Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-04-30

II was in this position that tiny object,
OF red not over an inch square. in the
dust beneath, caught his quick eye. His
heart gave little leap; then he called
himself fool; but all the same he dis
mounted to examine. Already ram
dom hoof-stroke had buried the red
patch from sight, but John recolleoted
the spot, and stopping, dug and soooped
till IL again became visible. His fin
gers again recognized a solid substance.
Trembling with excitement, he contin-
ued TO dig; another second the object
was uncovered, lifted out, and with q
wild, incredulous whoop OF Joy, John
Boyd held in his hand his wallet, buried
deep by the hurrying herds, and uncov-
cred for one passing moment that his
eye might detect it, and no other. Ex-
cept for that lucky stumble, he too would
have ridden over the lost treasure, and
never dreamed what lay beneath his
horses feet.
"And some folks say there amt no
Godi" was his mental comment, spoken
half aloud. Then-for John Boyd's re-
ligion, though homely, was true one
he bent his head and said a few
words of thanksgiving after which,
jumping on his horse, he took the back
ward route, eager to tell his good for
tune, and exonerate the poor girl, who,
as he now remembered with self
reproach, must have passed a painful
day under the stigma Of undeserved
suspicion.
The heat was yielding to evening
freshness, and he urged his horse, inn
patient TO set matters straight; but,
| ,p,t aft
eleven before he at last drew rein in
front of Nash's Hotel. lie was expected,
that was evident, for lights were burn
ing, and both Nash and his wife hurried
out to meet him, wearing faces of lu-
gubrious length, which only in part
changed to cheerfulness when they
heard of the recovery of the wallet.
"There, what did l tell youP" cried
the husband. "Haven't I ben Assay
ing all day that likely as not this scare
would turn out all for nothingP And
you wouldn't listen to word, but just
kept on to that poor thing inside there,
and she nothing to blame oil the time. |
declare, it's too bad the way women
act to each other-and folks calling
them 'the softer sex!' A man would
be ashamed TO be so hard. Well, do
tell and so the money was lying there
in the dust all the time! Well, I'm
mighty glad, for your sake and ours,
too. Go right in, sir, and wife IL give
you some supper. I'll see to the
horse"
Mrs. Nash waited on the meal in
grim silence. She seemed only half
rejoiced at the denouement.
"It's mighty queer" she remarked,
as she set the last dish on the table.
az don't feel as ifwe'd got to the bottom
of it yet. Why didn't Lucy deny more
positiveP"
"But she did," said John, between
two mouthfuls; "she said she hadn't
got it."
"Why, of course she said as much as
that. You didn't expect her to say
that she had got it, did youP" rejoined
the landlady with fine scorn. "B But
she didn't speak up violent and bold,
as you'd expect an innocent girl
would"
"But she was innocent all the time,
you know"
"I amt so oversure about that, !"
replied Mrs. Nash, with shake of her
head. "It's queer business. p"
"Now look here" shouted John,
reused by this persistent injustice; (;
"what is there queer about it, should
like to knowP Here's my wallet :"
shaping his pocket" and I've told
you where found it, And you know
as well as 1 do that never did put it
under the pillow, and that that girl of
yours had no more to do with it than
the babe unborn. It's her pardon |
| 60 nd -
hope, ma a'am, you'll drop the
subject, and just make it up to the
poor thing by being extra kind, as it
were, for the bad day we've made her
spend"
Mrs. Nash seemed by no means molli-
fed by this not over-judicious appeal,
and as soon as her duties as hostess
would permit, left the room, muttering
under her breath something which
John did not catch. He was too sleepy
to care particularly about the matter,
and presently went to bed, when dream
less slumber drew her veil over the
days vicissitudes.
Hurrying out to the barn next morn
ing in the best of spirits, low signing
sob called his attention to bench out
side the kitchen door, where sat figure
crumpled up into forlorn little heap,
in which he recognized the pretty maid
of the day before. She wore her bon
net, and bundle lay beside her. Her
face was hidden on her arms, which
were crossed on the back of the bench.
"Why, what's the matterP" said
John, turning back.
The girl looked up, with start. "I
beg your pardon she faltered. "I'm
just going. didn't mean to stay so
long"
"GoingP WhereP''
''I don't know where" she said, de-
jectedly. sid try for another place,
only there doesn't seem much chance Of
getting one without any recommend"
"Do you mean to say that they are
sending you away from hereP"
"But, in the name of goodness,
whyP"
81 don't know. Mrs. Nash says she
don't like to have servants about who
are suspected of stealing" The blue
eyes filled again as she spoke, and she
hid her face.
"By George! Inever heard of such
injustice in my life," shouted John
NOWp luCJp IL buuG . yOuI uulucy 1Ol
just sit still where you are. Don't you
stir or move till come back. III see
} Mrs. Nash. I'll put things right"
To put things right seems easy enough
to a strong, hearty man, with justice
and argument ON his side, but that is
because he does not calculate properly
on those queer bitches and crotchets Of
human nature, which have no relation
to justice and fair dealing, and are unaf
fected by argument. Mrs. Nash proved
impervious to Johns choicest appeals
: Her mind was made up; she "didnr
: want to hear moro ON the subject; ;
finally, her temper rising, what business
was it of his, she demanded, what helE
she kept, if sne kept any help at all
He'd got his pocket-book; accounts
l were squared between them; there wa
D no further call, so far as she could see
. why he should meddle with her con
. Germs. The upshot of the interview wa
Al.k Ill. A.. - l.. l.. t,I, A.