Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-08-05

q &c q L O w n
that has turned crimson with the first
autumn frosts, and standing all alone
in the leafy wilderness. And beauti.
full woman, dressed in white, with the
face of young girl and the silver hair
of an aged cronc, sitting on the step,
with her lap full of ferns and MOSES
and autumn leaves. And / think, Ru.
pert, she must be crazy, for she looked
at me in the oldest way, without an.
swering, when spoke TO her"
7"I dare say, my dear, it's some old
woman out nutting," said Mr.. Towers,
as he pared one of the great crimson.
checked peaches that were piled in q
basket on the table and hanlied by a
glass pitcher of cream.
Il shall go, then, and sketch the
place tomorrow, if have time" said
Mrs. Towers, enthusiastically. 81 never
regretted anything so much in my life
as that hadn't my portfolio with me
this afternoon"
The landlord, who had just brought
in a big log of moss-fringed wood for
the open fire, looked at the landlady,
who was brushing crumbs off the
lavender-scented tablecloth. The
landlady looked back at her husband.
Its Barbara" said he.
s''of course it's Barbara" nodded she.
And who, may venture to ask, is
Earbara?" questioned Mr.. Towers.
superb peaches, these, my dear"
,rW'Well, sir, everybody hercabouts
flSnows Barbara" answered mine host.
''She's been crazy these ten years
81 thought so," said Mrs. Towers
'Poor thing! And why do they let her
wander about at larse?"
''Oh, maam, she wouldn't harm Il
n.y. interposed Mrs. Wcddcrburn; land
she can't breathe free inside of four
walls, can't Barbara. They did put
her into the asylum one while, but she
pined herself to death there. She
wouldn't ha' lived six months, the doc
tor said if they hadn't took her out
again"
Then she has not always been in
sane?"
& "Oh, bless your heart, ma am. no.
Ten years ago she was the brightest,
puttiest girl in all the country She
used to come here summers, when the
house was full of boarders, and help
around. Everyone liked Barbara
But what was it that destroyed the
poor things mental balance?" urged
Mrs. Towers.
The landlady drew her chair up to
the table.
.I'li make bold to sit down, ma am,
and tell you all about it, said She
at made Il good deal of talk hereabouts
at the time and it always will as long
as Barbara wanders around the old
.powder-magazine in that queer dress,
with the flowers and autumn leaves
and wild berries in her hair"
''It is a powder-magazine then?"
~'Oh, yes, ma'am. There was a
great manufacturing company here
once, but it was ruined in the panic of
1887, and there's not been an ounce of
powder in the place for fifty years.
It's picturesque old ruin, ma'am, as
You yourself observed, and artists like
to sketch it. There used to be picnic
parties there, ma'am, bcfore-but
declare, I'm getting ahead of my
story"
And, leaning her plump, comfortable
elbows on the table, Mrs. Wedderburn
went on:
Ten years ago we had the most sue
ceSSful summer season that ever we
knew; up in the Catskills the houses
were crowded-and some of the young
gentlemen tourists actually camped out
in the barn o. nights. And barbara
was here helping me-the rose of the
Catslsills, one of my young gentlemen
guests called her, and somehow it grew
into by-word. And, if coaxing and
fattering could turn girls head, Bar
-bara's was in fair way to be turned.
Not that i can accuse her of flirting or
carrying on--that wasn't Barbara's
way-she just went quietly about her
business and never said nothing to no
body But / could see that she liked
Mr. Warden, and Mr.. Warden was just
the one of the whole tribe and genera
tion of 'em that could wish she hadn't
liked. You see, ma'am, there's differ
ence in people, and, for all he made such
fuss over her, could see he was as
cold as stone and as hard as adamant
''rhings went along smoothly, how
ever, until Miss Arkwright came ur
from New Yorll-Miss ArlSwright, with
her trailing silk dresses and diamond
rings and hair built up in curls and
ppuifs and frizzes Some folks like that
Estyle; I don't. But Miss Arkwright
swas very rich and very fashionable, and
the minute / saw her and Mr.. Warden
together, knew that poor Barbara's
reign was over.
a. 9 The idea of making such commo
tion over mere servant!' says Miss
Arliwright. TO be sure she's pretty
but so is Il china doll!
"I beg your pardon, Miss Ark
wright, said I, but Barbara is not f;
ksryant. She's a neighbours daughter,
id |. and she kindly does me tho
Avor to help me a little at busy times
Socin' I've no daughter of my own
Aa'And Miss Arbwright put up hel
gold oye-Slass and stares at me as if
tas an escaped wild animal.
al Realty says she. How very graf
frying to known