Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-02-11

gave his mother and sister comforta-
BILE home. But, alas, our poor mother
was now confirmed invalid, and sell
dom left her room. | was constantly
with her.. and rs gazed upon her al
tered features, felt that could never
repay all that | owed TO her love and
care. To look at her, TO hear her
voice, was happiness enough for me.
All, May, l had no thoughts of valen-
tines and love then. Living in strict
retirement, had few gentlemen 40
quaintances, and though my brothers
chosen friends were pleasant and enter
tanning, there was not ono among them
that would have fancied.
''Another year passed with littlo
change, and the day that my brother
attained his majority he was taken into
the firm as a reward for his ability and
faithfulness. Oh, how proud l was of
my kind brother that day, and no girl
over had a kinder. But my joy was
soon turned into mourning. A week
alter, my mother was laid to rest beside
the husband that she loved so well.
"The grief that had suffered at her
loss, and the long watching that be-
slowed on her, had seriously impaired
my health. My brother was about tax
ing me to Havana before the winter set
in, when received an affectionate invi-
tation to visit England, where my moth
er's only sister resided. l had never
seen Aunt Martha, who, few years
before my mother marriage. was unit
to the Secretary of the English Legation
ut Washington. She soon after accom-
panied her husband to his home in the
nighborhood of Liverpool.
''In the days when we had to grapple
with poverty, my aunt sent us many q
remittance from over the Atlantic. The
sums that then proved such blessing
were not large, for at that time Aunt
Martha was not rich in worldly goods,
though in after-years some speculations
in which Uncle West was engaged
proved so successful that he suddenly
became the posscssor of large means.
They had one child, daughter, who
was the idol of her parents.
1.-THE invitation was readily accepted,
though it was hard to part even for q
few months from, my brother. who be-
came still dearer to me since death de-
prived me of my mother. AS he stood
on the deck of the steamer holding my
hand in his he said:
"'Mabel, our mother is no more--my
sister now fills all my heart. God bless
you and restore you to health. In six
months time L shall come for you, and
let me find that the balmy English air
will bring back the hue of health to
your cheek again.
al could only put my arms around his
neck and kiss him; tears choked the
words that l would have spoken. So
we parted.
"On my arrival at Liverpool Twas met
by my uncle, an agreeable, rosy
checked gentleman. with a mellow,
English voice and much heartiness of
brought us to the pretty villa where my
aunt and cousin were waiting to re-
ceive me. l seemed to see my mother
again, so strongly did my aunt resem-
BILE her. My cousin Adele was pretty
blonde of eighteen, gentle, artless and
winsome, and so warm was the well
come that received from both that l
at once felt myself entirely at home.
"Major Cotton was one ofthe most es-
teemed visitors at the villa. The first
night met him, there was large COM
pany present. was sitting apart from
the rest, and felt that my sad, pale
face and mourning dress formed strik-
ing contrast to the sprightly looks and
gay attire of the other young ladies
present. Adele looked very attractiue
dressed in simple white muslin, with a
single rose in her hair. She was seat
ed at the piano surrounded by a group
of enthusiasts, who listened delightedly
to her fine singing. 1 scarcely heart.
her, for my thoughts were far away in
my own loved land-far away was my
heart, too. in alonely churchyard. How
hard L tried to keep the sudden tears of
sorrow in my aching eyes; in vain, they
found their way down my cheek.
"'Do you play chess, Miss Derwent.
said quiet voice close to me.
~ looked up and felt myself colorine
at having my emotion seen by one who
was almost stranger to me. A few
words on either side, and Major Cotton
had drawn u little table towards my re.
treat, and we commenced the game.
cannot tell how it was, but my reserve
unconscously vanished as the game
proceeded, and before he checkmatec
me we were friends, drawn towards
each other by that secret sympathy
that strange feeling of attraction, tina,
binds heart to heart forever. When we
parted for the night l gave him my
hand, lie raised it respectfully to hi'
lips and was gone in another moment
81 must pass overthe days and weeks
which followed, for it adds another
pang to memory to recall them. Witt
woman's intuition | soon knew tha
Major Cotton loved me, and that hi
only waited for encouragement ON my
part to give expression to his feelings
At the same time came the discovery
that Adele had become deeply attached
to her fathers guest.
"She who had been the life of all tn,
pleasure parties, now grew detected
and silent, her step became slow, he
cheek pale, and she soon seemed as i
in slow decline. Her parents wer,
filled with grief and anxiety at the un
accountable change in their darling
Physicians prescribed in vain. To tn,
surprise of all she refused to leave hom
and seek change OF scene, which hat
been urged by her medical advisers
But they knew not that the charm tina
bound her there was the presence o
!, Major Cotton. Strange as 1t may seen
that instead of coniiding her secret to
loving mother, she turned to me TO
sympathy, and acknowledged all, say
ing in piteous, childlike way tina
without his love she could not live
Her arms embodied me, her tears we
my cheek as she sobbed out this confes
sion ON my breast Then, then | fel
how truly /, too, loved Major Cotton
But you are the first, May, who ha
heard my confession. was but nine
teen then, and stranger might be sur
prised at the fancy of two young girl
for reserved and thoughtful man @
thirty-fve. He was spoken of as beinl
cold in manner, but his friends foun,
a peculiar charm in the tender kind
ness ever awarded to them. Coul,
Adele have known the pain her ever
word inflicted on her hearer, her gentl
heart would have broken beneath tn
burden of her secret, before she woul
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