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

he first saw her. He took her OFF on
fast horse, and the old man chased
them with yoke of o on. Fact Did
you ever hear anything more ridicu-
lousp Now they are living in fine stylo
in Paris"
"Splendd! just like storyp' said
Tilda. ''But then, l would go to the
ends of the earth with one loved"
All. then, my sweet girl, go with
mel am rich and well connected, and
but come to think of Tiny money
and my watch are gone, and my mother
is sick waiting for me-"
"Of course, would not go with you
under any circumstances, said Tilda,
mildly.
"But if come again TO WOO, per-
haps to win you in the regular ortho-
dox style-perhaps you would not OBJ
jectp'
Tilda, with avorted face, blushingly
replied that she could not tell.
"And you will accept this diamond
ring--one that belonged to my mother,
and is family heir-loom--to remind
you of me, while am gomez
Tildas eyes opened wider; she
thought she had never in her life seen
anything so splendid as this pure, white
stone encircled by emeralds, which she
allowed him TO place on her finger.
II certainly was no harm, she
thought to allow this, and as he sug-
gested that she might let him have only
enough money to carry him home, it
seemed to her that her father could not
object when he learned his name, if
she should let him have the twenty dol
lars in the old money-box, that he had
put aside for taxes, particularly rs the
young man promised to return it in
the hrst mail after he reached home,
with five dollars for interest
20 she went to the bureau, opened
the box and gave him the money. He
took it with profusion of thanks. and
gave his name as Edgar Montague. AS
he left the door, he stopped and kissed
her, dec airing that he should retsrn as
soon as the illness of his mother would
allow him, and gain her fathers con-
sent to make her his bride.
1t seems almost incredible that any
girl could be deceived by such disgust
ingly abr lpt love-making and gross
compliments. But Ti.da knew nothing
of the world, and her book heroes and
heroines were OF this character.
No sooner had Mr.. Montague" gone
than came Patty, one of the neighbors'
daughters. Mother had spell,n she
said, land could she borry some
camphirep'
"Oh my. what splendid ringP' she
cried.
ats my engagement-ring," said
Tilda, proudly; "or just as good. The
gentleman who gave it to me lives in
New York. and never saw him before,
but he fell in love with me at first sight,
and / shall probably marry him right
away
Away went Patty with her budget OF
news. In few hours, every neighbor
within half mile knew that Clotilda
had diamond ring and was going
to be married to New York gentle
man. ..r-
THda was awakened from her dream
of magniiicence by the arrival of hel
parents and her brother. Mrs. Fry
went upstairs to remove her bonnet,
and then gave shrill and terrified
shrek. An earthquake and cyclone
combined would hardly have created
more confusion.
Her husband and Tilda and jim
rushed upstairs A scene of confusion
met their eyes which will not soon be
forgotten. Every drawer and closet had
been sacked and their contents thrown
about the floors. Somebody had dressed
himself in Jim's best broadcloth ant
left in their place threadbare, dirt
crushed clothes and shocking bad hat.
The old gold watch, an heirloom, al
Tilda's little trinkets, valuables of every
kind, were gone.
Tilda remembered the noise she haC
heard upstairs, and resolved not tc
mention her "diamond ring or more
of the conversation OF the young man
her father sfriend-then she could help
But she forgot that simple Patty knew
all about it, and that Patty was the gos
sip of the neighborhood. In forty-eigh
hours, everybody in the country wa!
talking of the robbery, and laughing a
the silly girl who had conlided in ;
smoothly-spOken rogue, dressed up il
her own brothers. clothes, and had evel
lent him money out of her father desk
AS for the ring, that proved to b'
utterly worthless. Poor Tidal Neve
was girl more thoroughly mortified
In the confusion the book she had b el
reading was taken up by her father
He la d it aside, and the next day
after showing her its character, he tool
it between the tongs and threw it in tn
fire, declaring that if he ever saw an,
more such trash in the house he woul'
shut Tilda in her room and keep her OIL
,, bread and water for a month.
, Thn upshot of the whole affair wa
that the tramp, an ACCOMPLISHED villain
who had already served his time il
States Prison, was soon arrested, an
poor Clotilda suffered the severe mort
, tication OF being obliged to identify hin
!, in court Even he, when he saw her
burst into coarse la gh, while tn
long-faced Judge and the lawyers ha
, all they could do, as she told her story
to suppress their smiles.
But the cruel lesson sufliced. Re
nance had lost its attractions for her
and sensational novels and stranger
, are just now'both alike repugnant.-
: YOUTHS Companion.