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

"Nonsense, Lizzy," Mr.. Danford re-
piled. "Never was q woman with as
much influence over her children as you.
Wen not let him leave Philadelphia un-
til he's man. The boys safe enough
when he can come at night to such a
mother as you"
He remembered that she suddenly
quailed at this, and was silent, in way
which seemed strange to him at the time
When the boy came back Danford was
sitting by the fire, his wife on low stool
beside him, her head on his knee. She
had some childish, undgnified ways,
which somehow made the boy and his
father look on her as a chum and jolly
good fellow.
Father" said Charley, with the self
assertion of thirteen, &C. think after this
I shall go to meet you at the depot. 1t
Is hardly proper for mother to be out
alone after dark"
"No harm will come to me, my son."
she said, smiling.
81 don't want her to act as IL she were
a poor woman, sir, with nobody to look
after her." he cried, hotly. Ladies in
fine houses don't go about alone, and
mother is"
Mother has her fine house, too, and
we two stout fellows will take care of
her." laughed Danford. But his wife's
head lay still upon his knee, and she did
not laugh nor look up.
| When the children were asleep he re-
membered that she began strange talk,
which he tried to check once or twice,
of how her brothers twho were Kentuck-
ians) had both gambled their property
away.
Its in the blood" she said. eff
Charley should show any sign of it, you'll
watch him, Richard, and be patient with
him. A father ought to be as patient as
God with his child"
Now Danford was apt to be irritable
with the lad, and his mother always had
stood between them. Before he could
answer, however, she went on: "Iknow
you'll bear with Nelly's faults; you un-
derstand women so well, Richard. No
body could have borne with my folly as
you did when we were first married"
care you so wise now, then"
She laughed, suddenly, and drawing
down his head kissed him swiftly on both
eyes, so as to shut them. She had always
odd, unexpected ways of caressing him,
which used to make the ovcrworked lit
tie man feel himself fresh and young
again.
What do you talk in this way for to.
night, Betty? Let us be happy coming
home the first night. There's no need to
look into the future to find misery"
"No, there is noneed Maybe the mis-
cry will never come. God has always
been so good to us' The little joke
seemed to have brought her by sudden
reaction into her happy self again.
When she had gone to her room with
Nelly, Danford opened his desk to put
away the papers in his valise. He found
it in thorough order, all business docu-
ments belonging to household affairs
sorted and ticketed.
"The milk bill paid, and Nottl Betty
has worked hard while l was gone"
Mrs. Danford had some way of adding
to their income-leather-w or banner
painting, we forget which. Beside these
bills which she had paid there were two
or three rolls of small notes, " For Char
leys clothes for the winter" For Mel
ly's."
Danford laughed. His wife was usual
ly the most unsystematic woman alive.
But he went to his room in high good
humor. She was standing by the crib,
opening the little white petticoats which
Nelly had taken of, and hanging them
up to air.
" You have provided for the children
all winter" he cried, holding out the
rolls of notes.
She turned quickly. "Oh, they will
not need it. l shall be here to earn
plenty more for them, and for you-I
shall be here, Richard" She took up the
sleeping child and walked about with il,
straining it to her breast. Danford took
it from her gently, and laid it down.
"How white and fat her feet aren he
said, quietly. "Cover them up warm,
mother. Now come and sit down. You've
been working too hard, my poor girl"
Nature had made Danford in mind and
body of Coarser, commoner stuff than his
wife. But he was saner person than
she, which explained all his power over
her.
Danford took Charley with him into
town the next day. They were to come
out together in the evening. Before
noon Mrs. Danford sent Sally ian old
black servant, who had been slave and
her nurse in kentucky out on an errand
which would detain her for an hour or
two. Nelly was asleep in her crib. AS
the clock was on the stroke of twelve
the bell rang, and she admitted the man
she had met the night before. They
were closeted together for an hour; then
they came into the little parlor The
man, whose habitual manner to women
savored of familiarity, was grave and
awkwardly respectful; Mrs. Danford's
face was bloodless. He poured out a
glass of water and gave it to her.
You have overtaXed your strength in
keeping your secret, madam. In man
we would call such reticence heroic; but
| find it not uncommon with women. i
think they are prompted to it by-vani-
| ty," a disagreeable smile lurking on his
mouth.
She bowed courteously, but he knew
she had not heard word, Be seated.
Wait one moment, doctor; l have ques-
tion to ask of you"
DR.. Prey sat down uncomfortably.
! Eminent specialist as he was, and used
to dealing out life and death, "practic'
| ing among the wealthest classes"
! (Uide card), he could not feel at ease
| WIN bnlS WOluhn, NhOSO NlONhSS ohu
| house he had decided could scarcely be
called genteel. "She does not consider
q. M. Prey a gentleman" he clustered
| inwardly.
" A question, ehS Really, now, my
dear madam, better ask no questions at
All The wise patient leaves all details
10 MS physician. You are exhausting
nervous power"
You hova NOT o,;yan INV disaasa n
name to me-"
You assuredly must have guessedit,"
roughly.
Mrs. Danford looked quickly to the
door, into the fire, as though in search of
something. She did not speak for mo-
ment. "Cancer2"
He nodded
Incurable?"
He hesitated. The fire cracked, the
ashes fell on the fender. A little stir in
hn awsN -