Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-07-28
THE THIEF.

1T was not because Rhoda Chauncey
was not exceedingly pretty that Mrs.
Havers objected to her marriage with her
son Allen, nor because she was not an ex-
ceedingly nice and accomplished person,
and all that mother might wish her
sons wife to be, bat simply because she
was what Mrs. Havers called Nobody,
and that family potentate felt the necessi-
iv as IS aps ttffifleee 6 with some',Eay:.s mud
had in her day all that beauty commands ;
had had enough for both, and still had it,
for the matter of that; but the Haverses
were new people, with some money, but
not quite enough, and wished to strength
en- their recently acquired position by
union with the old. And as for this pretty
Rhoda Chauncey, she was simply the
friend and companion of Mrs. King; an
adopted child, without any of the prlvi.
leges of adoption, as you might say
that is, comfortable in the present and
provided for in the future. She was,
moreover, neither new nor old, so far as
family went; nothing was known general
ly about her. she afforded nothing to
climb by, and would be merely dead
weight.
"You know very we'll, Allen" Mrs.
Havers said, as her son lay on lounge
in her dressing room, with his novel and
cigarette, while she was cleaning her
jewels-a little operation she always un-
dertook herself for fear Of theft-"that /
desire your happiness above all things in
life"
"Oh, / dare sayl" he muttered, con.
temptuously, half under his breath.
bat your happiness" she said more
severely, "isn't merely in eating cake to-
day to have it sour on your stomach to.
morrow"
"Oh, pshaww
''You would reproach me very much if
had spoiled your digestion in that way
when you were child. What is the diff
ference nowr'
THE difference is, said he, with a Gu
rious flush through his lsnguor, THAT
now I'm a man."
Now, Allen, look at the matter ra.
tionally," said his mother, pausing in her
work. This girl, without money, with
out relatives, without name, would be on.
ly milestone round your neck"
Blamed, mother, if you don't go of
into the abstract on the least provocatior
of anyone know. I'm not an ogre; I'm
not going to eat anybody; so what has di
gestion to do with it? And how you ge
a milestone out Of an animal body before
it undergoes petrifaction is a conundrum
of your own asking"
Animal bodies do undergo petrifac
tion sometimes, so far as their hearts are
concerned-and while they are alive, too,
said ahe, sisaifioantly
asEell, it's a blamed vuIgaI oonapari
son, anyway; and you're great on the vul
gar, you know. She wouldn't make it,
can tell you that"
"Indeed She's person of taste,
presume ?" with some irony.
"Tip-top,"
"And will marry youe'
"I've no reason TO doubt it." said thu
young man, needing no sarcasm, and en-
| jOying a complacept look in the cheval
| glass that reflected his long and graceful
shape, his handsome, pallid, rather blase
cOuntenance.
/" Nor |, either, F" cried his mother, melt
| ing from her brief anger with her on,
darling and, sweeping her jewels aside
she ran to him, and took the curly head il
her two hands, and kissed it as If 1t wer,
still the baby's she remembered, till h,
rather impatiently freed himself, aftel
having submitted with what he considered
avery good grace for reasonable time.
+" But that's the mischief of it," she re
smed, when she had taken her seat anC
her chamois leather again If she woulC
not / should be happier. You are very
bright, Allen; you can be anything yol
choose. If you would go into politics
you could as we'll be Governor us thi
young Armisted." !"
@He's always hanging around her, con
found himp' he said, lighting anothe
cigarette at his old one,
You could have been in his place nov
If tOu had been willing TO abandon pleas
urs, sacrifice to-day for tomorrow"
What good is pleasure going TO do M
tomorrowy may be dead then. Carp
dim is motto good enough for me. /"
1 1t makes me angry" cried his mother
rSbbing away viciously, ito look at In,
follow. Everybody kowtoWlng TO him
owning railroad himself, Governor thi
yqr, will be Senator next year--not
wpit abler, not whit better looking thai
yiu, and just your aga.n s'v. g
roh, hang him, mothert What's Arm
ised to mef"
His place, his opportunities. his fame