Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-08-19

Where are the others" said John.
"Why Bess and Mark have gone to
the fair in Barton. There's only Buell.
at home, and he's hardly old enough to
go down there alone"
"No," said John, throwing off his
coat. al suppose I've got to go with
him. Tell him to get rope. We'll
have to tie the wretch and then send
for the Sheriff."
"lt's dreadful you should have to go,
dear" said his mother, pityingly, land
Just when you are all ready for meet
ing. The girls will be waiting for you,
too. But you'll feel sorry enough for
Maggie, poor thing, when you see her.
And there's no time to be lost. You
can hear Peter cursing and throwing
things clear up to our Kitchen door"
AS John and Buell. were ready to
start Maggie said "Shure, sir, If We
see me COW in the road, wud We plase
drive her back forninst YEP Peter left
the gate open when he come in, and l
was that distracted l didn't see the
craytur till she was gone. The byes
will be havin her in the pound in =
giify, and sorra a cint is Peter after
LAWN me to get her out againr'
John did not see the COW. She was
like the rest OF the McCreerys, unex-
pected in her movements. But Jennie
and saw her. grazing along the road
side, with her head turned the other
way from home. had q presentimcnt
of mischief the moment caught sight
other. half stopped, saying: "There's $
Peter McCreery's COW? How could
they let her get outp Now if the boys
put her in the pound they never can
raise fifty cents to get her out. I've n
great mind to drive her back little
ways, Jennie, just to get her headed to-
ward home"
But Jennie was too impatient.
"Please don't stop, Phoebe" she said.
Its not your place to do it. and we're
so late already"
1t was so late that all the pews on
the girls side of the choir gallery were
filed, except the two farlhest back.
BY going to the head of one of these l
could be among the altos. and Jennie,
by going to the head of the other,
could be among the sopranos, while at
the same time we could sit together.
was glad to be near her that night, and
i knew she was glad to have me, she
was so nervous. L hoped the singing
would quiet her, and so it did for u lit
tie while. But she could not get quite
out of her hutter. Proud as she was
she could not help casting a glance,
now and then, toward the door, and
occasionally she would give little
sigh She was uneasy every minute
till he came.
And oh, dear! she was good deal
moro uneasy terward. For-will you
believe itp-who should walk in that
door beside John but Jessie Sears!
She did look pretty that night.
There was no denying her good looks
even when you d lost every bit of fai h
in her. Tonight she wore new pink
muslin dress; thin, tleecy white
shawl was round her shoulders, and
one point of it was laid over the brown
puifs on her head, but not far enough
to hide the pretty pink rose she had
stuck between them. She was all
smiles and brightness. We usually sat
near tho front, but Jessie spied where
we were tonight the moment she came
in. John, however, did not see us
Jessie, of course. followed him. She
did not mind it that every eye was upon
her. She was as composed and COM
placent as possible.
Somebody moved up to make room
for her, and John found place across
the aisle. Before she was fairly seated
she had contrived to drop her handker-
chief. and John was obliged to stoop
and pick it up for her. saw his face
then. 1t was not gay and smiling like
Jessie's, but he looked pale and tired.
1t somehow set me considering. When
| had first seen him coming in with
Jessie my heart had stood still. and
then was so angry could have shaken
my fist at him. But now began to be
confused in my thoughts about him.
There he sat, the same old John, and
couldn't believe he was q traitor. Yet,
what had brought him here in Jessie's
company? The more L cooled down,
however, the more sure was it would
be explained in some way.
But. of course, my feeling couldn't
help Jennie at all, just now. knew
she had jumped 10 her own conclusions.
How she Strengthened upp There were
head. The color was fixed in two bright
spots upon her cheeks. She looked
right at her book and began to sing Sc
clear and strong that | was fairly
startled, and was afraid everybody
would notice the change. John knew
well enough where she was by thi.
time. He gave one half-glance round
that was all. Poor innocent joint HI
told us all about it afterward. Well, a.
/ was saying, Jennie sang firmly for ,
verse or two, then she suddenly ceased
"What is the matterp" | whispered
for was frightened about her.
I'm too wicked to sing words lik'
these" she said.
She did not sing another note tina
night, but when the meeting was abou
to close she whispered to me: "Nov
Phpbe, mind you don't loiter. We'r'
nearest the door; get outside just as fas
as you can, before the people get rouat
us"
Now in my heart would rather hav
fingered little just for the chance O
learning something that might explain
it all, but of course couldn't refuse t.
do as Jennie said. We got out the doc
quickly-Jennie first, though hurrie,
as fast as could Once outside sh
took hold OF my hand and started oi
like deer. The sky had become over
cast and it was perfectly dark. 1t wa
one of those hushed, breathless night
that sometimes precede summer ra n
storm. 1t seemed as if the very crick
cts were smo.hered by the dark and tn
silence. We ran headlong, but W
knew the path well enough, and it wa
tolerably smooth. We got well ava
from the crowd coming out behind II
and had turned off the main street an
were halfway down the second hill bt
yond. was going to ask Jennie
stop running, ior 1 was getting out {
breath, when, suddenly, some obstacle i
the path struck our feet from under III
We fell headlong over mass OF some
thing hairy, soft and warm, and OF
! heads and hands were thrown sharpl
against the gravel beyond. We coul
not recover our senses before the hea
over which we had fallen began to rii
under us. was rolled to one sid