Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-06-29

"Demme rub the sculp wild liquor,
Mr.. Robbuts," he said, pouring out a
liberal saucerful from the bottle on
the shelf. Liquors the life of the
sculp an do stomach He rubbed 1t
in vigorously and went on: ''Now jes'
stan out in de sun awhile to TEX away
dc smell, case de ladies ~cyan't bar it,
an specs Miss Ann am lack de res o.
'em now You'se got to be mighty
keerful now, sub, mighty llcerful; Miss
Ann is a town lady now, EN- always
hyar tell what ve'y delicate noses dey
has"
The operation was completely over
now, and the barber stood awaiting his
pay, brimming glass Of whisky from
the familiar bottle. AS he drank to
Miss Anne's health, he regarded his
handiwork with pride, the hair parted
by cleaning white line just above
one ear and plastered down upon the
forehead in scooping waves. Down the
back of the head was another part,
from which the hair was brushed
briskly away on either side. The eff
feet was jaunty and ludicrous in the
extreme; but Uncle Josh looked upon
it as work of art. His parting re-
mark was to beg his model not to
"muss it 10 Miss Ann comes"
Robert donned his waistcoat and
coat and walked to the window. The
trees on the horizon were leafess and
black, but an afternoon haze softened
their iron outlines. The locusts below
in the yard stretched bare boughs, and
the rose bushes had only stems to snow
after all their summer wealth. Among
the dry brown leaves, which were
shiftlessly left in drifts, the hens
scratched industriously. A line OF
ducks, contrary to orders, were march,
ing across the greensward on their
way home after late swim. Just be-
low the window, pro pped against the
great chimney, lay Tur k, his broad
bull neck upon his outstretched paws.
He was peacefully dreaming in the
austere warmth which the afternoon
sun afforded.
The man felt the chill from his
drenched head. 1t crept downward
and rendered the stiff shirt unbearable.
| Now 1t reached his heart and awoke
| despair. Everyone, even the old negro
there, warned him that he was unfit
for Ann. He had always known it, but
he had hoped that their love met above
and annulled the unfitness. How long
he stood leaning against the window
| frame In mental numbness he did not
know, but when he looked around the
| fire had died out and the sun was half
below the inky horizon. Ann would
soon be here. He could not face her,
the strange daughter whom he did not
know. With trembling, burning fin
gers, he tore off the new clothes he had
put on an hour before, and dressed
himself in his everyday garments.
They were rough, unbrushed and dis
reputable, yet he welcomed them. He
felt that he was himself again, the out
cast who worked long enough to buy
whisky; who begged food, shelter and
clothing. He had dreamed of deliver
ance from without; deliverance he
was too weak to effect within himself,
which should be brought about by
sympathy, companionship and protec-
ton. But the dream was over. He
was only drag and disgrace to the
young lady Ann had developed into.
He opened his door and crept down
the stairs and across the hall. His fin
gers ratified the knob of the door sc
uncontrollably that he feared some one
would hear, and he halted, expecting a
summons to explain. No voice ques'
toned, however. He stepped out on
porch, thence to the lawn and softly
whistled to Turk The animal bounded
joyously around the corner of the
house, leaping and fawning about his
master. The two struck westward
| he loh
erts heard the sound of a window
thrown up and a voice crying:
| "Mr. Roberts, upon my soul! Mr.
? Roberts!'
He gave no heed, but plunged int
, the orchard, feeling the cold evening
! air, and seeing through the blacl
' twigs of bushes and trees the vivit
thread of scarlet just above the horizon
line of woods. He had a stick will
him, and thrust into a pocket of hi
coat a bottle which he had seized from
the mantel.
q AS he went on and the evening fel
, darker. and Turk walked ahead NOR
! sedately, he could not keep weak tear
from his eyes, He did not know wha
: they were there for. Sometimes the
n octHlCu W boW ue oHC piSosiO VI iiih
). self, lonely, homeless, without place O
3 worth, wandering in darkness, bu
mostly they rushed unbidden at tn
thought Of Ann, his little Annie of te
years back. To his dazed mind sh
:, seemed dead, and he mourned over he
as he would over dead child. Ho'
she used to shield himl When he la
!, weak from his drunken stupors, mint
here was warmth and an anoydn'
then he wrenched the bottle from h
@ pocket and flung it far into the darl
ness He listened to the faint crasl
IL and sat erect for few minutes. Afte
IS awhile he folded his arms and reste
his head upon them.
D. "I'n go presently" he murmure(
IS heavy with drowsihess. In spite
vs. the bitter cold sleep seemed deliciousl