Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-04-01
"You are sorious. Jasporp You will

really try to win this girlp"
| "l am seriously-very seriously
want of money, and as for trying to win
this rural damsel (for Clarendon is
hardly more than village), well, |
think can do It," answered Jasper
Surridge, complacently, as he arose
from the table and sauntered out to the
hotel piazza.
Young Sdrridge had good grounds
for his confidence in his own attrac-
tions. He was tall. handsome, graceful
and devoted to ladies' society, could
quote poetry or utter delicate compli-
ments by the hour; and some Of his
half-envious admirers declared that he
had been stern enough to refuse two
offers of marriage from rich widowsl
When he made his appearance in
church the morning after his arrival in
Clarendon, there was quite n flutter
among not few of the tender young
hearts, and at least score of bright
eyes looked the question. "Who is that
handsome manpm
With his mind concentrated upon the
unknown heress, Jasper carefully sur
some fairy to whisper to him, THAT is
She" Presently the organ pealed
forth, and clear, sweet, mezzo-soprano
voice sang an anthem, "Come unto me
all yc that labor" Regardless of the
place, Surridge turned to his next
neighbor and whispered:
"Who is that charming singerp"
"Miss Edliifc," was the startling
reply.
The directory had already shown
him there was but one family
of that name in the town, "Mrs.
Jane Edlitie, IL Willow street; Acantha
Edliffe, school teacher, IL Willow
street, evidently this was the heiress.
What does she look likeP' was his
next thought. So he turned round and
took good long look at the singer;
resuming his mental conversation he
said, "Medium height, slender, dark
eyes and hair, good complexion, de-
Gently though plainly dressed; she will
dor' ElI
To make sure that this was the per-
son he sought, he discreetly followed
her home, and when he saw her enter
IL Willow street he was satisfied. He
delivered one of his letters of introduce
ton the next morning, and as soon rs
he could he began to rave over the
"exquisite voice, the most delightful
voice." he had heard in church, and
innocently asked the singers name;
then, finding that his new friend knew
her, he begged him present him to her.
Chuckling at his good luck, he began
to make delicate but assiduous love to
Miss Acantha, and was charmed to find
that she did not repulse him; on the
nftn,. n faxu ia, uhn aI
to give him some little encouragement
not boldly, however, but timidly and
! innocently. Mrs. Edlitfe was not SO
cordial as he could have wished, but
still she was not actually inimical, and
there was no one else to interfere-at
least, no one of whom he knew anything.
"Acantha Edlihe's conduct is really
disgusting!" whispered the gossips
within week after Surridge's arrival
in Clarendon. Before this stranger
appeared she accepted Hubert Luttrell s
attentions with avidity, but now she
quite ignores him."
HE hasn't been to Willow street
since last Sunday" responded another
gossip, ''while this Mr.. Surridge is there
every evening, takes Acantha to drive
every afternoon and sends her books
and flowers every morning" e'
"Well, he is rich, probably, and very
stylish, while poor Hubert is neither" !"
Acantha's conduct in this matter
caused plenty OF talk; Luttrell himself
was the only silent one; when some
venturesome person triedto "interview"
him on the subject he simply set his
1 teeth together and muttered:
"Popinjay"
But popinjay or not, Surridge CON-
pletely distanced Luttrell in two weeks.
At the expiration of that period he
might have been heard whispering to
Acantha:
"Oh, my darling. if you knew how
much loved you, you would not be so
coy; you would at least try to love me
in return!'
Perhaps may try," whispered she,
hesitatingly, but quickly added, ward
ing off o threatening embrace; ''but
how can be sure that you are true?
You have known me SO short a time"
Fourteen long days After all.
what is time to those who lover The
moment saw you knew that you, and
you alone, must be my wife!'
Which was true, but not as he would
have had Acantha understand it. .
"You have loved before, of course
"Never! Never! may have had my
passing fancies, but you are the first girl
whom have wished to marry"
but am poor and Insignificant.
Not the latter, my sweetheart. And
as to poverty, do you suppose l care for
that? We will manage to live, assure
you"
lyon know nothing of my family
"Yo,rr mother, you say, is your only
relative; l am sure she would grace any
station"
"Dear mother, am sure she would!
If should consent toto try and like
you, you must promise and not listen to
any nonsense about Mr. Luttrell. Ibid
love him, really love him, thought,
until--until--n =.
"My darling! Your sweet confession
has entranced me!'
mo, no! l have confessed nothing!
Give me until tomorrow to think of It;
and mammals s consent must be gained. :"
OF course Surridge promised to do
ANYTHING Acantha desired; and when he
returned. to his hotel that evening he
telegraphed to his uncle:
Come on at once. The fates are
propitious."
The fates are proverbially eccentric;
SO Surridge realized when, on calling at
IL Willow street, he was told that
Acantha was too ill with nervous head
ache to see any one. In the meantime
Mr. Clabaugh arrived and congratulated
his nephew warmly c.i his success; but
| also in the meantime. simultaneously Y
with Mr. Clabaugh's arrival came the
rumor of old Mr.. Edlifie's death. and
the next morning 1t was announced in
the local newspapers with the addition:
"This gentleman was unknown to
snr townsmen; nevertheless his large
fortune is to come to us, Miss Acantha