Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-04-19

take care of yourself" And with that
he went off, whistling cheerfully, to his
dressing-room.
When / had completed my toilet |
gathered up some boxes of choice ci-
gars that | had been purchasing in
| town, and carried them TO the door of
the adjoining apartment, which had
been DOn's smoking-roOm ever since |
had known it. To my surprise, the
bolt shot sharply as touched the han
| die, and heard rustic of drapery in
side. A housemaid coming along with
| lamps for the dinner-table called out
hastily: 80 sir, that is Miss Rachers
room now. The smoking-room is at
the end of the veranda, where Miss
Carey slept last year. Mrs. Gardiner
wished it to be changed because she
didn't like the smell of tobacco so near
the bedrooms"
/ took back my boxes, thinking no
more about it, and went on to the draw
ing-room, which was full of light and
warmth and comfort, as usual and
where found two of my little nieces
sitting dcmurely on sofa in their best
frocks, ready to rush into my arms.
Lizzie came hurrying in after me, rosy
and radiant, and with plenty of flounces
and colors about her, and gave me her
own enthusiastic welcome; and then
Don, spruce and perfumed, joined us.
Don in his early years had been dan
dy, and little youthful weakness re-
mained in him still
He took one of his little girls on his
knee, and questioned me about my sta
ton matters and about Conolly's
sheep-wash (Which was not so well
furnished with improvements as his
own, much to his satisfaaion) and Liz
ze gave me an account OF the develop
ment of her respective children since |
had seen them last, including the cut
ting of the baby's teeth; and then the
dinner bell rang.
where's Rachel?' inquired Don.
turned a languid eye upon the door
when we heard the sound of distant
rustic, expecting to see one of the
smart and smiling damsels | was SO
used TO, and wondering whether this
one would be dark or fair. With q
slow and quiet step she came along the
hall and entered the room, and my
heart began suddenly to beat in a very
J unpleasant manner. She had deli
cate, thoughtful, but piquant face, wavy
brown hair modestly and becomingly
: set, and a slight figure daintily dressed
, in pale and blue silk, with little white
: lace about throat and arms; and yet she
} was the image of Marie Antoinette in
Delaroche's picture, only with more
majestic dignity of carriage, if that
} could be, and a more cold and calm
: disdain upon her face. As soon as
saw her, and felt the exceedingly faint
: acknowledgment she vouchsafed when
= we were formally introduced, | in
: tuitively guessed-with horrible sense
: of shame and mortifcation-thats she
: had overheard what | said to Don in
: my bedroom through those card-paper
, walls.
e | never thought I should feel so con-
$ cerned at standing i'll with one of Liz
1 zie's sisters as | felt before that even
e ing came to an end. All through din
5 ner | saw, without looking, offended
5 dignity in the poise of her head and
I the studied repose of her manner, and
heard the ring Of it in every infection
of her voice, though it was so subtle
> and delicate that only guilty con.
D science could detect it. 1t was a great
: deal worse in the evening, when Lizzie
s began her fussy little contrivances foI
throwing us together. The poor little
a woman never had so impracticable and
: aggravating Il sister to manage, and
1 never met one who attempted to treat
n me with such open indifference and
y thinly-veiled contempt. 1t is unneceS-
: sary for me to state the consequences.
y | began to interest myself in this Miss
Lindsay as | had never interested my
S self in the others. began to banker
1 for her good opinion as | had never
S hankered for theirs. / longed to sci
a myself straight with her, and beg hel
); forgiveness for thoughtless insult
i that would have given worlds to re.
u call, and TO feel that the way was open
y between us to meet and associate as
: friends This longing grew apace as
D the evening wore on, but the prospect
u of its qualification grew less and less.
: Until the little ones were taken away
c by their nurse she devoted herself tC
: them, telling them stories most of the
= time in a dark corner, whence merry
l chatter and ripples of subdued laughter
L came flowing out to us; but when they
a were gone, the bright vivacity that was
her true characteristic went too, anC
u she became Marie Antoinette again.
L With an amiable wish to make thing,
a pleasant. Lizzie asked her to pour ou
Il the tea; but she merely stood in from
of me at the tea-table, with her littl,
l nose in the air, and asked me whethe
q took sugar and cream, in a high clea
n tone that brought out puzzled wonde
e into her sisters face aud slow smil,
y to Don's. came and stood beside her
n to take the cups from her hand Che
r, pretty head was about level with tn
L. flower in my button -hole), and she trieC
y to ignore me, but could not. He
l. hands shook slightly and little angr,
o flush came and went in her face; but
q preferred that to having no notice "A
a all. Later ON she went to the piano
IS and sung song after song for the deleC
q tation of Lizzie and Don, neither O
q whom had the hearing ear and the I'm
q derstanding heart to appreciate tn
p pure quality and poetic sweetness Q
;. her voice. BY this time was very low
spirited, and l drew away from m
a host, who was growing sleepy after hi
D hard days work, and took chair nea
n her-which, of course, was signal t
Lizzie to leave the room. AS she SAN
i on, forgetful of me and of everything
1t but the poetry awaking in her, and as
N studied the pose of her slight fgur
'e and half-bent head and the now dream
1t happiness in her face, and listened fo
lie the first time after many years to tn
4 true translation of language that
Y loved, a vague perception dawned i
Is me that there was some latent fellow
a. ship between us. And then felt thI
le Fate had been hard.
Ir The silence of the room was presen
N ly brought into strong relief by dee
l snore from Don, whereupon she sui
* denly rose from the piano and saw th'
m we were virtually alone. "Good-nigh
at Mr.. Gardiner" she said, prompt,
m helding out somewhat reluctant han
! ,t.A s,,t L.