Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-02-20


Mira was in iignant She tried to
catch her husbands eye, and endeav-
ored TO protest by touching his boot
with one foot, and by treading on
Flora's gaiter with the other, but Thad
was dull and could not comprehend,
and Flora, without hesitation, demurely
moved over beside Mira. With proper
acknowledgement "the gentleman J"
seated himself.
He glanced at Flora There was n
twinkle in his eye. Flora blushed but
was evidently pleased.
Mira was very nervous and angry
She put up her palm-leaf so as to pre-
vent, IL possible, the two from seeing
each other, AMI tried to draw Flora
into conversation.
"Take this magazine, Flora, and look
over the fashion notes, so that we may
know what to buy when we get to Buff
falo."
"Oh. | know what l want!' Flora
said, with an impatient tossing of her
head, rcsenting the interference of her
cousin. "As il / needed duena!" she
said to herself. al think I'm fully able
to take care of myself, and know quito
as well as she does what is proper or
improper"
In the meantime, "the gentleman"
and Thad were talking about the time
they were milking, the hour they would
get into Buffalo, and other road mat
ters, and through all the talk there were
occasional glances between Flora and
the stranger.
As list resort Mira exclaimed: Its
very dusty, Flora, the cinders are dan
gerous. Take my vail and put 1t on. l
have another in my satchel."
mo, l should smother" Flora re-
piled, pushing away the two and half
yards of brown beregc rendered her.
Just then, the pcanut-boy came along,
and Thad bought oranges for the ladies,
and ''the gentleman" also indulged in
one or two purchases. He offered some
of his parchel corn and candy first TO
Thad and then to the ladies. This
brought more fam liar relations, helped
unconsciously by the innocent Thad,
and in spite of Mra's frantic attempts
to appropriate 1.-THE gentleman MS" gen-
eral remarks and to make the replies,
he succeeded in making more or less
conversation with the willing Flora.
Arrived at the city, it was a matter of
course that "the gentleman" should
assist Flora in taking her travelling
satchel and other belongings from the
train, especially as Thad was giving his
attention to his wife, and that he should
be invited by the unconscious Thad to
occupy the vacant seat in the carriage
which conveyed the whole party to the
Tiff House.
Here "the gentleman" took his leave,
with an impressive manner towards
Flora which made her blush. Mira was
almost beside herself with indignation,
and before they were in their rooms be-
gan with excited volubility to tell Thad
about the mirror and "the gentleman's"
significant smiles and glances.
With much vehemence Flora pro-
tested, made denials and endeavored to
justly herself.
Il didn't make eyes at him." she
said. II didn't look sentimental. Why,
Thad! / didn't look at HIM bit more
than Mira did. And there was no more
harm for me to look at him than there
was for Myra. 1t did not hurt my
eyes"
"a girl can not be too careful in such
matters" Thad said. soberly. "Men
often presume upon the slightest
grounds to press their attentions. You
would feel very much humiliated to find
in the morning paper personal adj
dressed to you. )"
'I'd think the personal, in fact the
whole thing, very funny, anyhow" re-
turned Flora. .'But no man with any
sense would take advantage of the tri-
fling things that Mira is making such a
fuss about"
"But some men are made up without
sense, or rather should have said
without principle" Thad said, as he
put on his hat for the street
.But the man of the looking-glass
isn't that kindr' Flora retorted, with
nod of triumph.
In half an hour Flora was ready for
the street and for shopping. AS she
sat waiting for her cousin, there was a
rap at the door. She opened it. A
the Young Lady of Room "a, Tiff
House" Slipping the letter into her
pocked, she called to Mira, in the DIRE s.
ing-room, "I'll wait for you in the
parlor," and hurried along the cor
ridor, feeling balf-guilty, and yet ex-
cited and curious to know ii the letter
was really from "the gentleman" who
was in the cars. Reaching the parlor.
she opened and read 1t with throbbing
heart and glowing cheek. Then she
wrote on one of the hotel cards:
"RooM "a.
"MR. BES-Sentiment is independent of
name or place or other ext enfernas; , Tne & Yield,
right conditions, II you have anything fur
ther to communicates. shall be in Buffalo for
week and you can address me through the
post Office. To-day we shall be in Room 81
Tiff House. OF course that forty.mile ride
on the Lake Shore Il. Il. was too amusing to
forget"
This she addressed to "Mr Ben, P.
o. Box 1928"
Some hours later, when the ladies re-
turned from their shopping to the Tiff
House, Mira saw Flora take letter
from the table in her room and place it
in her pocket. She asked no questions,
and in a few minutes was doing on
the sofa. Ten minutes passed, when
she was aroused by shake, and saw
Flora, pale and excited, by her side.
Mira! Mira'' she said, "please
wake up and tell me what to do. I'm
SO frightened that I'm almost crazy!
She threatens to expose me-"
"To expose you! Who threatens to
expose you?" said Mira, sitting up, be-
wildered and frightened. "What in
the world are you talking aboutp"
"Oh, | forgot that you don't know
about it," said Flora. why, you see,
that man wrote me few lines.
"What MANI"
THAT man who was in the car"
He didp" cried Mira. "The impu-
dent, presuming"
"And I wrote him a few lines just
answering few questions"
Why, Flora Denton! Aren't you
ashamed? What would your mother
sayp Writing to a strange man is ut
terly disreputable! i don't want the
responsibility of having you in charge
again. Why, don't you know that such
thinn- ara f,,ll nf Iannarp'f