Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-01-25

southern plateau the child was able to be
about the house, blithe as n little MANNED
bird on his single log and crutch. Ths scant
sewing that the mother could procure was i'll.
paid aud inadequate for her needs, and she
quietly opened another industry. She made
the fact known that she was ready to wash
the soiled linen Of the town Hop Wing,
who had hitherto monoplized this industry
Mt prices so extravugant that no was fast
rising to position of affiuencc, Vowed this
cncroachment upon his peculiar province
with unfcigned alarm. He lowered his scale
of prices and starchod the bosoms of Pal
meas shirts until 1t became necessary to
uso gimlet for the insertion OF shirt studs
but In vain. A generous tide Of patronage
flowed in upon his competitor.
The doctor and his wife sometimes dis
cussed the anomalous character of the
woman with whom Fate had brought them
In contact.
II can't quite mako her ont" tho doctor
once rcmarked; ITO look at hcr one would
think her incapable of feeling-that she mad
scarcely human instinct. She is develop
ing into the hardest business woman | ever
saw. Yet am inclined to think that the
night first saw her size WAS stimulated by
courage of the highest order. an heroic self
forgetfulncss that conquered her own ply
steal weakness"
~ understand her perfectly" returned
his wife, with prompt femini ne decision;
"she is constructed on n different principle
from ordinary women Some gentle in
stinct of sympathy-of WON minly tenderness
is wanting in her composition. / have
seen her day after day, you know, my dear,
and l ought to be able ID judge. Though
she is not bad sort of woman at all,n she
| generously conceded.
"Curious sort of u namc, isn't it'-Mrs.
| Ruthstan. II has very fancy sound"
ut doesn't sound like roal name at all"
returned Mrs. Belden, severely; oh, she
has n history behind her, and we shall know
it some day, depend upon it."
1t so happened that the very next day the
doctor stumblel across an old friend,
newly arrived in the place, und brought
him home. "Bossie, you remember Jack
Grosvenor-the oldest friend have. You
| remember he would have been the best
man at our Wedding"
| "If hs hadn't bDen busy getting married.
himself n thousand miles away. Yes, re-
member, and an very glad to welcome
you to our home, Mr.. Grosvonor" said tho
DOCTORS wfc, holding out hor hand with u
| winning smile.
But there was no answering smilo on tho
| face Of the man shc so cordially greeted.
| She remembered her husbands description
of the gay, light-heartei fellow and tried TO
identify him with this sbberfaced, reserved
man, who had silently seated himself by
tho window, and was looking out over the
plains with an abstrdctel air.
Jack las just como back with q party
/ from Guaymas, explained the doctor; "he
has made a rich strike down on Pocahantas
Mountain"
"That Is very good" said Mrs. Bclden,
| absently, wondering why her husband
| should make su, Il q point of his friends
business success, or speak of it as il il were
| of vital interes. to her.
~ am glad fGs Jack" proce,lel tho doc
tor, little aw rwardly; "he has bean telling
mo something Of his experience to-day
You don't mild my telling Bessie, Jucki-
and he's had hard pull Worst of nll, he
| lost his wifs"
II am very sorry"
mo, not TINT waym hastily interrupted
tho doctor; "lost sight OF her. He LEFT her
| In Denver three years ago. Heard from her
ones or twice, but his roaming life was not
favorable to correspondence. Now he tells
! me he has lost all trace of her."
show very strange" Her woman's curl
osity was roused. "And she was such n
pretty woman, Mr.. Grosvenor remember
the lovely face of the photograph you sent
us, wh9n you were married. Such n
dimplcc, laughing facsl Where was it /
saw ono that reminded me of it, not long
agol"
~ can't say 1t seems so very strange to
me- remarked Gro,volor taking part in
the conversation for the first time, and
speaking In ldbored, husky voice; ~ Won
der that she put up with 1t 50 long. We had
had hard tlmc of 1t for years. You know
how she had been reared up. She was n
| Miss Ruth Stauhope, of Richmond of the
| old Virginia Stanhopes. / was never able
| to provide for her Ia the way she had been
| accustomed to at home. / left her with al
most nothing. She was n proud, spirited
woman. She tirel of the struggle and went
bnck to her friends. / had hoped she might
hold out ON account OF the boy"
"rhe boyi Then you had child"
| Grosvenor asscntcd with mute gesture.
Ruth Stanhope," repeated the DOCTORS
wife, slowly, looking steadily at her hus-
band, who sent her back significant
glance; "and the boy-how old would your
| little son be now, Mr.. Grosvenor!"
| ''h little more than seven years"
Robert have nu errand that must be
| attended TO at once. You and Mr.. Gros-
| venor will excuse me. will not be long"
Mrs. Belden had snatchel up a broad
| hrimmed hat and was tying it under her
chin as she spoke, her eyes kindlcd with
excitement, her cheeks lit with sudden
| flame. Jack Grosvenor, aroused from his
apathy, looked curiously after her rs she
| sped down the street, her head in whirl.
| As she few along the sidewalk she tried to
| balance and arrange sthe queer facts and
stranger memories that were fitting through
| her brain. She remembered something of
| the splendor OF Jack Grosvenors wedding,
| and the contrast Ii had presented to their
| own modest nuptials. She recalled an ae-
! count she hud read of the marriage banquet
l and the list of the notable guests who were
I in attendance. She saw in anticipation tho
5nre room she was about to enter, with its
beggarly strip OF rag carpeting along tho
center, the Pine bedstead with its worn
covcrlot tho wooden chaiis, the woman
bent over her ironing board, contrasting it
with the abounding comforts and generous
hospitality of that Southern home.
A high wind was blowing, and clouds OF
dust darltened the air about her. Battling
with miniature sirocco, she yet found time
to marvel ut the strength OF character that
had enabled the petted Southern girl, born
aud GRADED In tho lap of luxury, delib 3ratcly
TO ronounce the life OF ease open 10 her, and
condemn herself and her child TO the life of
toll and hardship that had resulted so disas-
trously. The gentle woman's heart filled
with love and sympathy, aud she was ready
TO take JacI Grosvenor's wife into nor arms
and cry over her sorrows and humllations,
Her heart was chilled at the sight OF the
cold, proud face whose severity was In
creased by ths piece Of stiff white muslin
bouAd about the head as protection from
tho smoke and coal dust of tho ironing
stove. Mrs. Be,den looked In momemtary
abhorrence at the mass OF lace and en-
brodery lying upon the ironing board
guessing only too well the owners Of thai
tawiry splendor.
"What do you work for themi"
For moment the woman gazed calmly
upon her questioner, thon turned with an
expressive glance to tho low pallet where
her boy lay sleeping, by his side the crutch
that must be his lifelong companion.
Notwithstanding the mothers impassive
demeanor. the eyes OF the visitor filled with
sudden tears. bhe twrled her hatstrings
i nn....iao I'D iln nald fnnn Iunndnrino. hnIu