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

afraid of horses, when you, Mr.. Cor
don, made sham show of regret that
your swift trotters were not safe for a
lady TO drive behindP And did not
you, Mr.. jenkins, trump up a business
visit to St Louis rather than wait upon
the ladies to the operap And as for
Smith, he ought to blush TO his dying
day when he recalls the falsehood he
concocted about the perils of trip out
to the crib. And when did you, Mr..
Strong, ever lay aside your evening pa
per and banter Miss Wyman to beat
you ut game of chessP Shame, shame
upon you ALL You know very well that
you allowed that poor young lady TO
have dismal visit in the city you are
now making so lively for this rosy girl
with her bewitching smile and eyes.
But to resume my chronicle, For the
hrst few evenings Mr.. Strong was, to
all outward seeming, true to his paper,
but close observer might often have
caught him looking over the top at the
central figure of the group around the
card table. Especially was he dtStrait
when light, happy laugh called him
away from his politics and current
prices, and pretty white hand reached
out with a childish petulance after a
lost "trick." And he gave up all
semblance to reading when q girlish
figure perched itself upon the piano
stool, and waited patiently while that
forward Jenkins tortured the strings of
his violin, and prepared to squeak out
a villainous accompaniment.
Then came an evening when he stood
back of Miss Boomers chair and gave
her some useful hints on euchre- play
ing, which were most gratefully re-
cefvod. After that he was often one of
the four around the ever-present euchre
table.
About this time a certain world-re-
nowned prima donna began an en-
gagement at M'Vicker's, and one even
ing Smith came home unusually early,
and spent an unusually long time over
his toilet. A little later, gorgeous
and expensive bouquet arrived, and
was sent up to his room. At din
ner, Miss Bloomer, always prettily
| dressed, had added several festive
touches to her dress, which, taken with
the symptoms in Smiths case, threw
the other three bachelors into q high
state of excitement, and they anxiously
awaited further developments. They
were not kept long in suspense, for soon
after dinner carriage drew up before
the door, and the driver announced that
he had called for Mr.. Smith. Mr..
Smith was notified, and was soon wait
ing, in rather nervous manner in the
hall. Presently Miss Jennie Bloomer
tripped lightly down stairs, wrapped in
a feecy opera cloak, and carrying the
mysterious bouquet in her hand, and to-
gether the forsaken trio of bachelors
gloomily watched Smith hand her into
the carriage, and drive away to the
opera. They all resented what they
felt to be shabby, underhanded behavior
on his part, and had they been English
men they would have Joined in voting
him "a cad" But being merely good
citizens of Chicago, they contented
was sometimes little tricky on Change,
which factreally had no bearing upon the
case in hand. as his present behavior
was certainly straightforward and
above-board. He had asked Miss
Bloomer that morning if he might have
the pleasure of her company to the
opera; she had readily accepted; and it
had never once crossed his mind that it
was duty he owed to his fellow board
ers to acquaint them with his inten-
tions. But it was tacitly agreed that
Smiths conduct was such that it could
not be overlooked nor meekly borne.
If he could whisk Miss Bloomer away to
the opera, why, so could hey, and then
and there each to himself vowed a vow,
the carrying out of which rolled gold
or rather good greenbacks-into the
Golfers of that prima donna, and into
the pockets of florists and hackmen.
And never before did little village
maiden have such feast of opera, or
accumulate bouquets and liberettos at
such rate. This opera business was
but the beginning of her designations.
There were drives out to Lincoln Park;
Gordon's skittish beasts flew along " the
Boulevard" with the brave little belle
sitting beside their owner; an excursion
was arranged off-hand for herself, Mrs.
Morin and one of her admirers out to
Hyde Park, when she was heard to eX-
press wish to go there and gather
fringed gentians; and as for bonbons,
they filed up to her room in perfect
procession of costly satin, gilt and
inlaid boxes. So altogether Miss Bloom
at home, "a perfectly lovely time"
But in the natural course of events
there came a time when she had to cease
revolving in this round of gayety. One
soft autumn evening, as she was driving
beside Mr.. Strong along the lake shore,
there came lull in the conversation, and
they silently watched the full moon as it
began to burnish the tranquil waters of
Lake Michigan. The carriages rolled
softly along, and the horses stepped
evenly over the damp drive, and every
thing combined to enhance the quiet of
the hour. Finally Miss Bloomer spoke,
and there was tone of regret in her
voice which her statement scarcely
seemed to warrant. She said:
81 had letter from mamma to-
day."
Mr.. Strong was puzzled by the woe
of her manner, but hoped her mamma
was well.
"Yes, thank you, she is quite well;
but"
Your papa is not i'll, hopeP"
"YesP''
81 have to go home"
go home! o, no. Why, you've
only just come"
go, Mr.. Strong, I've been here ten
weeks next Saturday."
"Ten weeks! 1t doesn't seem that
many days"
And I've had such a perfectly love-
ly time. l only wish had just come;
then I'd still have my visit to make"
g But why need you go homer Write
and ask your mother to let you stay all
winter"
" 1t would be of no use; and what is
worse, don't expect ever to see dear,
lovely Chicago again. You know Jack
is going to live in st. Louis after this"
and there was the suggestion of a sob
in Miss Jessie's voice as she finished her
sentence.