Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-03-30
MARRIED PEOPLE.


meet her husband when he came back
from the West. Three years ago the
firm had taken him from the desk as book
keeper and sent him out on collecting
tours; he had been coming and going
ever since, but his wife could never get
used to it. Before that she never left
the house except to go to church or mar
ket, now she went to the depot when he
was coming home, after even days alb
sence, once going to Harrisburg, when
the train was delayed there, in the mid
die of the night. Her children thought
their mother had all the good sense and
even temper there was in the world but
her husband knew that nobody was so
sexcitable and weak as she. 1t was curl
Gus TO see how she could single out the
stopped, red headed little man in his
linen dusteT among the thousands pour
ing out of the depot, and how, though
she was one of the tmidest women alive,
she would go straight to him, as though
the men about her were so many dead
trunks of trees.
He always explained to her how it was
impossible for her to go with him now
as she used TO do on those little excur-
sions when they were first married.
"We haven't the money, Lizzie, and
then, who would stay with the children?"
go yes, know, Richard, that can't
60"
SIN about ten years Charley will be
in business, and l shall have made my
pile, and we will take Nelly and go to
Europe"
That was standing joke between
them. But they seriously did hope that
the time might ccme when they could
afford to stay together. "The worst
pull will be over when Charley has his
schooling" Danford would say, land
thenI can save up and go into some lit
o tile business of my own. I'll never leave
you then, Lizzy."
.lt They rode home together this evening
in the horse cars, she carrying his over
10 coat while he took the valise. The ride
was long and the car crowded, for it was
raining. During the month that Dan
ford had been gone, the family had
taken possession of little house which
! was to be their home. He had long ago
joined one of those building societies by
which, in Philadelphia, man so easily
secures his own house. Instead of build
ing new one, he had, to please her,
bought one of those old stone cottages
on the outskirts of Germantown its hip
roof and orchard of old apple-trees gave
it picturesque dignity beside the star
ing blocks of its pretentious neighbors.
Mrs. Danford, in half.whisper, was
talking all the way, not giving her hus-
band a chance to say word. She was
an exceptionally quiet person with every
/ body but Richard, but with him the most
inveterate of takers.
-'A And the parlor carpet-you would
be astonished to see how beautifully it
fits; but wrote to you about that. And
took the shelves out of the linen closet
and made of it work-room for Charley
his books and pIinting-press and rub
bish, you know; and the room with two
windows is to be Nelly's-"
ra Baby'sp Danford chuckled, know
ing that his wife, although baby was
four years old, never slept until the little
hands were nestled in her bosom.
"She must have a room of her own
soon. You will give her that one?-
promise me, Richard. have papered
it myself pale blue-and her bed is all
ready" she said anxiously, touching his
arm.
You can arrange it as you choose" :"
carelessly "How long this ride out isl"
glancing impatiently at the dropping
rain outside.
"It is long. We might have taken
the steam-cars for once" hesitating.
,a No; we must save every penny now
There are the bills for moving to pay
What is the matter?"-for a sudden
change had come over his wifes face as
she looked over his shoulder. He turned
sharply, and faced tall man in an oil
skin coat, who was holding bya strap
and watching Mrs. Danford with what
-s appeared at the first glance to be look
of keen significance. 1t instantly dead
ened out of his face, and he turned to
Danford pair of heavy black eyes as
unmeaning as the fiabby, close.shaved
cheeks below them.
FL "Why, thought that fellow was 60
ing to speak to you," he said, as he
helped her out of the car, He was used
to see Lizzie attract notice. He always
thought of her as his middle-aged wife
-Charley's mother-unless when people
turned to look after her as she came into
a car, and then he saw how singular and
delicate was the beauty that still hung
about her, and how fine the smile in her
pale face.
"Whew how itpoursw he said: Step
up on this porch, Betty, until l hoist the
umbrella"
Several other passengers had left the
Car and stood huddled together, strug-
Cling with their umbrellas and the wind
Next to Mrs. Danford was the man in an
oil skin coat. His mouth was mufiied in
n and the Melting rain drowned every
other sound. but Il seemed as though he
smoke to -ha-'
fo:morrow, at noon," she answered; ;
~ shan DC alone"
NOW, little womanp Danford oustled
up, Juggling the valioe and flaming nm.
brella. Usually she would have Helped
hlm with one of them, but now she hung
heavily on his arm, tagging behind.
Tired out, BettyY" Then glancing
down into her face, You've been hay.
ing one of those old headaches. Did YOU
see DR.. Thayer, as l told your"
No, no. Dr.. Thayer cannot help me.
Besides, ! have no headache. Come;
there is Nelly at the window"
There were fires in every room of the
little house, the square windows glowed
through the tracery of vines, and the wet
trunks OF the trees reflected the lights
through the rain.
See how pretty it isl" she said stop.
ping at the gate. 81 told Charley tc
make an illumination. We won't think
OF expense-just for this night"
That vas right" Dahford pushed |
on hurriedly. He felt a choking at his
throat. They had worked so long for
this home, and here it was at last-Home. |
Afterward, when he tried to remember
the occurrences of the evening, knowing
that life or death depended on his accue
racy, he could recall little that was pe- I
culiar in his wife's conduct She and
the children had dragged him ali over
the house in fever of delight and tri.
umph. There was not closet or GRANNY
left unexploTed. Charley acted as show.
man, baby clung to her mother, as usual.
old black Sally went before with the can.
dles the proudest of all. His wife saId
little' as was her habit, except when