Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-01-31

lWO OF InIee nOuTb AFTER, n6T mOJnot
came upon her unawares, and found
her with her face bowed upon her
hands. When it was lifted, it was wet
with tears; but she would bear nc
caressing, and only said she was tired,
and so glad the storm would prevent
Mr.. Fithian from coming down. In
truth, it was day in which no man,
beast or reptile would care to be abroad.
Then the heavens opened, and the
rain fell, and such a rainl A bucketful
at drop, Jack said, when he came
home from town. He was wet TO his
knees, and declared that, two blocks
below, raft was plying from corner
to corner; the boys were getting out
their boats, and if the storm continued,
the city of Venice would be nothing to
Babbleton. As the kitchen fire had
gone out, Jacks clothes were put to
dry in the dining-room; the meat pie
was still in its dough casing, but the
coffee was warm, and there was plenty
of cold ham in the larder. "And with
ham and pickles." said Jack, "we can
defy the elements"
So they all sat down TO supper, Mol
lies hair in one braid down her back,
and the bib of her kitchen apron still
tucked under her chin, when suddenly
there was ring at the bell.
"If that's Mr.. Fithian," said Mollie,
81 shall die. DO run up and see, Jack. {"
Then Mrs. Muldoon and Mollie waited
in breathless silence, and as the house
was small, and its acoustic properties
the smoothly modu-
lated tones of Mr.. Fithian came dis
tinctly to their ears. "Is Miss Mollie imp
Jack rather thought she wasn't out.
Then the parlor door opened and shut,
and Jack came below.
"He's more like Mephistopheles
than ever tonight, said Jack. "Hes
always tall and lean and cadaverous,
but he's Il spectre now, and his eyes
have all the cleaning of demon in
their dreaming"
lis he very wet, Jackpn
"Weti He's drowned. But he's as
polite as a mounseer; he's, holding two
quarts of water at this present minute
in his high hat, and smiling blandly the
while the rain drops over his marble
brow
Mollie went bravely up into the par
lor. Now there is this about the 81 ace
of youth, that it is invincible; and Mr..
Fithian had never found Mollie so
rs when she stood there be-
fore him with her kitchen bib on, and
her hair in one braid down her back;
but, on the other hand, a gentleman of
Mr.. Fithian's physique and style and
age can be awfully brought to grief by
two hours wading in a tempest. His
devotion was supreme, and merited
better acknowledgment at the hands of
Mollie; but we all know the weakness
and ingratitude of human nature. His
overcoat and high hat and overshoes
were thrown together in wet mass
upon the rack; Moilie saw them as she
passed through the hall, and her heart
sank within her. Did he expect to re-
main? With the kitchen fire out, and
the back area filling with water, and
nothing in the house but ham and
pickles, did this alien and stranger ex-
Dect to be asked to share their humble
lospitalityP He stood there, pretend
ng to look at a book upon the marble
able, while the water fell from his coat
ailsin pool.
Mollie grew paler and paler in her
'ore perplexity, and Mr.. Fithian felt a
slight premonitory chill run down his
He thought of rheumatism,
pneumonia, a congestive chill. De-
pair lent him courage; he went over to
dollie, and endeavored to take her in
lis arms; but she drew back-it was
Dad enough when he was dry.
"You-you are so wetp' said Mollie.
q know it," he said. Cant 90
somewhere and get dryP Let me 90
lown stairs, Mollie, to the kitchen fire;
urely you don't mind me, darling.
Run down and ask your mothers per-
nission.n .
Mollie knew the fire was quenched
" the brick in the kitchen stove-pipe,
tut she went down nevertheless-any-
hing to get away from this miserable
man,.
Her mother met her at the stairs
With pale face and outstretched
lands. Don't come down Mollie;
he whole lower floor is flooded; the
leater is out"
Mollie went into the parlor again.
There isn't q spark of heat in the
whole house," she said to Mr.. Fithian.
Perhaps, under these circum-
stances, it would be better to retire to
he upper chambers" said Mr.. Fithian,
whose teeth were now beginning un-
pleasantly to chatter.
:" Yes, we'd better all go to bed,"
aid poor Mrs. Muldoon; ave can at
east be dry and warm there"
AT that moment a portentous drop
ell straight from the ceiling upon the
'parsely-coyered Uranium of Mr.. Fifth
an.
"Great Heavens! the roof is leak
ng!" cried Mrs. Muldoon; and rushing
Up stairs, they found stream of water
n the upper chamber gradually max
ng its way to the floor below. 1t
eaked from under the closet door. In
hat closet hung the better part of Mol
les bridal trousseau. She walked
With a faltering step and beating heart
o the door, opened it, and took one
quick gasp to catch her breath. A
rust of wind blew her one braid of hair
'ver her eyes; the rain came pelting
lown; the sky-light had blown off; the
'ANbN) NOiASOilo VA olih anu NClNOly lilG
conceptions of the dress
brain, the ribbons and lace
md all the dainty tinery there had
allen a prey to the devastation of the
dement's. 1t was all over. Mollie was
,ale but calm. She walked down stairs
gain with firm step. AS she went
he heard familiar voice in subdued
whisper:
"This floor is all right now, Mrs.
duldoon; the drain was clogged. Now
-ack and l win get at the kitchen
tove."
1t was the voice of Dolph Dacre, the
weetest melody the world held for
'oor little Mollie Muldoon. Nothing
ould have kept her then from descend
ng to the kitchen floor. 1t was wet
nd cold, and feebly lighted by the
flame of a solitary lamp, but
foflie suddenly found it radiant. 1t
vas warm, it was glowing, it was de-
ightful. Dolph stood there, in his
hirt sleeves, holding the kitchen stove
Iipe, while Jack was eXtricatinp the in