Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-03-31


me look favorably upon him. was real.
" disappointed on being told that his
name was plain John Trance, n stock
broker in Wall street. All the rill-rail
and broken.down merchants turn stock
brokers, and the idea that he was one Of
them wholly disenchanted me. Butnever
mind, | guess IL will come out all right
as you and father think IL will"
We do think so, my child" said the
mother, land | may as we'll say TO you
now, that father knows all about him,
about his personal habits and associations,
and they are all good. He could not bc
better man, nor be esteemed higher as a
guest in the wealthicst houses, il he were
many times as well off as he Is. We have
understood that Lilly Grow, the bankers
daughter, was doing her best to catch
him"
"Thc little upstart imp" came with
hiss Of utter contempt from Emma.
eyes, and Jennie Tart"
"Sho'd look nice, with her freckled
face and puggish eyes, to stand up with
handsome John Trance to be made Mrs.
Trance"
Don't disturb yourself my child, she
will not but you will be Mrs. Trance be-
fore long. lie is coming up this evening
riage to the station and he must soon be
here Father will not return from the city
until after seven"
At this moment the rafting Of carriage
wheels was heard coming up to the main
entrance of the mansion, the doOr-bell
rang, and few moments later Mrs. Cone,
Emma and her intended husband, John
Trance, met in the parlOr. He was most
cordially received by the ladies, as If he
were already one Of the family, and after
a brief greeting he was conducted to a
room upstairs by servant. Having
dressed for dinner he reioined the ladies
in the parlor, and presented to them the
little presents he had bought--for the
mother several of the most renowned
novels by fashionable authors and for
Emma an exquisitely designed cluster
diamond ring. Their conversation was
exclusively about the coming marriage,
on what day the ceremony should take
place, whittier the newly. married pair
would bctake themselves on their bridal
tour, and how long they should remain
away. Some discussion cnsued whether
the young couple ought TO take rooms for
a year or so, or set up their own estab-
lishment at once, and Johns preference
for the latter was agreed to, since he told
tllClll nC ndNi dlItduI lliduC u tOhNliblOubl
contract for the purchase of mansion
a perfect gem of dwelling-on the ave.
nue., and would give Emma full liberty to
draw on his bank account in furnishing
it to her own taste. Thus time sped, sew
en- o'clock arrived, and dinner was an
nounced. AS Mr. Conc was not expected
home until after that hour, he was not
waited for, and the party repaired to the
dining-room. During the meal our friend
John was exceedingly vivaCiOus and en-.
tertaining, telling all the gossip and socie-
ty anecdotes Of the city, and Mrs. Cone
was more and more delighted with her
future son -in.law, and so was Emma with
her destined husband.
The hall clock struck eight as Mr. James
T. Cone entered his house. AS the ser
want assisted in relieving him of his great
coat, the merry voices from the dining
room reached his ear. It's Mrs. Cone,
Miss En-, and Mr.. Trance from the city
still at dinner" reported the mulatto.
"H'm" muttered the old gentleman,
standing motionless in the hall, looking
down upon the polished marble tiles.
His countenance was more rigid and stern
than usual; some heavy, oppressive
thought seemed to distract his mind He
meditated for while, and then, instead
of joining the joyous family party at din
ner, he crossed the hall in the opposite di-
rection and entered the library, where he
sank into large armchair with deep
sigh, apparently overcome by painful
emotions. The mulatto observed it, and
asked his master whether he was i'll.
| "No, Peter, but-go and ask Mrs. Cone
into the library. Don't tell it so that my
/ 4
Ask her in whisper that / wish to see
her in the library"
Yes, SIR, answered Peter, and went
to obey the order. Mrs. Cone at once rose
from the table, Her husband was often
in the habit of calling her suddenly to
private interviews, and she was not at all
alarmed at the present request.
Excuse me, children" she said, as
she started to go, shall return present
ly and hear the end of Johns story"
But she did not return. In about ten
minutes, which John and Emma had
passed in most agreeable conversation
Peter came back and whispered something
to Miss Emma, who rose from her seat.
Excuse me, John, pa has sent for me,
but will be back Immediately"
She went, but did not come back, nei-
ther did her mother. John paced the
dining-room to and fro, wondering why
the old man did not come to shake hands
with him and bid him welcome. But his
wonderment changed to stunning amaze
ment as, after the lapse of half an hour
Peter reappeared, saying: +" Mr.. Trance
the carriage is at the door to take you tc
the station"
John looked at Peter The demeanol
of the mulattO was no longer that subms.
sive, obsequious, scrvile Familiarity with
which he always had addressed the recog
nized future son-in-law of the house a:
"Mr. John" His behavior now was
cold stiff, formal, even TO offensiveness
He again blurted out, still more grutily
"Come, Mr.. Trance, the carriage is wait
ing; quick, get your things from up
stairs; we can't let the horses stand in the
cold so long"
"What does this mean?" John was a
last able to stutter forth, and he found his
breath almost stitied within him by his
heaving heart
"Mean2" said Peter, with an impuden
grim why, it means that you are tC
leave this house in less than no time, sir
Come, get ready, we want to shut the dool
behind you"
Peter took John Trance by the arm
| NhO tllOMCu lllllioCll ptoSiNClJ w bC lCN
into the hall and up the stairs to the room
where he had dressed for dinner Herr
Peter threw everything from the dressing
table, hap-hazard, into Johns valise
handed him the overcoat, led him down
stairs again and out upon the portico.
Here John once more recovered hi
voice and, sobbingly, asked; Peter, tel
me, what is the cause of all this?"
Dunno, sir" replied the servant will
another sneer, "but that's my orders
Make haste, get into the carriage" at tn,
same time pushing, almost lifting JohI
into the vehicle. The carriage door wal
no sooner closed than the coachmal
whipped up his horses, drove away rap
idly and soon came up to the station. A
John Trance alighted, the coachmal
handed him box and sealed letter
bade him good night, following it up witt
a herrty laugh of contempt, and was on
ofsight.
m n e ~