Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-09-23

else. Mine host of the Red Lion has
prepared nico little luncheon, even TO
some dry Pommery, which "the great
Josiah"-as have been accustomed to
call him, possibly from tho magnitude
of his waistcoats-says he dotes upon.
l make malicious and unkind but per-
fectly just mental suggestion that in
early lifo "the great Josiah" was bot
ter acquainted with the merit of "'alf-
and-'alfn than dry champagne. Mine
host has done his best; and now wait
my guests. feel nervous and excited;
why, can hardly tell, but confess to
myself that shall be glad when my
little symposium is over.
Here at last. They troop upstairs
into the large room where my luncheon
is spread. Mr.. Josiah is looking very
large to-day. There Is an air of jubilant
triumph about him as he bustlcs about
Nelly, assisting her in taking off her
wraps and saying "nothings" which are
anything but "soft," as the great man
Expresses them. To me, his air is simply
patronizing. Mrs. Spalding is gracious
as usual; and Mr.. Spalding seems to re.
gard the near prospect of lunch with
more evident satisfaction than he docs
the prospect of an artistic treat. Mr..
Blagdcn suggests we had better step in
to see the picture-lunch has evidently
its attractions for "the great Josiah." :"
But tell him | wait DR.. Brooke, at
which announcement he subsidies
Then suggest to Miss Nelly that, with
her mothers permission, she may now
have the picture all to herself for a
momentary peep. Mrs. Spalding, who
is deep with Miss Blagden in the mys.
teries of the manufacture of rhubarb
jam, readily consents.
Nelly follows me into the room where
my picture stands covered with Grim.
son cloth on my easel. Iclose the door
and unveil it. Nelly glances at it for a
moment; then, growing deadly pale,
sinks half-fainting--not into my arms,
but into those of DR.. James Brooke,
who has most opportunely come upon
the scene. In speechless astonishment
he gazes at me, but he too seems as il
he were going to repeat Neliy's pro-
cedure as he glances at the picture.
For heavens sake, Regy," says Jim
in a hoarse voice. "cover that picture
upl'
Nelly opened her eyes in moment
or two, which seemed to me like an
age. Jim had employed the interval
in Il fashion not unfamiliar to lovers,
believe. And when she did open her
eyes, il was to clasp Jim round the
neck, and her words were few but de-
cided: "Jim, dear! I can never, never
marry that man! I will do whatever
you wish me to. But oh! they have
tried me sop
What is it in my picture that has SO
perturbed the lovers, and brought Nelly
Spalding to her sensesp Simply the
interior of the old church once again.
A ray of sunlight streaming through a
chink in the stained window falls on
the sad, pale, fearful face of newly
made bride. The brides face is Mel.
ly's own; and the pompous bridegroom
is Josiah Blagden, the artistic treatment
of whose white waistcoat and chain has
cost mc no end of pains. Behind bride
and bridegroom come the figures of Mr..
and Mrs. Spalding; and in the dim dis
tance the vicar is seen still standing
within the altar rails. But the central
figure after the bride herself is the
young man, pale, motionless as a statue
who stands in IL pew and whose ashy
gaze is fixed on the bride. The face ol
the man in the pew is that of James
Brooke. The picture tells its own story
to Nelly Spalding. 1T places the posi-
bility of the future before her eyes q:
she has never dared to picture it to her.
self. 1t reflects in all its naked truth
the fate to which through her indecis
ion she may commit herself and Jim
And it tells its story SO well that ar
conquers diplomacy in decision, ant
aids love in its triumph over the grea
Josiah himself -
picture again. Nelly stands beside DIR
Brooke; her cheek is pale, and ther,
are tears like dewdrops glistening il
her eyes. The iron-master looms il
the doorway. He takes in the matter
at glance and frowns darkly ut jim
and me.
AS soon as Mr. and Mrs. Spaldng
who closely followed Josiah, have en-
tered the room, Nelly to my surprise
walks quickly up to her father ant
takes his hand. "Father," said she
with atremulousyet decisive tone, "yo,
know the message you brought mi
from Mr.. Blagden this morningp Civ
him my answer now. Tell him that
am going to marry DR.. Brooke
Now, it is my opinion that, had tn,
discarded Josiah at this moment hell
his tongue, he might have got both Mr.
and Mrs. Spalding to speak word TO
him with Nelly. But as it was he de
stroyed his own case at a blow.
"Message from me?-and this is m,
| n,,Ht l,a ;,, "a
"Why, care nowt-novt," he repeat
ed, bitterly, "about the matter
guess it was the lass's father and moth
er that wanted to marry Josiah Blag
denis money-perhaps they wante,
some of it for themselves.
The rudeness and vulgarity whicl
marked the man came out unmistak
ably as he said these words; and, tax
ing his sisters arm in his, and castin
n look of vindictive scorn at the docto
and myself, he walked out at the doc
with an ungainly strut which wa
meant for dignity; and we saw tn
great Josiah no more.
Mrs. Spalding was especially cut u
by the parting fling of Josiah, as it wa
she who had maneuvered the matte
thus far. Mr.. Spalding, on the othe
hand, burst into a joyful laugh, an
taking his daughters hand, placed
in that of the doctor.
After all had left the studio but MI
Spalding, the latter asked me to te
him in plain terms how 1 had brougf
this about-for he had no doubt we
at the bottom of it. / uncovered tn
picture, which Mr.. Spalding-simplt
'easy-minded gentleman that he was
scrutinized with his double eye-glas
remarking to me that he did not quit
understand it at all, but that it WE
wonderfully clever. and that Josiah
"weskit was as like as life"
In six weeks thereafter officiated ,
"best man. at Jim's marriage. AS I'll
organist pealed forth the jubilai
strains of Mendelssohn, after the vi
ars benediction had been given, an
Nelly, radiant and beautiful, passe
down the aisle on her husbands arm,
could not help rejoicing in the succe
of what is now +" No. 329--A Weddir
March," though the faces in the pictu
as exhibited are slightly disguised, al
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