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

u
be true. Do / love him9 Don't ~
Confirmed in sentiment whose exist
ence he had only suspected before Mrs
Raymond's illness, is he2" Well, must
confess hardly expected such good fort
une. He's so reserved, suppose, and -
aud Why, he has never so much as
kissed my hand, or pressed it, though he
has had plenty of opportunity. Well,
you can go tell him that the adage Faint
heart never won fair lady is disproved.
I'll wait here"
Somebody knocked family at Mr.. Gas
coigne's study door. "Comc in" he
said, mistaking it for the maid.
Flora is waiting for you in the par
lor," began Bell.
Waiting for meP-Flora?" repeated
Mr.. Gascoigne.
eyes. have told her; she is waiting
to confirm your hope, Mr.. Gascoigne
She bids me say that the adage Faint
heart never won fair lady is disproved.
| When you intimated to me the other
night that you loved her suspected that
IL was not in vain, but | could not be
certain, you know. Now l knOU she
loves you with all her heart. / am sure
of it, Don't let me keep you an instant;
it must seem like an eternity to Flora
She is waiting for you-in the parlor
Col Why do you hesitate? Don't you
believe mef"
Mr.. Gascoigne had risen, deathly pale,
with solemn, wounded look in his shin
| ing eyes, and great circles growing be-
meath them; his lips moved without form.
ing words. His whole attitude was that
e ,.y,el
ness, it seemed to Bell, as he steadied
himself by grasping with trembling
hands the chair beside him.
You told Flora that loved her" he
gasped. "You told her that loved herr"
"Why, yes; told her you had been
confirmed in sentiment whose existence
you had only suspected before you were
thrown together so much by Aunt Milly's
Illness" repeated Bell.
"And you say that Flora loves me?
You are sure of it?"
"I an sure. Go and ask herr" and
Bell went slowly out; but it was some
time before Mr.. Gascoigne obeyed her.
He is the oldest lover in the world"
confessed Flora, later. Nothing
spooney or gushing about him. l sup
pose it wouldn't be dignifed for clergy
man. Why, he only kissed me twice, if
you'll believe it, Bell, and looked as SOL
emn as an owl, and said he hoped he
should make me happy. Goodnessl Pm
happy already, and told him so. Do
you know, Bell, 1 never had an out and
out offer before, though I'm twenty.sev-
en-"
Miss Raymond offered thanks when
Mr.. Gascoigne took his vacation to the
White Hills and Flora went home to &C.
quaint her friends with her new pros
poets, and to join her lover, with her
mother, at the Mountain douse later
Bells summer work was ended; there
was nothing more for her to do but to sit
down and count the cost of match max
ing. In the meantime Flora wrote heI
friend long confidential letters from the
mountains.
"Such larks! We do nothing but en-.
Joy ourselves. Who do you think we
found here but his high and -mightiness
the heir of Pine Hill, Mr.. Chester Callen.
der, of Haphazard. And such swell
He danced with me five times at the hop
last highland didn't the other women
look daggers! One dared to say it was
because Pm engaged, and it's so safe
flirting with engaged girls-all the fun anC
none of the danger! Let them rave! II
weren't engaged-who knows?-I might
fancy living at Pine Hill, with retinut
of servants, driving in my carriage, anC
cracking in my silks. l didn't tell you
did l, that the stocks in which my money
w@S ia"ested have declined most shame
lully! DO MI. discount, my business
man, writes me. But there's dear old
GlGreDGe-do YOU know he isn't a narti.
"Mr Calender and l are just in from q
climb up the mountain with small par
ty. Clarence went with some gentle
men last week camping out, and didn'
care to repeat history. We got sepa
rated from the others, Mr.. Calender anr
l, and lost our way; and we should have
been there now, for all l know, if Clar
ence and man hadn't come to our res
cue with lantern and torches. Mr.. Cal
lender is taking my picture, in crayon-
sometimes really believe he is sweet OF
me, in spite of Clarence. Mr.. Callen
der's eyes are blue and small, and his mus
tache is-well, lemon-colored, maybe; bu
his figure and manners are perfectly
stunning. He always makes you feel az
if yOu were the one person of all thC
world whom he delighted to honor"
And, after that, Bell heard no more
and fortnight later Mr.. Gascoigne was
at home again, and settling to his parish
duties. He found Bell at twilight the
day after his return, with her Sleepy
Hollow chair wheeled before the window
watching the stars come out in the even
ing sky, and listening to the crickets
sing song.
"Star-gazing?" he asked, resting an Ell
bow on the cushioned back of her seat
"a penny for your thoughts"
81 didn't hear you come in, Mr. Gas
coigne," she said. 81 am thinking
about-about Flora! How did you leave
herr"
"Flora? Haven't you heard?"
"My last letter is month old"
"And nobody has told you about herr
"Who could tell me about her so wei
as yourself?"
Mr.. Gascoigne laughed. "Well, Mr.
Calender, perhaps"
"Mr. Calender! What are you talk
ing about, Mr.. Gascoigne?"
"Flora and Mr.. Calender"
"What of themS"
"They are married-that is ALL"
Married! flOra married 10 MT. Cal
lender! Is it true? Oh, Mr.. Gascoigne
How could she be so wicked! Obi oh
ohp and she staggered to her feet anC
held out both arms, not knowing wha
she did.
Wicked?" echoed the young rector
taking the proffered hands, and holding
them firmly" don't know about that
1t isn't wicked to marry the man you lovI
best, even at the risk of breaking an
others heart, is itY And then my hear
is in excellent condition; / assure you
Flora hasn't been able to effect flaw
1t was all a mistake, you know, from
first to last--Flora knows it now herself
My dear Miss Bell, you rather override
the matchmaking business, did you not
And IL was weak and Quixotic, gran
you; it was objectionable, admit, nov
that look back upon it, But if the CIR
really loved me; if l had unwittingly woI
her heart; il you had led her to believe
thanks IN NV OUrn stuni1itU that | hof