Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-04-02

! from his sight his breath came fast and
thick; he almost feared lest he should
never behold her again. He saw her
entcr a shop, and presently come out
again. Quite unconscious of the exis-
tcnce of her shabby admiror, she pro-
ceeded on her way, and soon disap-
peared in the crowd.
Then with the desperate courage
which is perhaps most common in timid
men, Bond plunged into the shop and
asked the assistant her name.
"You mean the lady who was looking
at the glovcspn inquired the dappcr
youth, pausing in his task of returning
them to the box in order to stare with
evident amusement Mt his questoncr.
"The ladym repeated Bond, abscntly,
There was but one in the whole world
for him. "Yes, yes, of course"
81 don't know her name, Sir"
Bond looked disappointed, But see
ing pair Of gloves which had just been
tried on he pounccd upon them eagerly.
What was this strange thrill that went
through and through himP The touch
of vanished handP Sympathy
Surely he was travelling the road of
knowledge.
81 want a pair of gloves" he said.
"These will do nicely
They are ladies, Sir, suggested the
assistant.
"Oh, they'll do. My hands are not
large" He blush.d as he spoke, for
they were huge.
''Shall put them in paper, SirP"
paper! Yes, wrap them up care
fully. Gloves are apt to be soiled in the
pocket
1t was not n very rational act he had
Just committed, and yet he contrivcd to
cover it neatly with little pretenses and
so disguise its real purport. Was not
he a student of human nature? and was
not the glove an index to the handP
Here, then, he was starting at the be-
ginning of things, as became Il sound
philosopher. So, for the purpose of his
study, he laid the gloves on the table
before him and riveted his gaze upon
them. He even pressed them passion
ately to his lips, an act that made him
blush as deeply as if Eulalc herself had
witnessed it. Had not she touched
them? and ah! what sweet smile she
had! Logic could not fathom that, but
he recognized its truth nevertheless.
During the ensuing fortnight Bond
went out every morning in the hope of
getting brief glimpse of the charming
Eulalie, and when successful returned
brimful of happiness. The rest of the
day he invariably spent in building cas-
ties, constructing new settings for his
gem. 1t was II delightful occupation,
this continual intercourse with his
divinity. Though she knew him not,
probably had never even seen him,
they two lived an ideal life together.
Wherever she went this shabby book
worm whom it may be she would not
have deigned to notice, accompanied
her in fancy; he dined, walked, talked
and laughed with her; he invested her
with every virtue, set her in perfect
home and provided her with every COM
fort, content himself to be her devoted
slave and minister to her wants.
In accordance with this theory Bond
attributed to Eulalie qualities the very
opposite Of his own, or rather, what he
supposed to be his own, for he set very
humble value upon himself. He made
her out to be all that is pure and lovely.
'She is generous he said; .sdid she
not give sixpence to crossing sweeperP
l never gave siXpencc to crossing
sweeper in my life. My temper is vile,
hers is sweetness itself Did | not see
her smile? She is the most beautiful
woman in the world. / am the incar-
nation of ugliness." He looked in the
glass and saw it was true. And so he
had no difficulty in constructing his gol-
den image, before which he, n vile
creature of clay, meekly bowed his head
and did obeisance.
There was n STRANGE pathos in the
love of this solitary student for an un-
known woman. whose influence. nm
consciously exerted. had cone far be-
yond the limits of her nersonal ocnuoint.
ance. Had it done nothing else it
would have raised him above the dreary
level which he had so long occupied.
but il presently took n more practical
turn. When he bcheld his cheerless
room, the cat the only homely thing in
it, and Thought of that perfect home of
his fancy, there flashed into his mind
the question: Where is the money to
come from? and what am /. to aspire
to such as she. even if had the moneyP
This thought fell upon him like n tbun-
derclap: it threw him into n stupor, out
of which he emerged TREMBLING.
Awakened TO the reality of his dream.
the strong man girded up his loins. and
put forth the strength which had kither-
to lain dormant. Though he could not
forego the pleasure of seeing Eulalie
every day il possible. the afternoons
and evenings were henccforth devoted
to work. Many years before he had
begun to write a book, which he had
not had the energy to finish; he now
took itup again, and worked at it day and
| night, Fame and fortune opened ont