Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-01-25

Only TO step round tho corner. There!
she knew, was the police station, and,
for the news she brought them she
would get E50i She claspcd her hands
tight, and sat perfectly still, all the
while knowing that every second less
ened her chance OF securing the living
piece of property valued at ESQ. In
her present straits, E50 seemed fort
une to her. No ono who has not gone
through similar experience can ever
know what that temptation was to Mrs.
Craven. As she sat, her strained ears
caught the mothers voice again.
'1'll not keep you. though my heart
is breaking. My bonny boy come to
this! Oh, God, most merciful, save
him from felon's doom"
"Mother, pray for me. If escape,
| vow to lead an honest life and make a
home for you. 1t has not been my
fault. Pray God TO forgive and help
me.n
Clara's grasp of her hands relaxed.
Then, with white face and sorrowful
eyes, she stood up and looked at her
two tiny sleeping boys. Then on her
knees she fell, and stayed in earnest
prayer until she heard the stealthy foot
steps creep down the stairs, and the
front door closed; and then she stole to
the window of her darkened room,
and, looking out into the lamp
lit street, watched quick walking
figure in an old country woman's cloak
net, such as her old neighbor always
wore; and she knew that the young
man had escaped in his mothers
clothes.
One of the most old-fashioned houses
in an old couAtry town was Miss Grey
brooks. A steep flight of Immediately
clean steps led from the pavement of the
High street to her hall door with its
shining brass knocker and bell-handle.
On each side of this hall door was
large bay-window, Just high enough to
make it inconvenient for any one to
offer to shake hands with Miss Grey
brook when they were in the street and
she was tending her flowers in the win
dow. At the back of the broad hall that
went straight across the house there
were steps leading down into large,
well. kept gardens, and these were in
closed by substantial brick wall that
effectually protected the fruit and flow
ers from pilfering fingers.
Inside the house everything was ex-
pressve of wealth and solid comfort.
Miss Greybrook herself was regarded
by the towns-lolk as peculiar, but her
peculiarity being accompanied by riches,
she was never made to feel it unpleas-
antly. In person she was tall and
angular, and pair of piercing
black eyes that shone out in vivid
contrast to her gray hair gave her re-
markable appearance. Her caps were
always made high and her dresses
shorter than anybody else's, and she
made no change for fashion or favor.
Now this old lady was Mr.. Tom
Craven's godmother. And on the very
cold, dull winter morning, of which [
| her high-backed chair in front of the
bright steel fender at sound of the post
mans knock, and advanced to meet the
elderly servant who brought in the let
ters on a silver salver.
"None from him." said the old lady
when she was alone again, turning ovel
four letters eagerly in search of hand
writing that was not there. poor ant
proud, like his father Well, I've seer
much folly in my time, but if he refuses
my offer, question if there is q com
panion idiot for such mann'
1t was three weeks since she had writ
ten to Tom Craven, addressing her let
ter to the Office of Brown 4 Co., by
whom she thought he was still EN-
ployed, and offering to overlook tn,
hideous mistake he had made in marry
ing apenniless orphan-girl, and to de
vote substantial sum to further hi
prospects in life. On the very mornin.
that she was bewailing openl,
her godson's pride, and secretly he
own, our friend Tom received repl
to the letter he had sent to Brown 4
Co., politely regretting that they coul
do nothing further to help him, and in
closing Miss Greybrook's letter, whicl
had been lying nearly three weeks a
their Office.
Clara, with the sadness of the las
nights struggle still upon her, raj
down the rickety stairs at sound of tn
postman's knock, and received the let
ter for her husband. When she arrived
breathless, at the top floor again, sh
watched his face us he opened it. TIL,
few polite lines from the business mel
fell unread to the ground, while TIN
envelope they inclosed was torn eager
ly open. Clara looked over his shoul
der and read, too, and then with on
glance Mt the renewed light and vigol
in his worn, anxious face, she relin
quished her role of bravery, and criet
out the misery of months in his arms
Bobby walked and BERTHE crawled tt
the scene of action, and seeing thei
mother in tears, lent shrill aid to tn,
chorus. Upon which they were kissed
blessed and cried over till they though
the world represented to them by thei
father and mother) had gone mad
When partial caimness had returned
Tom spoke joyously:
"Now wife, sell something of you
small store, and send telegram fror
me to the dear old girl!''
"Tom!' cried Clara, laughing
through her tears, ''how disrespectful'
But the telegram was sent an
brought in solemn wonderment to Mis-
Greybrook before ten o'clock by tn
postmaster himself. When once sh
had the opened paper in front of he
eyes, and devoured the in
formation that her godson wa
in London, and desirous of seeing he
Immediately she gave orders for fly t
be in readiness to catch Che next up
train, and that her fur travelling cloa
and boots should be put to the fire i'm
mediatcly. In the anxiety that all tn
domestics felt to take share in the gen
eral excitement, Miss Greybrook's cloa
threatened 10 be torn in pieces, an
when wanted. one fur boot was foun
warming in front of the kitchen fire, tn
other reposng on the sheep-skin ru
beside the drawing-room steel fender
However, vouchsaiing never word G
explanation, but, happily for the SAINT
of those she left behind, dropping tn
telegram in the hall as she walked ou
to the fly, Miss Greybrook started alon
on her travels.
The dull foggy shades of Londo
winter evening had gathered, and tw