Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-07-27

My dear Flora" wrote Miss Ray
mond, " it is a long time since we have
met. Why cant you pack your trunk
and make up your mind to spend the
summer with me in this green and quiet
corner of the earthH You shall diet upon
locusts and wild honey, il such be your
pleasure; you shall put in appearance at
parish picnics, or sic in the arbor and
embroider while somebody reads Tenny-
son aloud-in short, you shall do as you
please, If you will please to come to your
rural friend BELL"
Miss Raymond regarded it as wise
and far-seeing policy that she had for
borne to mention the name of Rev.
Clarence Gascoigne, poor but promis-
ing young clergyman recently settled
over the parish of Haphazard, whose
welfare she had chiefly in view in issu-
ing this invitation to dear Flora" who
was nothing less than an heiress and
beauty. Miss Raymond herself, being
neither, naturally set greater value
upon these things than they deserved,
and devoutly believed that Flora would
carry all before her at her own sweet
will. She remembered when they had
been at Nine. Bulbs finishing school
together-before adversely had visited
the Raymonds' roof-that Flora had been
the cynosure of all the neighboring eyes
at DR.. Creeds theological seminary, that
she had been deluged with valentines,
surfeited with bOn6OHS, and embalmed in
sonnet and song in the poets corner of
the local daily. But apparently these
things had not availed Miss Flora had
already survived several seasons, and
was yet Miss Flora, and untrammeled.
Whether she had flirted too hard, her
heart had remained untouched, or she
had never inspired her lovers with any
thing stronger than passing fancy, no.
body but Flora knew. Miss Raymond's
family consisted merely of herself and
widowed aunt; and as her income was
small, she usually filled the roomy old
homestead with summer boarders. But
since the new rector of the parish had
taken up his abode under her roof
tree, and Aunt Milly was in some
what failing health, she had de-
cided not to add to her cares, but to
her pleasures, in begging Flora to spend
the season at HaphaZard And Flora
was nothing 10th. She stepped from
the numbering old stage late on one sum-
mer afternoon, in the jauntiest of travel
ing toilets, with the most killing of hats
perched upon her shapely head-a very
bewitching picture of girl of the period,
heuu, the d6frP 6frPilgEls Il upon her. white fore
chief, the wild rose blushing upon cheek
and chin, and a ready smile about the
mobile lips. Bell felt suddenly old and
faded and dowdy beside her, and up
braided herself smartly tor the sensa-
tiOn. She went up to her guests room
with her, threw open the blinds, pointed
out the views, and helped her to unpack
{" l do hope you won't find it stupid
here, Flora" she said "that time will
not hang heavy upon your hands. Soci
ETY. here is rather chaotic, to be sure
but"
~ suppose there isn't such an article
as gentleman within ten miles, yawneG
Flora
Well, they are not as plenty as
could wish, for your sake, confess. We
are always living in hopes that the mas
ter of Pine Hill will return and endan-
ger our monotony-you can see the towers
of the mansion from this window, there,
behind that belt of pines; but he prefers
the gay world. And then there's our
rector; he is very good company"
"Oh, spare usl had theology enough,
thank you, at Nine. Bulbs. If there's
anything detest, it's a. Say, Bell,
who is that splendid apparition coming
in at the gato?"
"ThatY" laughed Bell" that is the
aforesaid rector"
Is he coming to give you ghostly
counselS shall be getting change of
heart, depend ont"
He's coming home to tea. He boards
here"
There is a divinity" quoted Flora.
thought, to be sure, it was no less
than the master of Pine Hill coming to
his estates just in the nick of time. How
long has his reverence been here, may /
ask?"
"Only three months"
Well, wonder you haven't fallen in
love-"
81? Where would be the good?"
WHO ever stops to think of that?"
At least one must have a little en-
couragement to begin with"
"-And hasn't he given you a particle
You just hand him over to my tender
mercies."
" You sha'n't flirt with him, Flora; he's
too good and innocent. He would think
you IN earnest"
"'Sha'n't is in the imperative mood,
believe. Arc you the guardian of his
young affectiOns?"
And then they descended to the tea
table, and Flora and Clarence Gascoigne
shook hands and chatted familiarly- no.
body could resist chatting familiarly with
Flora after the first half minute-about
his cousins, the Gascoignes of Newport,
and dozen people, of whom Miss Ray
mond had never heard, and of whom
never to have heard seemed suddenly to
prove her a person of the least conse-
quenee. After tea the trio strolled in the
garden, Flore leading the conversation,
and waking the echoes with her quick
laughter; and they sat while on the
rustic bench beside the syringa bushes,
and Flora sang snatches from the operas
and spiritual hymns; and Bell marked
that when she dropped out of catch or
chorus nobody seemed TO miss her, and
presently she stole away to look after
her housekeeping, congratulating herself
that everything promised well for her
scheme. Flora was perhaps tritle giddy
and girlish for a clergyman's wife, but
she would Outlive all that; and what an
excellent thing il would be for Mr.. Gas
coigne, whose abilities would never have
fair play If he married any poor girl
about Haphazard, and lived from hand
TO mouth, so TO speak, with none of the
opportunities which money could offer;
and as for Flora, she might bless her
stars II he preferred her, If he had no
ineonvenient scruples about marrying
rich woman.
The summer weather was fine at Hap.
hazard, and If Mr. Gascoigne begged the
ladies TO visit some poor or invalid par
ishiOner in his company Il usually ended
by Flora going with him alone, Bell haV-
ing found some urgent duty TO detain her
at home at the last minutes and Flora de-
veloped quite a talent for cheering the