Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-07-18

and so docile. To tell the truth, Grace
had intended the handsome young cler-
gyman should be her own escort, and
was not at all satisfied at being rele-
gated TO Ned Schenck's care, who was
strong and good-tempered, no doubt,
but neither goed-looking nor rich. 1t
was not from pure desire 60 tease that
Grace called out, in her soft, drawling
tones: "Doll, you are really miracle.
l never expected TO see you mind a
man so implicitly"
Dora was indignant She knew very
well that Grace could be spiteful; but
! the spite did not hurt her as much as the
answering consciousness that, in spite
of her fine theories, she had been most
implicitly submissive to Mr.. Horizons g
escort. The girlish silly pride that was
her great fault rose in arms; she did
not answer Grace, but, with rcsolute
look on her flushed face, sprang on
ward after her own fashion, stumbling
and clinging as well as she could, every
moment expecting Mr.. Horton TO adj
wise or remonstrate, but bent on heed
ing his voice no more.
She expected in vain. He said moth
ing, and the smile on his face would
not have pleased her; he only followed
fast behind her till they came to little
grassy platform at the bend of the
stream, where the rocks retreated and
the trees had been swept away directly
in front of the last and highest fall,
which descended here at right angles
with the rest of the stream, behind q
cliff that hid it entirely from the lower
pool.
Grace had stopped far below, she
was heated and tired, and angry too.
Ned Schenck did not mind her petu-
lance, for he did not care for her, so he
sat down on the other end of the log
where she had seated herself, and pro-
famed the delicate forest Odors with o
cigar. Dora stopped amoment to take
breath and admire the beautiful fall
before them, which dashed its white
water down the sheer black rock, and
sprinkled with bright dew the luxuriant
ferns and vines that fringed the bank
on either side. Then she turned to fol-
low the very slight indication of q path
upward. Mr.. Horton was ready TO fol-
low; but the moment she set her foot
on the rock which was her first step,
and extended her hand to grasp ledge
above, which must be climbed, he cried
out, in loud, imperative voice: "Dora,
stopp'
The voice was so decisive, so power
full. so full of that command which is
the counterpart of obedience, that with
out n thought of rebellion Dora stood
like q statue. In an instant Mr..
Horton put his arm about her, swung
her back, and began to strike rapidly
and fiercely at something on the crest
of the ledge; and in another minute he
lifted a dead rattlesnake on his cane
and flung it far into the stream. Dora
turned sick, and sat down on q stone,
shuddering and pale. Mr.. Horton only
said: Excuse me, Miss Schenck; the
danger was too near for me to be less
imperative"
Dora shivered. "If you had not, l
should be dead now"
"Not at ALL" laughed Mr.. Horton.
81 know these woods too well TO be
ever without the proper alleviations for
Il snake-bite, but 1 never yet used them,
though have met and killed a good
many. Rattlesnakes are dull creatures
unless they coil to spring, and one
blow with heavy stick will kill them.
Very few people die of their bites. l
have only heard of one case in these
regions, and that was a child who had
strayed alone into the woods"
He purposely heightened his expla-
nation, that Dora might calm herself;
he did not know how it was still throb-
bing through her heart that he had
called her "Dora." Her natively gen
erous instinct demanded some thanks
at least to be paid, but she could not
speak yet; she was shyly glad, yet
angry with herself for being glad; and
trembling so with the sudden nervous
slIUUh, sne Uuu1u nUU fvI sUIuU IulnuJes
speak again.
Mr.. Horton stepped down to the wa
ter's edge, and seemed absorbed in look
ing at the fall, but his heart beat as
wildly as hers; in that moment of dan
ger he mad discovered what deep hold
Dora had taken of his life; he did not
think of her unfitness to be his wife, of
her scorn, her wild impulses, her quick
temper. Like many another man in
his case, he thought only of her beauty
and sweetness, and felt that she must
love him, or he would be miserable.
Blessed ordination of things! If men
or women chose their mates as they do
their shoes or their books, with delib-
Grafton and cool Judgment, this dear,
delightful, naughty old world would
come to sudden end; it is the wisdom
of Providence that they never do.
1t seemed an hour to both of these
astonished people, yet it was barely
five minutes, before Dora looked up at
Mr.. Horton and said, 81 don't know
how to thank you. can acknowledge
now it is good to mind a man-some-
times" There was q soft arch look in
the beautiful dark eyes that contradicted
the quivering lips; but the lovely blush
ing face told what Dora never meant to
grass beside her.
"Oh, Dora,I would not be tyrant," r."
he said; and Dora dropped her head so
low it rested on his shoulder.
Mrs. Horton always declared her
husband never asked her to marry him,
which he Indignantly denied as often
as she asserted it; but however the un-
ion came about, it was true-for every
body said so-that no gentler, sweeter,
happier minister's wife ever filled that
difficult position in the city of Ludlow,
where Mr.. Horton was settled; even
Grace Hamilton could not find fault
with this match, though she had pre-
dicted all sorts of sorrows from its rad
ical unfitness. But time had not soft
ened Grace's native spite, though she
controlled it during her brief visit at
the parsonage. On the next Christmas
morning package came. by express,
directed to Mrs. Horton; on the inner
cover of the thin box was written, ''For
Dolls room;" and rs the last fold of
tissue-paper was lifted. an elaborately
Illuminated motto appeared:
Come when you're called,
Do as you're bid,
Shut the door after you,
And you'll never he child"
Her husband was looking over Dora S
shoulder, and they both laughed.
Grace's arrow was pointless for such
trust and hanniness