Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-02-23
A DANGEROUS LOVER.


A pretty, inexperienced girl was Clo-
tilda Fry. daughter of one of the rich
est farmers in Clarke County. Her
pink cheeks, bright eyes and brown
locks, with very attractive expression
of face, gave her certain right to be
called the L tile beauty OF Lake Farm.
Tilda knew she was pretty. Added
to this, her noyel-reading had excited
her imagination, and her ideas of life
and of her own future were full of roman
tic notions, that only an inc Sperienced
young girl could have. She tossed her
head at all the farmers boys who sought
her acquaintance, and felt that she
should like to be sought by some ele-
giant suitor. who, if need te. would car
ry her off by force, as. her novels had
pictured. t
OF course, the child-for being but
sixteen she was looked upon by her
parents as hardly more than child
never gave voice to these thoughts. If
she had, she would have been soundly
lectured by her blunt father.
1t happened about this time that two
men, who offered sweet-scented soaps
for sale, had been in town and had
called at many of the farmers houses.
Their appearance was such that some
of the farmers had suspected them of
being something worse than small ped
dlers.
At this time, too, house in the vii
lage was entered and several articles of
value taken from it. This had ca lsed
great excitement in the quiet country
town. and everybody was more careful
that doors should be locked, and that
the houses should not be left without
some one to guard them.
One Sunday, Farmer Fry, after
fam ly consultation, decided that Clo-
tilda should remain at home from
church in charge of the house, and that
new boy he had Just hired should stay
on the premises, so that the house
should not be lett unguarded. Clo-
tilda's heart gave bound-so did 10.
seph's. She would have such "splen-
did chance to read book she had
secretly borrowed, "The Robber of the
Rhine" while he decided that he
would 60 down to the end of the mead
ow and spend the forenoon in fishing.
Farmer Fry and his wife stepped in
to the new carryall, while James, the
son. mounted his horse, to which Clo-
tilda had given the sonorous name of
Thunder.
IL,
YOU must call Joe,n said her father, the
reins in his hand.
land you'd d better take the key out
of the silyer-closet," added her mother.
.sDon't let any one run away with
you, sis,'' laughed her brother.
"There' a loaded stol in my drawer"
Down sat Clotilda on the porch, the
coveted novel in her hands, a frightful-
ly-illustrated, paper-covered volume,
dirty and thumbed, the prospect of rev.
cling in lis pages giving her. a pleasure
of which any sensible girl would have
been ashamed. Tilda knew that this
was unwholesome reading, and that it
was also forbidden; but she had become
infatuated by it, and was rapidly losing
her pleasure in the ordinary concerns
OF lie, declaring to herself that they
were very dull and insipid.
She was Just reading in the novel:
"1sabel, startled by the clash of bayo-
nets, darted frantically up the compan-
ion-way," when suddenly it seemed 10
her that some one was walking in the
room overhead.
"Perhaps it joe" she thought; and
going to the foot of the stairs. she called
him.
No answer followed.
"Any one up thereP''
All was as still as the grave.
sit was only nv fancy" she said to
herself, and for ten or fifteen minutes
became once more absorbed in the vol
ume, when she heard footsteps. This
time well-dressed young man came
from the vines around the corner of the
porch. Tlda let fall the book with O
cry OF alarm.
pray don't be afraid" said the new.
conner, in pleasant voice. 81 am o
friend of your fathers and have come
toask favor"
s''Papa is at church, said the girl
reassured. The man looked to her like
gentleman. He had black eyes and
hair. and the "divinest smile!'
"Indeed! I'm very sorry. / was
stopping at the hotel at the Center, ano
was robbed of my money and watcl
last night. This morning 1 received {
dispatch that my mother is Ill, and
want to get home on this account for
fear it's dangerous illness. If hat
the money. could hire horse ant
buggy to take me TO Dash, where tn,
express train for New York is due thil
money, ana l hoped 1 could borrow
twenty-five dollars from your iather
he knows me- and IL he has itwith him
am sure ne would loan II TO me. Nov
! must wait, suppose, TILL ne return
from church and then 1t Will be too lat
10 catch the AFTERNOON express. Ihougl
II could only get to Dash. possibly