Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-08-29
MIRIAM DOUGLAS.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, sir; but
the lock on your sachel is broken, max
ing the things unsafe, hes des being n
veri shabby old bag, sir, begging your
pardon" So quoth Eliza, relict OF
Josiah Minis, the sexton, to her lodger,
Rev. Julius Byron.
"What bore" exclaimed this gen
tleman, when really haven't the time
to attend TO anything but these lctters!'
al have an errand which takes me
past Piper and Tipson's; l could buy
you new sachcl, ii you would trust
me. Geing among all those fine people
ut the wedding with your lock tied up
with u bit of string wouldn't do at all,
sir"
"Thank you, Mrs. Minis; have great
trust in your judgment, and should be
obliged if you would attend to the mat
ter for me and save my going into
town."
AS the door closed after his landlady
Rev. Julius Byron resumed his writing
with sigh of relief. AS he sat leaning
his head on his disengaged hand-a
hand beautiful enough to atone for plain
ness in all other features had nature
willed him to be plain-Jnlius. Byron
eyes, with far-awav, dreamy look. hair
long enough to show tendency to wave
loosely back from the forehead, and
pale, clear complexion set off by
golden-brown velvetcen coat, which he
years old. undeniably handsome, gifted
with winning manners and shepherd of
ock most willing TO be guided, Julius
J. H.. ~ l. 4
being spoiled and petted into ell'emnacy.
His safeguard lay perhaps in pair of
soft eyes which had held him spell
bound for n few rapturous weeks, and
the witchery of which had lasted over
three years of almost total separation.
Miriam Douglas, dispensing tea and
gingerbread to horde OF charity
children in the park AT Mount Edge
combe, was one of the prettiest and
dai tiest of modern Hebes, in mus in
dress in colors matching forget-me-
nots and her eyes equally well. and
with roses Mt her waist and throat
which stole their delicate tint from her
cheeks. Miriam was seventeen that
day, and the 1lue muslin was her first
long dress; TO this the little lassie paid
far more attention than to the admiring
gaze of two dreamy brown eyes. After
the feast there We're offerings of flow
ers, good wishes, and rather too many
kisses and embraces from the charity
children, and, among her other
trophies. Miriam Douglas carried away
the heart of Rev. Julius Byron. Had
she known this, it would have affected
her less than the cons iousness that the
Barclay girls, her former playmates,
were enviously admiring the grown-up
womanish arrangement of her bright
silky hair.
There were Il few tennis parties and
five o'clock teas after til S, during
which Mr.. Byron worshipped his divin-
ity from afar. She seemed little in
awe of him and rarely spoke with him
more than five minutes Mt time.
What delightful task it would be to
chase away the timidity from the soft,
fawn-like eyes, AMI how pleasant to
think that the sea-shell pink stole tc
her Gle ks from .oy at his apl COACH!
Fate, however, cruelty intcrfered
with MIR. Byron's dream of ava lening
loving con dencc in the bosom of this
bashtul maiden of seventeen. In three
short weeks. before he had made any
perceptble Roadway, Miriam was sum-
moned to the bedside of dying rela-
tive and Julius Byron was called to
parish in commerc al town.
Three long years this idyl had been
in the past and through all this time the
memory OF Miriam Douglas excluded
any other love from the young clergy
mans heart. though many were the
goddesses willing to be therein en-
shrined
He wondered at himself; she had
slipped completely out of his material
eXlsterc.; he knew not where she was.
or if she were dead, or worse-married.
Still. with all this uncertainty, he could
not forget her, and voice within him
seemed to whisper that they would meet
again.
The rapid skimming of his pen over
the white page was stayed for the sec
ond time by a heavy footstep at the door
outside; and Mrs. Minis. painting and
crimson from the ascent Of the steep
stairs, exclaimed;
''There, sir; you could not have found
better or cheaper sachel yourself if
you had searched the town from end to
end. Piper and Epson say on their
oath that it is n iirst-rate one, and that
you needn't fear exchanging with any
one by mi take, for they had only one
of the kind. This decided me to take
it, for, being rather an absent-minded
gentleman, you might easilyp up the
wrong bag"
''Thank you, Mrs. Minis, thank you;
each time that you do anything for me
you give me fresh cause to admire your
clever management and forethought"
In the wedding to take place on the
following day Mr.. Byron felt no partic-
ular interest The contract parties were
almost strangers to him. as were also
the guests, with the exception of Will
lis Howard. schoolmaster of days
gone by, and friend ever since of the
young Clergyman.
Owing to the illness of the BRIDES
mother. the ceremony was performed
at home. 1t was pretty wedding, the
bride graceful, sweet and pale as lily
in her sheeny, ileecy drapery; and
among the guests was the subdued mcr-
riment which prevails when the enter
tainers exhibit unreservedly the signs of
JOY and sorrow the smile and tear both
coming from the heart.
After the ceremony Mr.. Byron par
took himself TO drcssing-room to fold
his surplice and replace it In the sachel
chosen by Mrs. Minis. While so en-
gagged letter was handed him with the
word "immediately' written conspicu-
ously on the envelope. The contents
were as follows;
MARLOw HALL. Thursday, lStb.-If Roy.
Julius byron could find II convenient 10 Of
tc.ate at u private baptism this afternoon az
Marrow Hall he would confer a great favor
on the undersignvd, Mr.. Byron Is 10 luested
" pardon the apparent brusqaerte OF this no