Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-08-02
THE STORY OF A LIFE.


of bay-window upon garden flaming
with autumn tints and sunset glow, lift
eda pair of soft, dark eyes to Mrs.
Tollman's face. Itwas an anxious face
just atthat moment, and being unusual
ly full of happy content, the anxiety
was very apparent to Leonie. So, after
her first careless glance, she straight
ened herself in her low chair and said,
quietly, yet with every appearance of
interest:
whats the matterP''
An awkward pause followed that
question.
Mrs. Tollman fidgeted under the in
quiring glance of the dark eyes, cleared
her throat twice, and finally said, with
nervous emphasis:
"John Furber."
Miss Cameron S face seemed to freeze.
1t was very beautiful face, with pride
for leading expression. Sweetness
lurked in the mouth, intellect beamed
from the radiant dark eyes, but pride
shadowed all. 1t carried the small head
gracefully erect, it swept the folds OF
the rich dresses with regal motion.
1t touched the small patrician hands
and was evident in the well-modulated
tones of the refined voice.
''There," " Mrs. Tollman said, despair
ingly, "rve made you mad already, and
haven't said anything" . s.-
=" am not mad" Leonie answered,
and there certainly lurked smile in
her mouth at the good woman's con-
sternation. g But You have not told
me what troubles you" t
lists John, Miss Cameron, land
then rapidly, as if the words were
forced by fear of her own inabilityto
finish her self-appointed task, she hur-
ried on. He's my nephew, miss, as
you know, though his father is rich
man, very rich, and John is above his
mothers place in her life. She's dead
and John was spoiled somewhere be-
tween the year she died and two years
ago. | don't know where he took to
bad ways. He was brought up as an
idler upon his fathers money, and from
idleness to drinking, gambling and bad
ways is an easy road. His father is a
hard man and he thrust him out near
ly year ago and disinherited him.
He came here, for 1 love him. I've
nothing else to love; husband and chill
dren are in the graveyard, so l love
john .a7
There was piteous pleading IN the
woman's face, but Leonie's was blank,
save for an air of polite interest.
"He was more desperate when he
came here, but I've coaxed him up a
little. but-O Miss Cameron, you
know what | want to say. You are
beautiful, rich-a lady far above me in
education and position, and only stay
ing here for country quiet. I've no
right to find fault, but--but-don't firt
with John. He is in trouble, despond-
ent, disinherited, and he's falling in
love with you as fast as he can. be-
lieve if you play with him he will kill
himself, body and soul.''
Fairly out of breath with her own
earnestutterance, Mrs. Tollman paused,
looking pleadingly in Leonie Cameron s
face. The expression of polite interest
never wavered, as the young lady said:
IF / understand you Alright, you
wish me to ignore your nephew. 1t is
not so easy, as he is in your house, so |
had better leave it, .4aa
Goodnessr' cried the widow, aghast
at this Interpretation of her words. "
never meant that Where can you find
another boarding-place near hereP"
81 can return to London
I've put my foot in it. John will
never forgive me-" said Mrs. Tollman,
disconsolately.
But there was no sympathy in Leon
les face, and she turned away at last,
perplexed and more anxious than ever.
And Leonie, sinking back in her chair
again, looked at the sunset clouds and
variegated foliage, and thought per-
haps 1t was time to return to London.
She had come to s., weary with a
round of fashionable life, tired of fiat
terry, dancing, flirting, and she had
found rest and quiet under Mrs. Toll
mans motherly care. She was rich,
richer far than the landlady had any
idea of; but she bad no near relatives,
only second cousin to keep her lonely
home and play propriety.
Society constituted itself heramateur
guardian, and, laying back in her
cushioned chair, in the sunset glow, she
wondered indolently what society would
say about John Furber. Itwould grant
him rare perfection of manly beauty
Va ANNO anu AOAAig anu AOlRltC llC tNl-
dent traces Of dissipation, If it was only
known that he was the son of rich
man, and had been educated an idler
by profession. But in what holy horror
it would turn away with uplifted hands
wheniit was known that he was disin-
herited, with no home but a room in
the house of widowed aunt eking out
her narrow income by taking boarders.
1t would smile at his biting sarcasms,
his brilliant conversation, his cynical
sneers, if he was reinstated in his faith
er's favor, but howrude these would be
in poor man.
Leonie, from thinking of society's
opinion, quite unconsciously glided into
considering her own. This dark -browed
man had made fair portion of her
summer pleasures for three months,
and had been her cavalier in many
country walks, drives and sails, and
quoted poetry under trees, sung in
superb baritone upon the murmuring
water, looked into her eyes on a moon
lit porch, and whispered delicately-
worded fiattery. No more than many
another man had done. A beauty and
rich, Miss Cameron had looked upon
more than one languishing suitor, and
forgotten him when her amusement
her. Scarcely a fiirt, for she
encouraged no downright love-making,
but a beautiful, fascinating woman