Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-07-28
Jack Morris was the only SON of Judge

and Mollie had been friends and play
mates in childhood. The year before
Mollie went away to school Jack was
sent to distant city TO study law, and
they did not meet again for four years,
when, his studies over, Jack came home
to spend few weeks before beginning
life as lawyer. Mollie was home on
her annual vacation at the same time,
and they met, fell in love, and became
engaged with the full consent and ap-
proval of the elders. They were to be
married as soon as Jack was well
established in business, but no one
outside of the two families was aware Of
the existing engagement.
Sunday morning broke, clear and
lovely, and Mr.. Piper cautiously up-
closed his blinds and took a survey of
his neighbours premises. Everything
was quiet as usual, so he said to HIM
self .Guess the young lady Is not up
vet, or, perhaps, it being Sunday, she
will be quiet. Time enough for her
racket yet"
appeared at the door, and fair Miss Mol
lie stepped out upon the lawn, making
charming picture MS she stood shad-
ing her eyes with one hand from the
sum- and drinking in the beauty of the
summer morning. Mr.. Piper stood
spell-bound before such loveliness. As
he gazed, his previously formed preju-
dice against his fair neighbor vanished,
and he was only recalled TO himself by
the appearance of Miss Marcia calling
her niece to breakfast.
From that time Mr.. Piper knew no
rest until he had called and been in
troduced to Mollie. He called frequent
ly after that, and the neighbors began
to wonder at the change in shy Mr..
Piper. After two or three visits stute
Mollie saw how the land lay, and re-
solved upon some fun to while away the
tedious weeks until Jack should come to
turn Cherryfeld into an earthly para
disc.
Although as desperately in love as old
bachelors are apt to be when they finally
do succumb to the charms of some fair
one, Mr.. Piper was so bashful that he
hardly looked at Mollie, but spent his
time during his frequent calls in con-
versing with her aunt. This just suited
Mollie, and the mischievous girl set
about deluding her aunt into the belief
that Mr. Piper was courting" her
Miss Marcia would not listen to word
on the subject at first, but rs Mr.. Piper's
visits became more frequent as the days
went by, and Mollie never let an OPP
portunity slip to sing his praises and
descant upon his apparent devotion to
her, that lady was at last forced to be-
lieve that he really intended asking her
to become his wife.
Great was Mollie's amusement at the
many little attempts at personal adorn-
ment on the part of her aunt. Miss
Marcia was in her youth quite pretty,
and even now, at forty-fve, few women
of her age could boast such thick glossy
hair, clear eyes and smooth skin. She
seemed to be growing young again.
June passed, and July was drawing
to close, when Mr.. Piper was called
to the city on business. During his
absence Jack Morris came, and pro-
ceeded to spend much of his time with
his fair betrothed. He was duly en-
lightened concerning Mr.. Piper, and,
together with Mollie, pictured with great
relish that gentleman's chagrin when
he learned of their engagement.
After weeks absence, Mr.. Piper re-
turned, and proved the truth of the old
saying that "absence makes the h"art
grow fonder'' by realizing himself more
desperately in love than before. He
arose the morning following his arrival
home, after spending restless night
considering the case, fully determined
on asking Mollie to marry him, and
while in this frame of mind expressed
himself as at the beginning of this story.
After breakfast, he took walk in his
garden, and seeing Mollie on the lawn
called out:
"Miss Mollie, please tell your aunt
that | am coming over, this afternoon,
to see her on important business"
Mollie delivered the message in such
n manner that Miss Marcia was con-
vinced that the important moment had
arrived, and Mr.. Piper must be coming
to propose.
AT four that afternoon, as Mollie lay
swinging lazily in the hammock, per-
feet picture in white muslin and blue
ribbons, she heard the gate turn on its
hinges, and, looking around, beheld Mr..
Piper coming up the walk, his face very
red from the combined effects of the
heat and his nervousness, and look Of
desperation overspreading his features
, | llC lCtul hCu llSl SOot-dltCl
noon" in Hurried manner, and hast
ened into the parlor, where Miss Marcia
in her best black silk, sat awaiting hi!
, arrival.
Hardly had his portly form vanished
within the door before Jack Morri!
| came strolling down the street, and
, ignoring the existence of the gate, tool
, his six feet of humanity over the low
1 white fence, and approached his divini
! ty, who by this time was in convulsion
t Of laughter.
"Might / ask the cause of your hilari
I ty, fair oneP' said he. sit must b,
0 something uncommonly rich to caus,
: such merriment Oh such very hot da,
as this"
r 80 Jack!' gasped Mollie, as soon a
. her mirth subsidized sufficiently to ALLOW
Q of speech. "Mr. Piper has just gon
a into the house to see auntie, and | au
Q almost sure that he intends asking he
Q for me. It's too funny, and yet / fec
n a little guilty when / think how l l.,v
! persuaded her to believe that it is her
r self, and not me, in whom our venera
BILE friend is interested. wish coul
: see the fun! l am dying to know wha
r he will say. Stay-I have it! Let's g
i around to the south window, where til
e honeysuckle vine grows, and we can Sc
it and hear without being discovered"
No sooner said than done. The
:. fastened to the spot, and, ensconcn
l. themselves in the shadow of the thickl
It growing vines, found they had an exec
II lent view of the room and its inmate
and were in no danger of being seen b
Is them. They arrived just as Mr.. Pipe
T. drew his chair to Aunt Marcia's sid,
g and said nervously:
y "I-ah--c called this afternoon ali
e awful hot day, ma'am, to-ah-to spea
1t TO you on a very important subjec
l. You must know from my frequent vi
y it's" continued he, gaining courage {
he went along, somsthing of my fee
d ings, and may be aware of my inte
n tions."
IS Here Mr.. Piper paused, but receivir