Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-06-22

10 your saiu Mrs. johnson 10 the
squire.
"Littlc Tommy wcstlake," was the
reply.
"What did he wantp"
"Why, he wanted to know If we'd
seen John to-day. He says John got
up very early this morning and went
away, leaving his work undone, and
they have not seen him since"
"Strange," said Mrs. johnson.
"Moll, Moll! Hurrah, Mollr'
shouted one of the boys.
"What'' said Mary, coming to the
door,
John Westlake has found another
Moll and ran off with her."
"All right was the reply, 'let him
go. can easily get another John"
"She has got another one already"
muttercd John.
They were all now at dinner; every
thing was quiet.
"Give me liberty or give mo death!"
said John, as he crawled out
Now, like savage fleeing from his
enemies, he ran, STOPPING, along tho
fence and past the barn to the corn
field. AS he sprang over the corn-iield
fence the dogs..caught sight of him and
started in pursuit, yelping and bowling,
while old Bull, from the barn, with loud
mouthed bays, indicated his desire to
join in the chase.
"What in the world is the mattcrp"
exclaimed the Squire, as he quit carving
to listen to the uproar.
"Hurrah!' said the boys, jumping!up
and running to the door.
"What's therep" said the Squire.
"Something in the corn-field," was
the reply.
Jones cattle again. Go over, Tom,
and put them out"
Tom, when he started, saw some
thing twisting about in the middle of
the field, but when he got there he saw,
nothing, though he met the dogs
homeward bound and apparently badly
frightened-John, when he found them
about to overtake him, had stopped by
a stone pile, and had given them a re-
ception which they could not stand.
Tom went back and reported: "Noth-
ing in the field!'' but it was n mystery
which he could not explain, why the
dogs seemed so badly scared.
John when he reached home went
round by the barn, through the garden,
and into the house the back way.
Going UP stairs quietly to his room,
he put on n suit of clean clothes; then
going down as quietly as he came up,
he reached the barn by the roundabout
course he had taken when coming in.
Now from the barn he started and
marched boldly up through the yard to-
wards the house.
| Tho far,il,, ,ynro NJ I;pnar U,11,;n.~
in he hung up his hat, pulled out his
handkerchief, wiped his face and said:
In time yet, l see."
"Wc're glad to see you back, john"
said his mother; "but we'd like to know
! where you've been.h
Yes, give an account of yourself, :"
said his sister Julia. ave had about
concluded that you and Mary had gone
to Gretna Green, or some similar place. -
"Well, I'll tell you," said John.
"You know | told you a few days ago
that some of the academy boys were on
an excursion to the city this morning,
and wished me to go with them. / did
not intend to, but thought l would go
over this morning and see them off
"You know the train starts very early,
and | expected to be back in time for
breakfast; but when got on they held
to me, coaXing me to go with them, un-
til the train was going too rapidly for
me to get out and of course was car
ried to town and had to wait there until
the return train, which, you know, does
not come out until near noon"
This explanation was satisfactory to
all expect John-it was lie which he
had been working up all the forenoon
for this occasion. He felt bad over it,
yet it seemed fitting conclusion for the
blunders of the day-how else could he
conceal what for the world he would
not have any one but himself knowp
That afternoon he was in anything but
n good humor. In the bayfield, he
worked by himself as much as possible.
He seemed to have a special ill-feel-
ing towards his dogs; if one of them
came up to him, no matter how friendly,
he was sure to get a rap over the back
with the hay-fork that sent him away
bowling. The relationship that existed
between Mary and the other John was
u question that now troubled him.
Yesterday he was of the opinion that
he could have her for the asking, and
now it seemed evident that she already
belonged to some one. The loss, or the
danger of losing her, made him realiz,
how much he loved her, and like
many another man, under like circum
stances, he was willing to overlook de
fects.
domestic abilities!" said he. "Wha
do care about her domestic abilities
will have Mary johnson if sh,
| 1nas,r'f ly,,n,,r nnn,,nI, 70, hnl r,
breadI'
J That afternoon he made resolution
Tomorrow evening"" said he, %.
will go over and tell her frankly
how much love her, and ask her to b'
, mine"
The next evening John drove up t,
Johnson's door. Mary came out t,
greet him, and gave him her usua
cordial welcome. After talking
little while she said, somewhat mis-
chievously:
"By the way, John, you walked owe
last time, did you notp"
NO." replied he, not comprehend
!. !. ing; "don't you remember, rode oil
y CharleyP"
John could not muster courage to sa
I what he desired until leaving time
and then, as they stood upon tn
porch, he, with his arm about he
y waist, told his love and asked her to b
. his wife.
< "John," she said in reply, "let m
tell you a story"
"Once upon time there lived not fla
: from here gentleman and lady. TIL
: gentleman, who esteemed himself ma
of great prudence, was in love with tn
lady, or at least his attentions led her
4 believe so.
"But before making proposal he
as man of prudence should--resolve
y to satisfy himself in regard to her abil
. ity to conduct the affairs of househol
- but instead of trying to obtai
this information in an open, mar
:, ly way, he was foolish enoug
to try TO obtain it in accordanc
with Gonna fnnliQh o6yico tba lilo =