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

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needy; it was a role of which she relshed
the novelty amazingly.
"You were plainly intended for a oler.
pyman's Wife blundered Mr.. Gascoigne,
in moment Of grateful enthusiasm; and
then he colored, and added, hastily:
"The lame, halt and blind arc oil sing
ing your praises"
"What a discord IL must bep re
turned Flora. 81 think / should prefer
q solo,"
The claims of the parish, however,
were not so exacting but he could devote
some leisure to the poets sitting in the
vine covered arbor, while Bell and Flora
worked and listened-except when Bell
remembered she had omitted to leave or
dcrs for the grocer, or had neglected
some important household affair, and ex-
cused herself for long half.hour, beg.
ging them to go on with the reading.
And when she returned, she was always
pleased to find that the book had been
closed for the nonce. IL he had not been
reading, then of course he had been do
ing what he liked better. And he would
say. Z" We have been waiting for you,
Miss Bcll"-he had fallen into the habit
of calling her "Miss Bell" during these
familiar Sednces.
al sha'nt dare to run away If | am
going to spoil your pleasure So" she re-
piled.
You certainly do spoil it when you
leave u.s." he would gallantly retort.
If they went for an afternoons picnic
to the top of Chrome Cliff, with their
supper packed in hamper, Bell fell to
81 Of h., rit MI hn
willows dipping above it and swallows
skimming low, and Flora and Mr.. Gas
coigne we're naturally left to their own
devices. If they went out for an even
ing's ntertainment-which even Hap
hazard afforded at times when summer
guests were plenty-Bell remembered
he latch key as soon as they were be-
yond the gate, or she had left window
open where burglars and showers might
enter, or she never failed of some valid
excuse for falling behind, for refusing
Mr.. Gascoigne's aTm-either both hands
were necessary to keep her skirts from
the mud, or the country sidewalk was
too narrow for three abreast. And yet
there was nothing obvious or awkward
in Miss RaymOnd's scheming. 1t all
came about as naturally rs if foreor-
dained; and if MIR. Gascoigne was some
times little vexcd that he could not be
trusted to find the latchkey, close the
window or fetch the umbrella, Flora
would say: Its Bells way; she was
just so at Nine. Buhl's-always wOuLd
wait upon herself"
1t had never been Bells way, how
ever, to linger in the vestibule after
church; but now she found it convenient
to ask old Mrs. Ross about her rhcuma-
tism, and Martha Meeks abouthe grand
son fishing at the Labrador. And by
that time the Reverend Clarence had put
off the gown and made his way to the
church door, where Flora welcomed him;
and Bell nodded and begged they would
walk on and let her overtake them: she
must speak to the sexton about his sick
child, or see the treasurer of the Mite
Society-only she never did overtake
them. The treasurer had proved garru-
lous, and the sexton had set his heart
upon showing her the head-stonc he had
got up to his first wife. If she found
them sitting alone in the embrasure of
the open window, studying the constella-
tions, she moved softly away. Who
could tell?-it might be the decisive mo.
ment.
1t so happened that just at this time
Mrs. Raymond fell ill. Flora proposed
going home, but Bell stoutly vetoed the
proposition. 1T will be SO lonesome
for MI. coscoigne," she said. "And
Aunt Milly will be up again soon. No;
do you stay and pour the tea at table,
and play at housekeeping, and make it a
little like home for the poor fellow"
apo6v nfs7wearRfe, Hsalu n FR,rEe Ty.s .spxious
as she was hidden, poured his tea,
whiled away his leisure hours, beat
him at chess, visited his sick, list
ened to his views, filled the place
of the absent soprano in his choir, and
borrowed his old sermons for private
reading, while Bell spent her time ad-
ministering hourly doses, concocting
gruels and dainties to tempt the appe-
tite, and waiting in a darkened room by
day, after broken nights Perhaps it
was the effect of overtaXed nerves and
depressed spirits, or perhaps Miss Ray
mond had misunderstood her interest in
Mr. Gascoigne, but as she left her patient
doing one night, and paused moment,
leaning out the hall window to commune
with the evening star and the last tender
etfulgence of sunset, the sight of Flora
and Mr. Gascoigne pelting each other
with roses in the garden below smote her
with sense of something alien and cruel.
Her absence did not affect their en- njoyment;
they had forgotten her in the delight of
being together; and for the first time
selfish sorrow stirred in her heart and
filled her eyes with sudden tears. "Did
she grudge them their happiness?" she
asked herself. "Was not success
enough for herr"
When Flora had gone to her room
that night, Bell knocked at the door and
went in.
Haven't you anything to tell me?"
she asked. HAS nothing happened?"
"What should happen, you dear old
sleepy owl, you? o yes; ! broke your
India china bowl. A sin confessed is
half redressed. We meet, but we miss
you; we linger to caress you-at least l
do. By the way, I'm afraid the Rever-
end Clarence is getting horribly bored
with mel"
"What impossible nonsense, Floral"
Was love teaching Flora to prevaricate? {?
The following night, as Bell was going
softly down to the kitchen for mustard,
the door of Mr.. Gascoigne's study opened,
and the draught blew out her candle as
he closed it and came forward.
" You keep late vigils, Mr.. Gascoigne," ("
she exclaimed. 1t has just struck
| twelve"
"The truth is" he explained, 81 had
gotten behindhand with my sermon
I've been dissipating too much, I'm
afraid, with your lively friend"
And of what do you suppose Flora
is afraidG That you are getting bored
with herr
Bored with Flora?" he repeated,
smiling broadly. Cant you imagine
who never bores mc?"
% Is it riddleY" laughed Bell, with a
sob in her throat. ~ suppose / might
guess with great effort of imaginationF'
Why did he torture her with his conf
dencesy
Z" should think you might" he pur-
sued, still smiling, but not so confident
ly. During your absence at Mrs. Ray