Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-05-14

ety, anu, DclHH pTcttN thoroughly unuc
her wholesome influence, Fred submit
ted to be led to the sacrifical picnic al
tar, exhibiting under torture n meek
ness and resignation that were at ono,
lamb-like and heroic. II Is something
to which, in the hands Of clever wo
man, we ure all liable to come, so dc
bot consider this manifestation of in
bercnt weakness on his part.
Standing with reluctant feet
| Where the brook and r'Scr moot
was Janoy. Brown and slim, with IN;
unframed grace of willow branchc,
sweeping over still, dark pools, wa:
Janey, with streaming banner o.
dusky-bronze hair and q sluggish RED
flushing duly beneath the warm brown
of her smooth, firm checks. And one
great gift was hers; in the long, sweet
scented summer twilights my mellow
chords would thrill into undreamcd-o oI
richness under the dcft, magnetic touch
of her long, dusky fingers. She played
as birds sing, as flowers unfold, rs maid.
ems dream, obeying law she knew not
ola command voicelcss but cchoing
through all time and space.
Not many strangers cast second
look at Janey when Ada was near. She
had none of that blooming beauty and
aggressive personality that character
lied the elder sister, but those who did
look twice were certain TO look thrice
and again. 1t is my opinion that there
have been those who looked oftcner
than was conducive to their own peace
of mind, but we won't go into details
now. Janey was about utsevcnteen just at
this time, large-cyod, dreamy yohng
person of no particular Importance in
the busy household over and above the
daily dusting of the best parlor; and
do not have any notion that her opinion,
any more than mine, was asked when
Frcd and Ada finally concluded to be-
come engaged-or perhaps it would be
better to be exact and say when Fred
concluded to become engaged.
1t was only about week after this
interesting event that Aunt Prim, from
whom our pretty Ada had indefinite
"expectations, took into her crotchety
olo head that it was time for her to
make another attempt at dying. She
had been in the habit of treating her
long-suficring relatives TO Il deathbcd
scene about twice per annum for longer
than care to remember, and If the
final event did not 90 off without n
hitch it would not be for lack of full
dress rehcarsals. Ada, who had an
eve to the main chance and recognized
the necessity of keeping firm grip on
Aunt Prm and her probable lcgacy-it
would come handy for the trousseau-
started off precipitately with big box,
l;,,1. l,,- 40, ,,,b;ln Ernl stnnI Iaro
headed on the platform and endeavored
to look properly disconsolate as his
fiancee faded away in a halo of nasty
smelling smoke, rejecting placdly that
Fred had delightful manners and she
hoped he would not get n sunstroke rs
a reward of merit.
OF course, Fred was very fond of Ada,
else why should he want to marry herP
But, to speak the truth, which has
always been my practice, Ada was
very practical as well as very exact
ing young person, and / suspect that
the poor young man furtively welcomed
the opportunity of Strengthening his
mental vcrtebra and drawing u long
free breath once more before settling
down to the cramps and kinks of the
matrimonial condition.
TWAS, nevertheless, little dull with
out vivacious Ada mt first, and in his
new capacity of engaged young man
Fred had not the hardihood to begin n
new Irritation with any of the rustic
bellies under the very eyes of his people
in-law-clect, so he fell into the habit of
spending many of his spare hours in
the society of brown-eyed Janey, whom
he had hitherto hardly noticed. Surely
no one could object to that-and no one
did, more's the pity.
Well, don't suppose it will be hard
for any one with spark of romance or
imagination in his or her composition
to guess what happened. Indeed, if
the romance and Imagination both be
lacking, little knowledge of human
nature will anwser every purpose. They
fell in love.
OF course it was fatally miserable
thing to do, but the long list of such
casualties in existence plainly goes to
show, in my opinion at least, that the
organs of the head and the heart have
not even bowing acquaintance.
Of the two Jancy was by far the most
innocent and unsuspecting-thc woman
usually is at first, although she often
strikes n balance by triple-plated mis-
dong after having taken the fatal
it was not until she felt
Fred's eager kisses on her lips that she
awoke to the knowledge of love that
was at once mightier than herself and a
cruel wrong to the absent and unsus-
pecting Ada. Fred being, it is safe to
cunpncn rnnrn nInnrinpnn5 In tho cvnn-
toms of the tender passion, should have
realized their common danger and re-
treated from the serious companionship
before it was too late; but he didn't,
and the little pastoral was played out to
the bitter end and cXpiated with tears
and midnight vigils by the one and
much cigar smoking and inward curs-
ing by the other. And then Ada came
homeland that was the worst of all.
II will never accept my happiness at
the sacrifice of hers. / have been weak
and wicked enough to almost justify
you in thinking that of me, but you are
mistaken. You will be my brother or
nothing" Jancy said, firmly, and Fred
answered with white, trembling lips:
Then shall be nothing"
<hut npo III WV hif5 hSSt Vi pii'S NhNh
she returned. Aunt Prm had not died,
to be sure, but she had given her the
loveliest old brocade for n wedding
dress, and promised to be present in
person at the forthcoming ceremony
and she would be sure to bring some
thing handsome.
There was n fearful thunderstorm
that night 1t had been sultry and
ominous to the westward all day, and
soon after Fred mounted his horse and
rode away into the flitful blackness the
furious storm broke overhead. He had
been firm in his resolution to 90,
though the whole family, with the ex-
ception of Janey, endeavored to dis
suade him from the attempt.
THAT last clap was n sumner.
Shouldn't wonder If the lightning struck
hereabouts," remarked Farmer Holt as
he slowly pulled off well-worn boot
and gazed rehectively into its capacious
depths.
Morning dawned clear and brilliant,