Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-03

ldul OuI Ohtl WOuuihB Bues5s ~ nap
pened TO be the time OF my usual annual
holiday, and / took my bride to a quiet
little Watering place on the Normandy
coast, where we spent three weeks OF
such peaceful happiness that [ really
believe that | forgot all about my uncle
and his probable feelings when he heard
of my marriage.
/ did not despair; all my life hither-
to had been obedient to his wishes he
had never paid bill for me, nor re-
ceived complaint from an employer.
Surely he might overlook the one in
stance in which had run counter to his
WILL especially when he heard all the
circumstances and saw Minnie. / had
worked myself into quite a sanguine
frame of mind, when | one day received
a summons to Clapham. Uncle John
rarely wrote letters, but he now sent a
brief line inviting, or rather requiring,
me TO stay with him week or so, as he
was laid up with the gout, and dull. 1
could go to and fro TO my work he only
wanted me to play cribbage in the eve
ming.
al duly arrived at Clapham, and dis
covered that the gout was affecting
Uncle John disagreeably. Never had /
seen him worse tempered. He had been
six months at Buxton, and the change
had done him no good; it had been an
expensive trip, and he was angry with
himself for having gone, and the doc
tors for having sent him. Then, as ILL
luck would have it, the son of city ac-
quaintance had just made an imprudent
marriage against his fathers wishes,
and Uncle John was very full of it, and
expected me to Join in his condemna-
tions. Now, as / was just as great q
sinner myself, / could hardly in con-
science anathematize young Robinson,
and my lack of sympathy irritated my
uncle.
"The weary days dragged by. I had
been at Clapham three weeks, and had
not found a single opportunity for dis
closing my fatal secret. Sometimes
managed to get hasty glimpse of Min
ME while in town for my work, but |
was heartily sick of separation, and
often half resolved to speak out boldly
to my uncle and end this wretched state
of suspense.
Fate was about unexpectedly to
grant my wish. The census paper had
arrived, and Mrs. Corbet one day re-
minded my uncle that it would be called
for that morning, and was not yet filled
up. 1t was one of Uncle Johns worst
days; the gout was in his right hand,
and he could not write. l was sum
moned to act as secretary; my uncle
was testy-he liked to do every thing
himself. was to fill up the paper un-
der his eye, to make sure / committed
no blunders, and was elaborately in
structed where to write, etc. Alas, the
first glance at that fatal paper sent my
wits astray! Not alone did prying
government desire to know the age and
sex of its subjects; they must also reveal
if they were married or single! And |
was to fill this up at my Uncle Johns
elbow! With vain attempt to put off
the evil day wrote the required par
ticulars regarding Uncle John and Mrs.
Corbet as slowly as possible and then
paused.
"' Hadn't better put down the serv-
ants names nextP' 1 asked feebly.
"'Servants? Pshaw! Put yourself
next
But l ought to fill up the census in
London urged, with sudden hope.
This is not my actual home
"'You slept here last night, idiot,
didn't youP' said Uncle John, who had
waxed irritable at my slow caligraphy;
6 and you've been here three weeks as
well. What's the fool staring at! You
know your name and age, don't youP
Fill it in here, under Mrs. Corbet's, only
you're single
"Was I? rapidly debated What was
best to be done. l believed dire pains
and penalties were attached to fraud
ulent filling up of the census, but /
would cheerfully have taken my chance
of being detected by the Government
did l describe myself as a bachelor.
That risk was not very serious one.
But, on the other hand, | could not
write a statement under Uncle Johns
own eye that 1 might have to disavow
next day; at the same time this was
clearly not moment to reveal my mar
riage.
"'Can't you write your own nameP'
cried Uncle John, wrathfully; and, as l
still fingered, chance came to my aid.
The Doctor arrived. l hailed him as a
DeneHcenJ genius.
"'This paper, will be called for to-
day, SIR l said, seizing it; perhaps
while you are engaged with Mr.. Jones.
l will take it down stairs and finish fill
ing in the servants names;' and, with
out waiting for reply, l hurried off,
feeling as if had escaped a precipice.
81 called up the servants, filled in
their names and my own (truthfully, of
course), and fingered in the hall till the
called, consigning the preci-
Gus document to him with my own
hands to escape prying eyes. Alas, l
neglected one precaution; | did not see
had escaped had really given me such
shock that l thought 1 would light
cigar and take a quiet stroll in the
shrubbery to calm my nerves. Well, it
had ended right at last, but 1 resolved
to take the very earliest opportunity of
making my confession; this state of con-
cealment was growing unbearable.
"'Please, Mr.. William, your uncle
wants to speak to you at once Mrs.
Corbet interrupted my reflections.
"There was look of malicious tri-
umph in her face that alarmed me. l
threw away my cigar and followed her
in trepidation. Yes, my worst fears
were realized; there sat my uncle, al
most speechless with rage, the fatal
census paper open before him, demand
ing in choking voice the meaning of
this-this disgraceful statement!'
81 shall always think Mrs. Corbet had
suspected my secret. Perhaps she had
friends in London who knew OF my mar
riage. ANY way, it was at her sugges-
ton that the messenger was recalled
before he got clear of the garden to en-
able my uncle to make sure l had filed
up the paper properly. Thus the secret
was disclosed.
81 need not dwell on the scene that
followed. Another hour saw me on my
road homeward, no longer oppressed
by secret, certainly, but at the same
time devoid of all further expectations
from Uncle John. l never saw him
again. Next day came a parcel con-
tanning all the small personal possessions
| had left at Clapham, also check for
ESQ in blank envelope, and this closed