Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-11-23


called him Romeo, in her hours of ease.
His name was John.
There's the Dorchesters and the
Bennington-Nillers and Basil and
Leonora and the T.. Gerard-Keenes-
were under obligations to all of them"
Juliet was not strong in her English
grammar. but in everything else.
"You follow me, Romeo?"
"Yes, to the death-certainly, my
dear" he answered her. Where would
he not follow her? He shifted his po-
siton now to get her in a stronger light.
Strong lights were becoming to Juliet.
He mused over her pretty charms and
thought idly what fortunate fellow
he was.
"It's awful to feel under so many OBJ
legations, Romeo! You feel like that
man-who was it, in the geography
who carried the world around on his
back? You remember him, Romeo?"
'Yes. he was an old schoolmate of
mine" he said, humorously. Juliet
laughed.
"Well, then you know how I feel, GO
ing round with the Dorchesters and the
Bennington-Nlilers and all the rest on
my poor little back. think I've found
a way to get them off, Romeo"
"Yes?"-absently
"Yes. Now, stop l-gathering and
listen. I'm going to invite them all to
Thanksgiving dinner"
"By-the-holy-Moses you are!"
He was on his feet before her; gaz-
i,cr int ha, -,
amaze.
am" Juliet said, serenely.
He continued gazing. Was Juliet GO
ing mad? There had been-wait!-yes
there had been Wheeler, a generation
or two back, who was mentally aber-
rated. Juliet was Wheeler on her
mothers side; therefore Juliet was 60
ing mad. He groaned audibly.
keep calm. dear; don't allow your
self toto be agitated," he said.
"Romeo-,Iohn"-tha was another
phase of her name for him-"Romeo-
John, sit down here beside me and be
calm yourself. I'm calm enough. I'll
recapitulate. What l said was that I'm
going to invite all those people we're
under obligations to to Thanksgiving
dinner with us. That will settle the OBJ
1igations-1 suppose you see that,
Romeo? Men can't see through look
ing-glass. Have you taken that in?
Well, to-day is the 18th. shall send
the invitations at once. I've only just
found out could-safely, you know"
He didn't know. He seemed to know
SO few things. Among the few, several
facts arrayed themselves fauntingly
in his consciousness. He knew that
their income-Juliet's and his-was pa
thetically meager; that it was against
their maXims to run in debt; that their
dining-room was ten by thirteen. The
latter fact appeared indomitable. He
waved his hand toward the neat little
'dining-table before them with an elo-
quent gesture, Juliet understood his
gesture perfectly.
Its wee bit dining-room, isn't it,
Romeo? The wee-est bit! And there
are-let's scount-two oDorchesters,t three
ton-Millers-that's five. Take
your other hand, Romeo-spread out
the fingers-Basil and Leonora-"
They're one" he muttered, docking
them off on his thumb. Why not? He
and Juliet were one.
"Two," counted Juliet. impressive
1y, ''and five L. Gerard Keenes, count
ing the children. Now, how many's
that?"
Romeo-John was regarding his wide
spread fingers with disfavor. There
were not enough.
-'Twelve!-That's 12, Romeo. Then
there's mother, John-of course we
must have mother, JohG-."nd the
girls. That's 15-and you and l"
sixteen" he groaned. "My dear,
the dining-room is ten by thirteen.
There are three extra leaves to the
table, and"
But he got no further. Juliet trans
ferred herself lightly TO his knee and
covered his bearded lips with bottl
little white hands.
Poor boy!" she cooed. "He shall