
poor girl seemed to think 1t necessary to
resume her old mask OF gayety, though,
save the two mentioned, there was not
soul within hundred miles of her
who could have imagined any thing of her
affairs.
After tea, Miss Strickland stood a mo-
ment alone ON the gallery. She noticed
narrow, grass grown foot-path leading
down the hillside. 1t was quite lost
from view among the trees at the bottom
of the hill, and bending an attentive ear,
she thought she heard the soft sound of
running water. The shadows, the soli-
tude, the beauty promised, tempted her
Drawing her shawl close around her, Miss
Strickland walked down the path unno-
ticed, and seated herself upon stone at
the foot ofa great tree. This solitude, these
sweet sounds and vague forest odors, had
all the delight of novelty.
"Ah, deliciousr' she murmurcd.
lSIc IL Woulu NC posSIDle W De dlInOSl
happyp
She was quite wrapped in her own
thoughts. And not until they were Just
crossing the brook did she notice the ap-
preaching figures of Mr. Gilbert and Miss
Lahnman; they were then within two or
three yards of her. Too late to retreat,
she could only hope that they would pass
without observing her.
,1,oo tollyino. IN N lOx,raraI ,,,;oo
rapidly and fervently, Miss Lahnman
listening with downcast eyes and atten.
tive, interested face. Two or three phrases
reached Miss Strickland's ear.
If have offended you," he said, in
voice of pleading, " still you can forgive
me; because you know-you must know
that my heart belongs TO you as abso-
lutely as my soul to its Maker"
All me! Miss Strickland had some glar
ing faults, which you have perceived ere
this; but her sense of honor was real, and
not worn for show. Unable to move
away, she lifted her fingers and stopped
her ears. And never was sense of honor
more unhappily obeyed than in this in
stance. For see how it was.
During these months Miss Lahnman' s
comedy had had tragic conclusion. Mr.
Stacy had left for newer charms. The
coquette's heart was not much wounded,
but her vanity was sorely hurt, and she
was ready for any thing that would help
to reinstate her good opinion of her own
destinations.
BY an accident she had happened upon
poor Arthur's retreat during the summer.
Something she knew of the estrangement
which he suffered, and more she guessed
Arthur was decidedly catch She made
use of her beauty, her Madonna eyes, her
aureole of hair. Arthur, like other SEN
sible, candid men, was in some respects
very near fool. He believed all her ex-
pressions and glances and timidities per-
iectly natural. Every day she looked
prettier than the day before; the logical
conclusion was, of course, that so much
beauty indicated every moral excellence
Then they had been much together in
happier days, and he could utter the be-
loved name to one who knew its wearer
All this Miss Lahnman quite approved,
having no doubt heard the wise proverb
respecting confdantes.
This afternoon step had been taken
which, she felt, was leagues long. Sim
pie Arthur had told her the whole story.
And just as they had reached the brook,
with mans egregious egotism, he even
repeated the unfortunate note which he
had written, and which Mabel had never
received.
IF have offended you, still you can
forgive me; because you know--you must
know-that my heart belongs 10 you as
absolutely as my soul to its Maker"
Here, as you know, Miss Strickland
stopped her ears.
Arthur paused minute. Miss Lain.
man lifted her blue eyes, swimming with
tender pity. ......
Even that he said, "did not move
her. l do not blame her-Heaven bless
her!-but still must think had done all
that could dol"
"Ah! how could sheS" cried Alice
Lahnman. Her white hand rested for
one brief minute in mute sympathy upon
his arm. Then she blushed and looked
down. 1t is really true that some women
can blush at will. And though Miss
Strickland could not hear, she could see
She somehow did not or could not turn
her eyes away
"Oh, pardon mew murmured Miss
Lahnman, with confusion as natural as
-