Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-02-10

about her face. Her poor shrunken
features woro drawn In pitiful way,
and she wiped her eyes with hcr apron.
Paul saw she was crying His heart
sank. Every bit of the zost OF their
joke was taken from il by the sight.
Ned, in the rear, saw nothing, and
Paul could not collect his thoughts
quick enough to turn and tell him he
thought it best TO turn back and give
up thcir sport Somehow, since 1t
had been arranged ju5t how they
were 10 deliver the letter, and with
just what gravity and ceremony, he
did not at the instant see his way
clear TO any thing but to do it. So he
stepped upon the rude stone doorstep
and knocked.
Ned was on guard, to run il johnny
should be moro than commonly threat
ening. He was dumbfoundcd when
the door was opened by the little, pale
old woman, who tried, but was not able
to stop crying.
Paul had his hand inside his coat
upon the envelope, but hesitatcd MS to
how he should proceed. He was too
generous at heart and too tender to
willfully wound any one, and how
could he hand out the painted bur-
lesquc to that forlorn creaturcP
"Is this Mr.. Shay's houscP" he stam-
mcringly asked.
She nodded her head, with corner
of her apron still to ono eye.
T, lao ,s hn d..
Not word of answer, but only an
other nod.
IL hope he ism sick, "said Paul, so
touched at her distress that tears start
ed in his own eyes.
"Ilc is" said the old lady. John
ny's very sick. Come inside, young
gentlemen.
What could they do but enter the
low doorway?
1t was squalid place. There seemed
TO be but one room, or, at most, only q
pantry and one small bedroom off.
The stove, in which there was only a
little fire, stood nearly in the center,
and in one corner was bed, from
which Johpny raised his wild, haggard
face as they appeared.
my stick" he muttered, "Give me
my stick! Quic!s-quick! Give it to
me, mother. / can drive them away"
"No, no, johnny" she comforted;
"the young gentlemen have only como
TO nsk how you are. They knew that
you were sick. and wanted to see if you
were better"
These words soothcd him and he
tried to smile.
"Thcy are not the ones that run after
me, are they, mother?"
mo, no, Johnny; these are nice
boys Lie down now, and try to 60 to
slccpn
He laid his head back on tho pillow
with weary groan.
She turned to Paul and Ned.
Hes been so wild all day. l think
it's his old hurt. couldn't leave him
to get doctor, but he ought to have
one right away, I'm sure" appeal
ingly.
Let me run and get one for you,'
said Paul. "My father is doctor, and
! know he'll come"
Ned had turned away from the clean
but shabby bed to look around the
room. The fire was low, and thero
was neither wood nor coal in sight
And don't you need some wood,
Mrs. ShayP" he asked, eager to be of
service.
johnny tried to get mo some ready
before he got so bad. But the pain came
on, and he couldn't do any more.
There's some outside, but it isn't cut. I"
The boys drew apart, and whispered
to each other.
"1'll stay here and split some wood,
Paul, and you run home for your faith
er."
Johnny tossed uneasily, and NUT
tered, lifting his face now and then
with distrustful stare. The mother
kept going to the bedside to reassure
him.
Never before had Paul run faster-not
even at "hare e-and-houndsn sn-than he
ran now toward home, while Ned went
back to the house, threw off his overcoat,
took Johnny's saw, and fell to work furi-
ously. He sawed and split an armful,
took it into the house, rekindled the al
most-exhausted fire, and then went
back to get enough ready for the night
Paul, meantime. had been lucky
enough to find his father just driving
up to his own stable. He told his story
in few words. Mr. Dudley wheeled
his horses head about, told Paul to
jump IN, which he did and they were
soon flying back to Johnny Shay's.
"You know the way, don't you. IA
ther?" asked Paul.
"Oh, yes; I've been there good
many times. But how came you to be
over in that part of town, and to lind
out about johnny"
This was n hard question for Paul to
answer. He stood somewhat in awe
of his father, and cared very much for
his good opinion.
"Why, Ned Wallace and 1--we"
He did not know Just how to confess
what now seemed TO him such con-
temptble trick. His father noticed his
confusion, and eyed him keenly for n
moment.
"Well, father" Paul said, frankly,
''Ned and started to do n mean thing.
We saw some comic Valentines in
window down street, and one of them
looked exactly like Johnny Shay. We
thought 'twould be fun to send it to
him; but we were afraid he wouldn't
get it, and so we concluded to take it
ourselves, and leave it at the door. We
expected he'd chase us with his stick. "
"H-m-ml" said Mr. Dudley; "and
did you leave the ValentinePn
ono sir. for .Iohnnyis mother vau