Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-08-07

ing over Jne adventures OF Jnc uay In
their own room.
"I am glad il you like him." replied
Lucy.
"Why sop'
Because think he is in love with
you. saw it in his eyes when he sat
watching you on the boat"
Nonsense, you little goosey. Most
likely he has sweetheart already"
But Jennie blushed as she said It, and
Immediately got up and went waltzing
about the room, humming gay air,
every few moments pausing to make
some remark which showed that she
was thinking of Ensign, and that her
thoughts were pleasant ones
CHAPTER XIII.
VISITING THE MINES.
Mr. Annclsey's visits to their fathers
cottage ceased with the departure of
Jennie and Lucy, and John Parsons was
Tits left without means OF obtaining
frc ;ucnt or reliable information of the
progress of work mt the mines.
He was at the landing every day or
two with produce for shipment, and
always inquired of such rs he met if
they had any news from Gravel Hill,
but received no information of pos
tive character such as he had been ac-
customed to obtain from Mr.. Annelsey.
He had, in fact, questioned that young
gentleman so often and SO mnutely
that he felt as il he knew the mines,
and all the deta Is of the work of prep
aration for working them, rs perfectly
rs if he had located them and superin-
tended the labor of the men himself;
but now he only heard rumors, those of
to-day being contradictcd by those of
tomorrow. OF late, too, he had frequent
ly been answered impatiently, almost
rudely, by those whom he was in the
habit of questioning about the mine.
They felt no especial interest in the af-
fairs of the mining company them
selves, and could see no reason for his
solcitude, and were growing weary of
his constant and persistent inquiries.
1t was known, of course, that the son
of one of the largest stockholders had
been somewhat intimate with his
daughter, and there were found gossips
who intmated that 1.-The old mans de-
sire for information from the mines was
really desire for information of GER
TAN young man who had made his
headquarters there during the time he
was not roaming over the country,
flirting with such young girls as were
foolish enough to permit it.
And then the moral vultures, from
which even country neighborhoods
are not always free, tluttered their
wings and indulged in another little
flight of fancy.
The pretense of return to school
was only blind" they said. "Lucy's
parents had found it necessary to send
her from home for time, and her
elder sister accompanied her as nurse
and to prevent any suspicion of the true
cause of her going"
No one who knew the family well
gave any heed to these tales, but there
were those who did believe them, and
who looked upon the changed appear
ance of John Parsons as confirmation
of them for there was no denying that
there was a change in him. Among his
neighbors and at the landing he had
been noted for the hearty manner with
which he greeted everybody, whether
boy or man, and for a jovial expression
of countenance that gave an instant
impression of a prosperous and con-
tented man, as well as the possessor of
a kindly heart. But now his whole ex-
preston and manner was changed.
Often at the landing he passed men
whom he knew, without appearing to
see them, and looked at strangers with
out speaking, but in manner which
seemed to question them of their pur-
pose of coming to the locality. All the
jollity had left him, and his greetings,
even to his best friends, had lost their
hearty cordiality, and he inquired less
frequent after their health and more
and more often if they had any news
from the mines, until even they began
to wonder if there might not be some
thing in the rumors which had reached
their ears, and one day when he had
seemed particularly dowucast, neigh
Dor in reply to his usual inquiries for
news from Gravel Hill, said:
'.See here, Parsons, l know it isn't
any of my business, but if were you
l believe l would go up to the mines
and see Mr.. Annelsey. Young men are
really bad at heart, and may be ifyou
see him yourself and talk to him with
out showing temper he'll do the square
thing"
The "square thing" that John Par
sons wanted done was to leave him and
his in undisturbed possession of their
home, with its vineyards and orchards,
its plot of ground where the turkeys
and chickens and ducks wandered and
nested and raised their young; the rose
bush over the cottage porch; the vege.
table garden at the side; the. fields fol
pas urage and grain stretching away
on every side.
He thought of Mr.. Annelsey only in
connection with the mine whose wash
ings might flood his ranch and destroy
all that Martha and he had labored sc
hard to accumulate and leave them il
their old age to begin all over again
And what use to begin again if this
place, too, should be wrested from
themp He would have no heart, M
faith to 90 farther or do more. III,
should feel that God was out Of the uni
verse; that the sun had set in eterna
night if forced again to take his lovet
ones and flee into the wilderness.
! Not the faintest intimation of tn,
meaning of the neighbours word
reached his mind. Had it done so, hat
iiC hhONh WINS Vi
friend implied stain upon the charac
ter of his daughter, he would have re
, sented it in manner to prevent it
! repetition, at least in his presence; bu
, he saw only suggestion that he shoul'
, go personally to the mines, see with hi
, own eyes how great the cause for alarm
: really was, take advantage of his &C
quaintance with Mr.. Annelsey in tn
, work of securing information, and il
! case he found the danger imminent, t.
, induce the young nan to use his inilu
ence to avert it
: The neighbor's allusion to Annelse
/ as wild" he did not notice; or, if h
: did, supposed that the speaker intcnde
a to convey the thought that the CON
pany might not be inclined to Civ
Q much weight, in matters of business, t
a the advice of SO young a man; regard
9 ing him as inexperienced, and conse
: quently wild in his judgment But tn