Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-08-02
who wounded hearts with merely care.

for better things than dissipation or sui
eide in John Furber, and she shivered
as she thought he might be upon some
dangerous precipice, waiting for the
clasp of the hand to draw him back, or
its repulse to thrust him over. She
passed in review her host of male
friends, and found none who had
wakened her heart to hours of such keen
pleasure as John Furber had given her.
She tried to recall one mind whose
grasp of intellect had dwarfed her
mind as his had done, who had met
her fairly in so many arguments and
worsted her, and she could only re-
member soft hattery of her wonder
ful mind"
Finally lifting her eyes with soft
sigh, she saw him leaning against
tree opposite the low window, looking
at her. A vivid flush stained her cheek
as he said:
"What can you have been thinking
OFF You have not stirred for half an
hour. Only that your eyes were open,
should have thought you asleep.n
"Your powers of observation are
marvellous" she answered lightly. 81
was dreaming"
"Of whatP"
"The world in general, my world in
particular. 1t was almost time re-
turned there"
She was prepared for some slight
show of regret, but not for the ghastly
change in his face.
She shuddered, remembering his
aunt's words.
"Going away! Why, of course you
would be soon," he said, trying to
speak carelessly, while his eyes hungri-
ly devoured her face, and his white
parched lips were drawn as If in sharp
physical pain.
al have been here three months"
she said, feeling her own heart ache at
his misery.
"Yes, yes! You will go, certainly"
"And you," she said, very gently,
"you will be in the city, presume. l
should be glad to welcome you to my
house."
"No," he said, harshly; f" 1 will not
take such advantage of your kindness;
l am man your friends would tell
you to shun, Miss Cameron-a man
who has wasted his life till it is too late
to take up the threads again. You do
not know, perhaps, that my aunt keeps
me from charityP'
81 know you have offended your
father" she answered.; "but you are q
man scarcely thirty, and it is cowardly
to talk of despair at your age"
Her words cut him like a whip-lash.
The dark blood mounted to his fore
head as he repeated;
Coward! l might fight the world
yet, but" and here his tone was bitter,
and yet strangely pathetic, "the battle
is scarcely worth winning. What would
l gainP Money! l do not value itP
PositionP have thrown it behind me.
l have played the fool, and must take
the fools wages"
81 will not have you say so," she
said, reused by an earnestness she had
never intended to betray. "You shall
not uselessly throw away your life"
A hope sprang to his eyes, new there,
lighting them to dazzling radiance.
"Miss Cameron-Leonie," he cried,
"were there prize to win, were one 8
hearts hopes centered on me, would
trample down these demons of tempta-
ton. l would prove myself man if
had any motive"
There was no mistaking the prayer in
his eyes, the pleading in his voice.
Only for moment, close to the low
window, before hand like snowflake
fell upon his shoulder, voice, low and
sweet, murmured low in his ear:
"Be man for my sake
She was gone before he spoke again,
and he wandered off to the woods to
muse upon the possibility of this new
life.
The next day Mrs. Tollman lost her
summer boarder. Society, languidly
contemplating Miss Cameron for the
next three years, found her eccentric.
She was gay and grave by flashes,
fascinating in either mood, but she was
mysteriously unapproachable.
The bravest suitor found himself met
at the point where friendly attentions
merge into lovers devotion by a wall
of icy reserve that was impossible. She
never flirted, but she had the reputa-
ton of tlirt, because she was popular
and admired, and remained single until
she was twenty-seven. She was known
to be truthful, and she had distinctly
told several inquisitive lady friends
that she was not engaged, so there was
not even the spice of romance of the
gossip.
s. knew her not in those three
years, but Mrs. Tollman was the re-
cipient of various hampers of city deli
cacies from her and would acknowledge
the same by letter.
One of these dated three years after
the beautiful Miss Cameron left S,
after deliberately thanking that young
lady for hamper of dainties, added:
ado you remember my nephew,
John FurberP He left me the day
after you did, and fretted more than
little, But he took turn for good,
heaven be thanked. He worked him
self up, and to-day he writes me he has
made friends with his father again, and
is to be taken as partner in commercial
house. His fathers to buy it. but
Johns earned place too by hard,
honest work. o, my dear, I'm hap
pier than l ever thought to be. Per-
haps you've heard of the house in Lon
don that John is in. But I'll tire you,
writing about my affairs. wouldn't
only 1 thought perhaps you'll remem-
ber John"
"In London" Leonie murmured;
$50 near me all these three years, and
yet never seeking me. Was too bold!
Did l drive him away by showing my
heart too plainlyP Well, even so, am
glad. gave him the first start toward
an honorable manhood. Remember
himP Yes, Mrs. Tollman, do remem-
ber john"
She had folded the letter and was
dressing for the opera, when visitor
was announced.
"What barbarous hour" she MUIR
INJURED, not looking at the card. "In