Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-09-05

ever existed after am gone amonth;''
and the big eyes looked merry re-
proach up into his.
You are too hard upon fellow,
Miss Jessie--indeed you are;" and after
Mr.. Strong had commenced his protest
1t was easy to go on. "You can't
guess how much we'll miss you-all OF
us--and especially, you may be sure,
PH be lonely enough when you are
gone"
You are very kind to say So"
"Kindl How could fellow help
missing such a-a-" (Be careful,
Mr.. Strong; Miss Jessie looks very
sweet In the moonlight, as she sits wait
ing for you TO finish your sentence.)
"'Such a-a-' whatP' asked a
saucy, mocking voice.
"Such a lovable little thing as you
are;" and before he realized what he
was doing, he had bent down and taken
kiss from the smiling lips.
40, Mr.. StrongT' drawing back.
+" You are not angry, are you, Miss
Jessiep Please forgive me. Indeed l
couldn't help it."
81 am very, Very angry, and you
could have helped it if you had wanted
to-"
perhaps l could, if 1 had wanted
to-"
The young lady preserved a severe
and silent demeanor, and the culprit
grew uneasy.
"You will forgive me, won't you,
Miss JessieP If we haze to part, let us
part friends" in a very contrite tone.
No answer. What was he to say to
make his peace? What would Gordon
probably have said under similar cir
cumstancesp
A sob from Miss Jessie. "rm just
as unhappy as l can be, Mr.. Strong,
and I'm very sorry told you was
going away. 1 never thought it would
make-make you kiss me-"
This was encouraging, and her COM
panion's spirits grew lighter, and he be-
came fluent in expressions of regret for
his conduct and its remotest cause. He
at last succeeded in gaining forgiveness
for the first, and in assuaging her grief
at leaving "dear, darling Chicago;"
for so perfect was the reconciliation
that when their drive was ended, Miss
Bloomer was the promised wife of Mr..
Strong.
Now well-conducted romance ought
to have gone on smoothly from this
point; but, instead, this one sought out
the toughest paths through which to
wander. In the first place, Mr.. Strong
found awaiting him telegram which
called him to Pennsylvania, and while
he was away the father of Miss Bloomer
made an unexpected appearance in Chi
cago; got very homesick, after the
manner of old gentlemen unaccustomed
to leaving home, and spirited that
young person away to the farthest cor
ner of Minnesota, only the day before
her lover returned. Had she known of
his nearness, she might have persuaded
her father to wait twenty-four hours;
but am forced to confess with shame
that my hero had never once written to
his little fGnce during the ten days OF
their separation. He would gladly
have done so, and had even dated nu.
merous sheets of paper, but after the
date was once written he was at loss
how to continue. The address was the
stumbling block; if he could have set
tied that to his satisfaction he might
have gone on, but he could not. Since
Miss Jessie was not present, his engage
ment became so vague thing that he
was only half certain that he had not
dreamed it that night in the sleeping
car. When he had started upon thai
eventful drive, no idea that he would
return from it her promised husband
had ever crossed his mind. Then, in
less than two hours after, he had said a
hurried farewell in the hall, had stolen
couple of kisses when they were out
of range of the open parlor-wherein
reigned an ominous silence-had prom
ised to be back the moment business was
over, and had taken his valise and
rushed away to catch the night train
going east So after the many vain at
tempts have noted the letter was given
up, and he depended upon forgive
ness, when he should reach Chicago,
by eloquently and truthfully stating the
case.
But letter might have prevented all
that followed. For if letter had come,
it is more fnan likely that in the course
of time it would have been shown to
Mrs. NORM, who would straightway
have told her husband and father, and
the engagement would have been talked
about in the family. Indeed, Miss Jes-
sic had depended upon the coming of a
letter to divulge her secret to her sister.
But when none came it was but human
that Indignation should settle down up
on her heart, and silence upon her lips.
So she departed, leaving but a brief
note, which was to give her neglectful
lover her Minnesota address, "should
he desire to make use of it."
This note called forth prompt, awk-
ward apology from the erring Strong,
which was received and pardoned-
both the conduct and letter-in grace
ful and lengthy epistle from Miss
Bloomer. Indeed, it was such pretty
letter that it inspired tho rnoipiant with
a glow of pride in being able to claim
the charming writer as his own. He
carried it in his breast pocket, and read
it many times, and on the following
Sunday retired to his room immediately
after breakfast, and wrestled with an
answer during the greater part of the
day. He began by informing her that
her favor of last Monday was re-
ceived, and contents duly noted"
Then he was glad to learn that she had
reached home safely, and that she had
found all we'll there; he was also glad
that she had not mentioned their en-
gagement to her sister before leaving
Chicago, as the fellows would all have
had their remarks to make, and it
would be just as we'll to give them a
good surprise one of these days; and
should he write to her fatherP He sup
posed she knew the great news about
Jack and Gordon going into partner
ship and setting up in st. Louis the
next week. He would try to get off
some time near Christmas, and visit
her. In the meantime she must tell
him what kind of a ring she would like.
Business was beginning to hurry him,
and she must not always wait TO dnssOer
letters, but write to him often, and he
remained respectfully hers, etc., etc.
As an ordinary letter IL was q stndv