Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-03-30

| paths of life which must he taken up
whether the heart carry its direct ache per-
| petually with 1t or not For the blow she
had received served first to show the
strength and depth of love now remain
ing only to be crushed out
Ono pang was still to be added. Six
months from the time of Ethrng's depart
ure came n letter-containing the delayed
cards, Us LII al knew by the size, shape
and feeling of this missive. This she al
| once rcinc osed to the printed address on
the corner of the envelope, adding merely
| these words:
Il return your letter and contents with
out opening Any further communication
| of whatever nature from you, Mr.. Eshrlng
| will meet with like return.
LILLIAN STASFoRTR"
Now, on the evening when E.hring had
declared his love, Jack, who had entered
the room unobs,rved, heard goodly share
! of what was going on, before he had pres
| ence of mind enough to beat noiseess re-
treat
He was an honorable, manly boy, and
kept his knowledge to himself. That Eth
ring had written Lii at the expiration OF
the appointed time filed his heart with
eXultation. But when he knew she had re-
| turned the letter unopened, Jack felt that
| something was wrong
What, he had no conception until late in
the following winter. Bobby Merrlck hap
pened in conversation to speak of Mr..
Ethring's marriage. And being anasty sort
of boy, alluded in n haunting sort of way to
the fact that folks said Lii Stanforth was
breakin' her heart over it"
am happy to say that Jack administered
n athrashng then and there to young Merrick
which he remembered for many day. And
then, boiling over with wrath, Jack went
home and up to his chamber. Then he con-
cocted the following epistle, still preserved
in the family archives:
MAPLEToS, MAY 30, 1888.
| MR.. RoBT. ErHRISG: Sir, II you Are gen
| tleman you will Civ Ne satisfacshLn SO from
| one gentleman TO Another for the elite you
showed my Lill by going on and Marrying the
Rose girl when you AS good AS promst Lii
you lovd her, for | Herd you myself by axi'
dent. II Lii dies you will BE to Blame And she
looks Like Deth sometimes now. let Me here
from you at once. JOHN SrANfoRrH.
In reality this was more a scape valve for
Jacks anger than soberly meant as q chal-
lenge Still, it served the purpose
Easter Sunday, with suggestion of spring
flowers in The breezes, and bonnets brought
forth by the morning, had arrived. Iill,
ready dressed for church, sat down at the
piano 10 run ONel ihc hcW uhuhchi VIZ
| choir were to render.
Suddenly Jack, strangely excited, dashed
into the room.
"Lill-oh, Lii, " he breathlessly exclaimed
lit wasn't our Mr.. Ethring that was mar
| ried after Ill and dashed out closing the
door behind tall handsome young man,
at the sight of whom Lii uttered little cry
and pressed her hand against her heart
"Lillian-my love, Llllian-thank God
oh, thank God!" And in another moment
she was clasped to her lovers heart
Service was over 1t was remarked that
Miss Stanforth had never rendered the
| music commemorating the glad resurrec-
| tion with such beauty and power. Her face
| was, 81 to speak, transfgured and shono
| with n,,' beauty-the beauty of perfect
love, for Lii If sanity in spirit, was very
human withuL
Robert Ethring, the broker, is one man,
Robert T. Ethrng, banker, quite another,
the young man explained. "And / am by
no means millionaire, he said, with a
smile; though i have enough to live
on and support wife. 1t seemed that
his losses had been greatly exaggerated
from the first Then the absconding book
keeper was arrested and goodly part OF
the stolen funds recovered. Fortune
smiled upon Ethrlng in every thing except
ing his love.
And when you sent baek my letter with
inclosed Photograph"
4Your photograph, and thought 1t was
your wedding cards." cried LII Can you
ever forgive mes"
Il think i can," was the quiet reply.
And he placed the lovers seal of forgiveness
on the sweet lips half upturnei to meet his
own. And this is why Robert Ethrlng
often speaks of his wife as his Easter
Lilly" FRANK CONVERSE