Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-08-17
WHAT HE LOST BY 1T.


l..
The evening was warm and still, and
all the doors and windows in George
street were set open, and everybody who
could escape from indoor occupation
was out for q stroll. The people living
here were decent, hard-working men and
women, earning enough to keep their
families in comfort, and taking an honest
pride in themselves and their dwellings.
Most of the windows could boast of
clean muslin curtains, and the door steps
were as white as hard securing could
make them. There was one house, how
ever, whose doorstep could ill bear a
comparison with its neighbors; and as to
its curtains, they were drab and dingy,
and had been up all the winter,
Miss Kennaway don't regard appear
ances, that's certain" said one matron to
another, as they took their evening walk
together. "If l were her should be
sick of the sight of those frightful drab
curtains. And she with a smart young
man coming often to the housep
Poor thingp sighed the other wom-
an, q good.natured soul, always ready to
find excuses for those the world was
hard upon" poor thingl she can't have
a minute to call her own. What with
her dress making and her mothers long
illness, she must be pretty nearly at her
wits end"
"Well, if young Parr don't mind the
curtains and that disgraceful doorstep of
hers, I'm sure DON'T" responded the
first speaker, sharply. "And here he
comes, looking as natty as you please,
and walking as if the very ground wasn't
good enough for his feet"
William Parr, the promised husband
of Fanny Kennaway, was one of those
men who are said to be above their sta
tion, and are sometimes so very much
above it that there is no keeping them
in it. William, however, was industri.
Gus enough to find favor with the mer-
chant who employed him. Out of the
Counting-house he held his head high
and looked down upon his fellow clerks,
who never ceased to wonder why such 4
lofty fellow should have courted an hum
BILE little dressmaker in George street.
But very few men of taste would have
been surprised at PARIS choice if they
had seen Fanny Kennaway in her seat by
the window that evening.
After long days work she was rest
ing eyes and hands for few minutes,
and watching for Williams coming. Hers
was q delicate, clear-cut face, pale as a
lily, and serious almost to sadness-a
face that seemed to have little in COM
mon with the needles and pins and gay
stuffs around her. And yet, in general
way, Fanny worked cheerfully enough at
her trade. 1t was only when nursing as
well as dressmaking fell to her lot, and a
heavy doctors bill was added to ordinary
expenses, that her little body felt itself
weary of this great world. But there
was no great weariness in the smile
that greeted William as he entered the
humble room. Like wise woman, as
she was, Fanny always met her lover
with bright look and CHEEKY voice.
"Come, Fanny" he said, d" won't you
go for walk this evening? Your
mother is better, so that you surely can be
spared"
go yes, mother can spare me; Mrs.
Marks is sitting with her. But there is a
dress that must be finished tonight,
William"
" wonder why we never can enjoy
ourselves as other people do, muttered
Parr, Grossly. You are making aregu-
lar slave of yourself, Fanny"
Well, then I'll 60" she answered,
after little pause, "and won't be five
minutes getting ready"
She tripped off, and soon returned,
looking so neat in her walking garb that
only an ill-humored man could have
found a fault in her. But as they walked
away together down the street there was
cloud on Williams face; and presently
he spoke out his grievance:
why don't you get a stylish hat
Fanny, instead of wearing that everlast-
ing bonnet? / can't think how it is; your
things last SO long, one never sees you in
anything fresh and new. For my sake
you ought to be little smarter in your
dress"
Fanny did not tell him that every six
pence she earned was spent on the COM
mon necessaries of life, and that all her
savings had gone to pay that terrible
doctors bill; but she looked up lovingly
into the handsome, gloomy face. Will.
lam was her first love; she could not wish
him changed, even when his magnificent
notions caused her some inconvenience.
The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit
is not always duly valued; and many
people might have blamed Fanny for her
tameness. But she was one of those
women who would rather hear harsh
words than speak them.
Instead of schiding, she patiently set
herself to bring her companion into a
better frame of mind, and she succeeded
so well that William almost forgot the
old bonnet. And yet, when he had left
her at her own door, and was going back
70 his lodgings, he began to think of it
again. 1t was quito humiliating, he said
10 himself, for a man in his position to
have been seen in the company of such a
bonnet as that.
:" How are you, ParrS" cried loud
voice. "Splendidevening isn'tit? Come
home with me and have supper, will
your" The speaker was dashing young
fellow, son of an auctioneer who was re-
puted to be making a fortune. 1t was
the first invitation that William had ever
had from Tom Derry.
Thanks" he answered promptly" ]
shall be very happy 70 come"
And then the two set off together, and
William was by no means i'll pleased to
walk with well-dressed acquaintance,
who nodded familiarly 10 one OF two
men In sphere above him.
The Derrys lived in pleasant villa,
With coach-house, stables and green.
honse% Voices and laughter were heard
3n~the garden as the young men ap,
preached the gate; William caught sight
OF light dresses fiuttering about on the
lawn, and remembered certain rumors Of
the beauty Of the Derry girls.