Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-03-01

for wages. IL would have pierced her
to the heart had these been offered her.
She wanted it distinctly understood that
she only went "to accommodate" II
her friends felt disposed to give her
presents, why, that altered the case.
She accepted them with an alacrity
worthy of Mr.. Dorritt.
As these testimonials usually reached
her on Sunday, it followed that, wher-
ever Miss Lovisa might be during the
week, the Lords Day was sure to find
her in her queer little cottage opposite
the church. Hither came David in the
twilight of the Sabbath in which have
spoken, ambling up the narrow path
with his own peculiar gait, quite like
that of small boy riding the paternal
cane. Lovisa, at the moment regaling
herself with the diluted dregs of the
company tea, spied him above the in
clined rim of the cup, and in her per-
turbation scalded her throat with the
boiling liquid.
Good-evening, Lovisa," said he,
resting his elbows on the sill, as he
looked in at the open window.
Good-evening, Mr.. Yopp," re-
turned she, pushing the tea equipage
out of sight with one hand while ex-
tending him the other.
A tell-tale crumb of gingerbread in
her palm transferred itself to David's,
and he unconsciously rolled it between
his thumb and finger as he spun sec
ond thread of conversation.
ITS been a tolerably warmish day,
Lovisa.n
Tedious warm" sighed she, add
ing, gratuitously, to cloak her nervous
ness, "it gives me weak, all-gone
feeling"
Just so, Just so" assented David,
with sympathetic groan which would
sound too cheerful. Constitutionally he
took life easier than she. AS a rule, he
considered this a pretty nice world, this
world of ours, but Lovisa knew to the
contrary.
"Does the old gentleman feel the
heat muchP" she asked, presently, I'M
easy because David made no move to go.
Desperately. -factr' answered he,
chucking his chin backward and for
ward to pump out the words which
| clogged his throat more and more the
longer he delayed his errand.
An embarrassed pause succeeded,
during which Lovisa's fingers steered
restlessly along the two curving bays of
hair that encroached right and left
upon the bold bluff of her forehead,
and David anxiously watched their
progress. Once he half opened his
Lpouth to speak, but it sprang together
again like his own house door in that
dog-day weather.
Lovisa grew each moment more un-
easy. She was afraid it did not look
well, Mr.. Yopp's standing at her case
ment in the cleaning; she was equally
afraid it would not sound well should
she invite him in; and yet he was her
neighbor-she could not bid him 90.
81 suppose grandsir feels your moth
er's death a good dealPh was her next
tremulous remark, thrown out as sort
of plank to bridge over the silence.
"Yes, father misses her, and | miss
her." said David, crowding the words
out helter-skelter, lest his lips should
close upon them. "Seems s if we
couldn't get along without mother.
And was wondering, Lovisa-that is,
want to ask you What say, Lo-
visa, amt you willing to take her placep
do wish you would. There's nobody
would suit father so well.n
Nobody would suit his father so well
as daughter-in-law, David meant, of
course; but how was Miss Braun to
wrest this meaning from his wordsP
How was she to suspect that in begging
her to be a mother to him he had hon
estly intended to ask her to be his wife,
She was no clairvoyant, but at that mo-
ment most indignant woman, with an
unwonted flash in her eye. Marry
Grandsir Yopp, indeed! How old did
they take her to be?
"Father'll hardly look for another
partner; his age and infirmities consid-
cred, you couldn't reasonably expect
it," pursued David, in considerate
tone; "and this obligates us to make
some other arrangement. You see it
materially would, Lovisa."
Whatever she saw, she made no out
ward manifestation, though her anX-
ious swain glanced toward her depre-
catingly to assure himself that she ap-
preciated his domestic necessities, and
justified him in contemplating marriage.
"We've had no end of housekeep-
ers," he blundered on, "and none of
'em gave satisfaction. Now l want
somebody permanent-somebody that 8
agreeable, and'll take an interest. You
know that always set great deal by
you, Lovisa. Can't l make bargain
with youP"
A matrimonial bargain David in
tended and desired-nothing less. But
his stupid tongue had this time con-
veyed to Lovisa the impression that he
wished to engage her as housekeeper,
and she bridled at once
81 don't know what you can be
thinking of, Mr.. Yopp, to propose such
thingr she cried, vehemently. 81
never did hire out for wages" she was
about to add; but she recoiled from the
severe dignity: 81 have never lived
anywhere except as friend"
"Well, I'm sure don't want you to
live with me if you don't feel friendly"
responded her suitOr, very much hurt.
I'D sooner rub along alone-fact."
81 do feel friendly, Mr.. Yopp-that
is, l did; but as to going to anybody's
house in the way you speak of, can't
bring myself to do it."
"What! do you mean for to say,
Lovisa, that you have specific objections
against getting marriedP"
1t was so dark that David's eyes,
peering at her from beneath their pro-
jecting buff awnings, could not see the
sudden agitation caused by his words,
and he took courage.
Because, if you've no specific OBJ
jections against matrimony generally,
and feel friendly toward me individual
ly, and m so disposed, don't see,
Lovisa, what's to hinder our making a
bargain"
"Oh, couldn't, Mr.. Yopp--I couldn't t
anyways, though itsvery kind in you to
mention it," she faltered, incohsrently,
while her face, usually like wax-yellow
wax-glowed lured red.
Maybe you're afraid shouldn't
make you a good husband, LovIsa, be-
cause am getting along in years, and
never had any experience" suggested
he, turning his averted face toward her
with curvilinear jerk; "but I'd do
/ NV hest and nnothar alXUava o,aNa u,a