Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-04-02
A POOR DREAMER.
His Idol, a Woman Whose "Smile
Was Very Sweet"

woman changed the whole tenor of his
existence He met her in Westbourne
grove, one autumn afternoon, and
though she smiled not at him, but at an
old crossing sweeper who was thanking
her with excessive volubilty for six-
pence, yet her beautiful face was so
charged with sweetness that there arose
within him new sensation which he
could not define.
.'Can this be love?" he asked himself,
gazing earnestly after the graceful
figure disappearing around the corner.
"Pshaw! it is absurd. l don't even
know her name"
He continued his walk more slowly
toward Kensington gardens, where he
was accustomed to go for his daily con-
stitutional.
"What is love?" he proceeded.
"Unity-the dovetailing of angels--the
meeting of extremes; therefore depend
ent upon the logical faculties which
alone can classify, separate and unite.
Consequently, without thorough knowl-
edge, love is impossible. Yet her smile
was sweet-yes, it certainly was very
sweet" AT the thought of that exquis-
lite vision the dull gray eyes frightened,
and the sallow, careworn face wore q
peculiarly soft expression.
Bond rented lodgings-d -dingy rooms,
Uttered with books and papers, from
which his landlady was forbidden to re-
move the dust. He was seldom there,
however, for he lived in dreams, the
construction of which occupied most of
his time, to the exclusion of more solid
work. Why should he workp He him
self did not see the need, for the pro-
ceeds of a Fellowship supplied him with
food and books. If his clothes were
shabby it was from want of thought
rather than from want of means A
tall, gaunt, black-bearded man, with
rounded shoulders, he went about like
n scarecrow, most tempting object
for the small boys in the ncighborhood
to pelt with jokes and orange peel.
Walking homeward through n back
street he met n number of them Just
turned loose from Board School.
They were engaged in tormenting cat
held firmly by string round its neck.
At another time Bond would have gone
swiftly by, anxious only to escape to
peace and quietness, but now it was
ditferent-why he could not tell Some
causes are too subtle for analysis.
my good children, +" he said, advanc.
ing nervously, you shouldn't do that,
you know"
They turned and faced him, q du.
bious group ready to assail or flee,
according as he showed weakness OIL
strength.
"Why do you beat the unfortunate
animal?' he pursued
.'Cos it's mine" replied the red.
headed young urchin who held the
string.
"Highly illogical, my boy"
"Findin's is keepin S, you know, guy.
nor. Master wollops me, so l wollops
my cat"
''Human, no doubt, but not humane -
said Bond with smile. "Will you sell
it?"
They opened their eyes and grinned
at one another. After q pause the
young spokesman demanded: II say,
guv'nor, what ye givep"
Ten shillings. See, here they are.
Is that enoughP'
Needless to say the bargain was struck
on the spot. Bond paid the money
put the cat under his arm and walked
off, followed by yells of laughter In
his thread bare clothes he certainly
looked an ungainly figure at any time
but the struggles Of the sleek and hand
some tabby to free herself from his EN-
brace made him a more than usually
remarkable object.
Now, why did buy this creature?'
he asks himself. "Was hatred o
cruelty the sole motvep No; each ac
is the resultant of two or more forces
Though the comparison may be carried
too far, the cat naturally suggest
woman; she is the old maids com
panion; why not the old bachelors a
wellP am lonely. There we get /,
the bottom of the matter-selfishnes
under the guisc of bcnefcencc. No
quite the bottom, however why NOR
lonely to-day than yesterday Blu
stay; only fool searches for frs
causes. All, yes; her smile was yer
sweet"
Though the weather was by no mean
cold he had n fire lighted in his sitting
room, in order that his new pet shoul
enjoy the cheerful blaze. Abundant
provided with milk, the cat soon mad
herself quite at home. Her master
after silently contemplating her for
few minutes, let his thoughts wande
away into the realms Of fancy.
He had already given name to tn
Fair Unknown, and that name wa
Eulalie-the prettiest one he could thin
of. He depicted her in her home, SUI
rounded by smiling faces-fathel
mother, sisters, brothers-all uniting [
render homage to the beautiful Eulali,
and then he saw her in another HON
no leso happy, himself her vis-a-vis an
sole admircr. Somehow or other til
cat purring on the hearth rug at his fe,
seemed to be link between them.
was absurd, no doubt; he tried TO strul
gle back into more rational mood
but all in vain he seemed to hay
drifted into another sphere in whic
reason was unknown.
Next morning Bond went ont into I'll
grove again. He was out of sorts, l
told himself. and wanted walk badl,
And yet he fingered among the shop
looked absently into the windows, an
with furtive anxiety at the passers-b,
But of sudden he turned scarlet, fC
on the other side of the street wa
Eulalie-a queenly woman, tall an
stately, charmingly dressed, with
fringe of dainty little brown curls on h,
forehead, and face like an angel
People turned to look at her as she wei
by; had they bowed down before Ia,
Bond would scarcely have felt surprise,
She was attended by couple of hant
some rnen-one diiferential. the oths
more observant of the sights aroun,
Her brothers, commented Bond, wh
had squeezed himself into a doorwa,
and peePed timidly at her over the boi