Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-08-02
mrs. Tom assured him. Il started it

II dare say"
"Do you really mean to marry her
to Hobart?" asked Tom, who had
been an amused witness of this little
chat between his wife and her BROTH
er. She waited to hear the front
door shut, then smiled and touched
a finger to her lips.
"To Jim," she whispered, and
passed the finger from her lips to his.
81 see," genially, "and I'll join the
game"
"oh, will you?" rather startled.
"How?"
"I'I be one of the rivals. A mar
ried man can get very much in the
way when he wants to-"
But, Tom, it really isn't necessary.
With Jim in the lead, there'll be rivals
enough"
"The more the merrier," gayly. "ru
help"
Its ever so good of you," said Mrs.
Tom, and hummed little tune in the
pause that followed.
About two weeks later Jim was
hurrying along the sidewalk one day
when Mrs. Toms trap drew up along.
side.
81 was going to you," he said, as
he stepped in, with news"
"News?"
"Yes. Hobart is meeting your ex.
pectations. We happened in at the
florists together, and he grinned so
extensively that 1 judge you may feel
quite sure of him."
"You were both ordering flowers
for that girl?"
"You don't suppose that I am going
to back down for cad like Hobart,
do you?"
"But you look and talk as if he
were successful"
"Well," -sullenly, "I'll not take hi.
grin for it,"
Mrs. Tom faltered bit over her
next question.
"Is-is anyone else in the running,
do you think?"
mo; unless You're not quarrel.
ing with Tom about anything, are
you?"
Hes in the plot" with a faint
laugh.
Acts his part" dryly, pretty
we'll"
"He does everything WELL" said
Mrs. Tom, but she was pale.
''He pays good price for orchids,
too"
'He was at the florists with you?"
"He was. And his grin" sulkily,
twas very like Hobart's; and he went
off humming that idiotic jingle:
"'The lion and the unicorn
Fighting for a crown;
Up jumps a little dog
And knocks them both down"
"Tom is so bright" said Mrs. Tom
To which Jim grunted, and the drive
was finished in silence.
That night Miss Everton went to hel
hostess for bit of condolences; she
was prettily flushed and shy.
"You persuaded me-" she began, "to
let Mr.. Hobart speak, SOL did"
"Yes?" Mrs. Tom answered, coldly.
''But, oh, Sallie, l do feel small
about it. Don't you think, dear, that
different sort of man, a man who
thinks of me at my best, would hate
to know did it?"
"a different sort of man?"
"Oh, very different" demurely;
"you," with a shy, bright glance,
''think so, too"
Righteous, astonished wrath gath
cred in Mrs. Toms eyes, but knock
interrupted. With the opening of the
door came a rainbow CLEAN of orchids.
"Oh, glorious!" cried Miss Everton.
There was a basket full of the rare,
spidery beauties. The servant waited,
looking to his mistress, who was pale
and silent.
"For Miss Everton?" she said, at
last.
For you, madam"
She went hurriedly past him and
down to the smoking-room. Jim and
To N were there. Flushed and little
out of breath, she ran to Tom.
Don't get up" settling an arm com.
fortably over his shoulder and look.
ing across to her brother. 81 only
want to tell Jim that Bert Hobart has
been rejected"
you're sure?" cried Jim.
"And | WISH" with peremptory
nod, that you would go up and ask
Elsie if she'd like "a glass of wine,
or anything"
Tom began to laugh, but met his
wife's eyes with tears in them, and
stared instead.
"I'm so glad" struggling with hap
py sob, ''about Jim and Elsie"
Nonsense; you mustn't fib to me-
Sallie. What's the matter?"
The only answer was long breath
of content. Later, however, there came
retort question.
What did you mean by that little
dog jingle?"
This had to be somewhat elaborated
and then Tom finished his interrupted
laugh.
"Why, I was helping the plot" he
said.
"Oh, yes. And am ever so much
obliged to you," with another. sigh OF
peace; lever so much; but next time