Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-04-14
COLOR-BLIND.

say they intend to make you marry the
Professor, whether you wish to or notpn
There was an indignant look on Tom
Nelson's strong, sun.burnt face, and an
indignant ring in his deep voice.
Yes" answered Rene, that's Just
what it amounts to. They mean to
make me marry the Professor, as I'm
not inclined to do it willingly"
"But you don't mean to do itp' said
Tom, savagely.
mo, Tom, ! will never marry him.
said the girl, impetuously. "Why, Tom,
haven't been promised to you since we
were babiesP'
"Yes, Rene; and your parents seemed
pleased enough with me until he came, :"
said Tom, bitterly.
Never mind, dear old Tom" an
swered Rene, as she put up her hand
and caressed his cheek. II am pleased
with you, and always shall be. Isn't
that cnoughp"
"Quite enough, little one" said Tom,
in an altered tone. l think could get
along if everybody else disliked me, if
you were pleased with me-"
just then voice in the direction of
the house-Rene and Tom were in the
garden-called
Rene, Renen'
"Yes, MOTHER
"You must come right in," said Mrs.
Alexander. 1.-The dew is falling and
will take all the stiffness out of your
muslin. And your father says Prof.
Appleton is coming tonight. | want
you to be ready to receive him."
Rene gave an impatient stamp of her
little foot, and Tom growled:
"Confound the Professorr'
A moment later he had kissed Rene
and been kissed by her, and was strid-
ing away, while Rene turned and walked
with reluctant feet toward the house.
"A good lookin' lad and honest as
the day is long" was the homely praise
his neighbors gave Tom Nelson. II
Diogcnes had lived in TOMS day and
neighborhood he would not have been
obliged TO hunt long for an honest man.
AS Rene had said she had been prom
ised to Tom since both We're babies.
Words of love for each other were
among their first utterances, and while
Tom wore roundabouts and Rene very
short-sleeved aprons, they registered q
VOW TO marry each other. Unlike mosi
engagements entered into in childhood
the compact remained unbroken. Tom
had brains and nerve enough to become
almost anything he might have desired,
but he loved every foot of the fine old
farm that was one day to be his, and
every room of the comfortable, home
like house where he was born. and he
chose to till the soil. Before the ap.
pearance in Linwold of Prof. Appleton
Rene's parents had smiled on Tom anc
encouraged his marked attention tC
their daughter. They doubtless thought
that II young man who was to become
sole owner of ten thousand dollar
farm, we'll stocked, would not be Il baG
son-in-law for n not over-succcssful doc
opens, Prof. Appleton had come tc
teach Greek and Latin in S College
Rene met the Professor-a tall, gaunt
sallow-faccd, bald-headed man of forty
who was always scrupulously dressed
in the finest OF broadcloth and most i'm
maculate of linen-at the house of f;
mutual friend in the village, and the
learned gentleman proceeded mt once tc
fall in love with her. He managed Il
become acquainted with DIR. Alexander
and received an invitation which he wa,
not slow to accept, to visit at his house
Since the day when that visit was made
Rene had been really prosecuted b,
Prof. Appleton's attentions. She die
not like the man. He bored her ex-
ceedingly with his dry talk about thing,
she did not understand, or sentimental
speeches about things she did Sh,
constantly refused to ride or walk will
him, and talked or listened to him n
little rs was compatible with the sim
plest politeness.
"She is n prudent girl" said the Pro
fessor to himself. "She does not car,
to have much to say to gentleman tt
whom she is not engaged. will speal
TO her father"
He spoke to her father, and gained
the Doctors full and hearty consent
Tom Nelson, seeing how well pleaseC
Rene's parents had been with him, haC
never thought it necessary to ask form
ally for her hand. Doctor Alexande
informed his daughter that Prof. Apple
ton had asked permission of him to ad
dress her, and then and there Rene We
hemently declared she would never re
ceiyc the Professor as II lover, and sure
ly never become his wife.
"Girl, you are mad" said the docto
angrily. +" Prof. Appleton is worth
have taken pains to learn-iifty thousan'
dollars, and the honor of having Pro
fessor in the family is good deal, as
sure you. In short, command you L
receive Prof. Appleton as your futur
husband. "
"And remember ii is also my desir
that you look upon the Professor wit
favor" added Mrs. Alexander "Hal
the girls in the village are crazy afte
him"
Rene's lips opened to say that any O
them might have him for all of her, bu
she had never been disrespectful to he
parents. She turned and walked on
of the room without word, but wit
hot rebellion in her heart. 1t was !
the evening of the same day that Rem
met Tom in the garden and the CONVEX
sation we have recorded took place.
Rene went 10 the house, five minute
after being called by her mother, deter
mined to be SO disagreeable to the Pro
fessor that he would never ask her to b
his wife. But instead of the Professo
came boy with note from tina
learned gentleman, saying he had take
a severe cold which would debar hir
from realizing the pleasure he had an
tlcipated for that evening, and that h
hoped he should be able to call In a fe,
days. About this time Mrs. Alexande
determined TO give party. At fft
she loved gayety better than did Rem
at twenty-five. A week from that even