Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-05-26


father and mother, IL success, and In
case of failure--why, the least said
the better. And now, that II was fin
ished, they hung II in Walters room,
having united all their little savings to
buy as nice frame rs they could for It.
Almost week yet must elapse before
the opening of the exhibition, and both
Walter and Nettic wished it had been
but day, so full were their hearts of
hopeful expectancy. Every night Walter
fell asleep gazing at the Roman Lady,
and his eyes turned with unfailing de-
votion on her first, when awakening.
Now, the only assistance employed
by their mother In her household work
was poor colored girl. who was what
is called half-witted;" her vacant, ex-
pressionless face told how little of the
mind had been given her that teaches
one to act and think sensibly; but she
was very obedient and harmless, not
withstanding the queer, foolish fancies
that had given her the name, among
children, of Crazy Peggy" Once or
twice only, in her life. she had been
known to do strange things, and some-
times seemed possessed by foolish fears,
making her timid and frightened of
things in which no one else could i'm
agine any cause for alarm.
1t was one of Peggy's duties each
morning to clean and dust Walters
room after he had gone to school for the
day, and the very first morning after the
picture had been hung, she stopped
right before it. and gazed at it as if
spell-bound; again she turned away to
go about her work, but glancing back
nervously all the time at the face on the
wall with its great dark eyes, which
seemed to the foolish girl to be staring
iixedly at her, and following her wher-
ever she went. From one side of the
room to the other she moved, the eyes
really appearing to move rs she did. till,
with her usual duties only half per-
formed, poor Peggy hastily left the
room, glad to escape from the eyes that
seemed to disturb her so.
The following morning 1t was just the
same, only the strange impression of
fear had taken stronger hold on the fool
ish girl, and she hurried about, giving
only frightened glance now and then
at the stern eyes that never seemed to
cease their close watch of her, and
away she sped, leaving q very imper-
fectly-cleaned room.
The third morning came, and poor
Peggy acted rs though she had really
grown desperate under the strange
spell of the picture. Once she clinched
her fist and shook it menacingly at the
innocent Roman Lady, but dropped it
again, quelled by the staring eyes.
Slowly she walked to the bed, half cry
ing now, and muttering to herself:
81 want that ar CONAN to stop starin'
at me;' and, glancing back nervously
to meet only the same relentless gaze,
the poor silly girl seemed actually to lose
the little mind she had, and, rushing to
the hearth. seized porker sharpened al
one end, and without moments de.
lay was again before the picture cx.
claiming: "rll fix yer," and the next
instant punchi went the cruel poker
through one eye, punch! through the
other, and there hung the poor Roman
Lady with only two round holes in hel
fair face where the dark eyes had been
With grunt of deep satisfaction, bu
frightened glance at the havoc she hat
made, Peggy finished her cleaning, ant
left the room.
"Run up stairs, Nettie, and put thes
clothes in Walters room," said he
mother as Nettie came in from schoo
n half-hour earlier than her brother.
With never thought of the disma
+ awaiting her, the little girl ran light,
r up the steps, laid the articles in thei
proper places, and then turned for a
/, admiring glance at the Roman Lady.
With half-uttered cry, and a sudde
7 terror-stricken clasping of her hands
u / Naftin ctnnI lilyn natriftnH hnfnr
l the disfigured picture. She could no
\ possibly believe her own eyes for
moment; not till she drew nearer, and
reaching up, actually placed her finge
in the poor pierced eyes could sh
!. realize the terrible, mysterious catastro
l phe.
Lost in grief and bewilderment sh
stood, uncertain what to do, till sudden
D ly Walters voice from below broke th
spell that seemed holding her. Instant
ly all her thought was turned to him
she must try to tell him gently what ha
$ happened that he might be spared tn
sudden shock experienced by her.
fastening out of the rooms, she stoo
! at the landing of the stairs as he cam
bounding up, her little face lookin
, pale with grief, and her hands sti
l clasped tightly together Scarcely nc
! ticing her, Walter was passing hastil
ON, when she laid her hand detsiningl
on his arm, and said in low, tremulou
voice:
80 Walter, don't, don't go in ther
yetr'
Her brother stopped and looked at he
J as if he thought she was suddenly losin
her mind. ''What in the world is tn
matter, Nettie, you look as though yo
:, had seen something terriblep"
= 40 Walter" she repeated in rcluc
tant, broken sentences, "the Lady
: the Lady"
In moment the words had filed hin
with vague alarm.
! "Tell me, Nettie!" he cried almos
. angrily, "what is it--what do yo
meanp"
80 Walter, the Roman Lady-has-
has had her eyes put out?'
:, Walter paused only an instant, s'a'
and then, dashing past her into Ii
was reHecting the impression OF hers.
"Who could have done it!'' he CRIED
y at last finding voice. Who has RUNE
;, my pictureP Oh, Nettie, who, VIII
!. could have done such thingp'
- 81 have thought and thought" sal
Nettie, dejectedly, "and 1 know
I could be no one but Crazy Peggy; wi
J, go and speak to mother about it /,
y once"
u She was turning to leave the rooi
y when Waiter caught her, almost rudel,
= by the arm. "stopp' he cried, 81 wi
. not have you say anything about i
!, father and mother never cared abol
y y my paintings; everything and everybod
y is against me; will never, never II
), again, and don't want ever again
u u bear of my picture?'
" Poor boy, grief and anger had take
y full possession of him, and seizing IL