Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-03-28
A CLOSE CALL.

MTS. JOuu uolpou ucIecll ScuoiOusiy
and said 1t was good enough for her,
and she couldn't afford to pay forty
cents a pound for butter when she
could get good for thirty.
Then John inquired if he didn't
give her money enough to pay her
grocery bill, and said it wasn't good
enough for him; perhaps she had been
accustomed to eating such stuff (he
actually went to the extent of calling
it stuffD and i can't begin to tell you
all the foolish things that those two
hot-tempered young people, who low
ed each other dearly, said. 1t ended
finally In Johns flinging himself away
from the table, without tasting the
lemon pie, his favorite dessert, which
the tired little housekeeper, remem-
bering his fondness for, had taken
time to concoct in the midst of all her
picking and preserving.
John began to get together his fish
lines, flies and other traps, which he
wanted to take away, for he and Dix
other young men were having half
holiday, and had engaged the boat
Bonnie Belle for an afternoons fish
ing on Great Lake.
He worked hard, this young fellow
as foreman in close, stuffy factory,
and a half days recreation In the pure
air was a rare event with him. But
somehow he did not enjoy the pros
pect very much after the war of words
at the dinner .able. He whished he
hadn't spoken as he did. If May
would only come and help him-but
she held herself aloof while he was
getting ready. She had intended to
slip some lemons and sugar into the
basket; pail of lemonade would be
so refreshing, imbibed in the shady
glen, after the row across the lake.
But now, if he wanted lemons, be
could help himself, she thought, after
the way he had talked.
He was q long time getting ready,
and she wondered, as he fumbled
with the lines and hooks, if he really
would go off without kissing her.
Her anger would have melted in a
moment at the first pacific sign from
him; but she would not beg for a kiss,
mol
He started for the door. She had
great mind to follow him there, but
pride kept her back. He was outside
the door now; she hastened after him.
'tIf he looks around I'll let him see
I'm ready to make up" she thought.
But he did not;and SO Mrs. John went
back to the little dining-room, and
began to clear the table, feeling her
self much injured wife, and rather
glad on the whole, that she hadn't
gwen in.
But gradually better feelings pre-
vailed; scarlet cheeks faded back to
pink again, and temper frightened
eyes became dim with tears.
She watched the clock anxiously.
How slowly the hours passed Two,
three, four, FIVE o'clock. 'In an hour
he will be here" she said to herself
joyously, and she hustled round to
prepare an extra nice supper. She
even went to the corner grocery for a
pound of the forty-cent butter.
Six o'clock came, but no John.
Half past six-seven. She was walk.
ing the floor her unrest, and now
went out and stood at the gate. She
could see knots of people talking ex-
citedly along the street. A freckle
faced boy running by stopped.
Dyer hear bout the axident? The
Bonnie Belle struck by squall and
seven men drowned.
whats that?' asked a feeble old
man, coming out of the next house.
who says my boys drowned?
Why, he can swiml There amt wa
ter enough in Great Lake to drown
John Carpenter
The wind blew his scanty locks
over his wrinkled old face; his faded
blue eyes wandered piteously round
and finally rested on Johns wife.
Don't you believe it, he said
tremulously, patting her arm with
his uncertain, shaking hand.
But apparently she did not heal
him. Drowned Her John--and she
let him go to his death without a kiss
The treckle-faced boy looked a
her uneasily, digging his bare toe'
into the ground.
i didn't know as Mr.. Carpenter
was along said he, apologetically
forgetting for the moment his owr
importance as the bearer Of news ii
view of her silent misery.
Some one took hold Of the wife
and led her into the house. Sh,
groped her way like q blind person
They said she had better lie down OF
the lounge awhile, and she obeyed
She could not see anything now.
| 4 am dying, she thought and wa
happy in thinking 80.
Then she foated away into darkness
on and on, for long time apparently
Finally she saw light, and opening
her eyes saw-yes, 1t was--Johnl
Was she indeed in the other world
and was John waiting for her? Sh'
spoke his name.
She's coming too; she knows me,
said the familiar voice.
But how far off it sounded Anc
so did her own voice when she spoke
| aWhere am II she asked, family