Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1902-02-28

1
thoughts.
at was in Switzerland that Mr..
Blount joined our party, and as
had the whole care of the children,
sometimes he accompanied us when
we went on excursions. l don't think
Mrs. Marston had any idea how dan
gerous it was. or else she never
would have allowed me to take the
children. One day there was snow
slide, and ] Glanced to become aware
of it before anyone else. The chill
dren were safe, but Mr.. Blount was
directly in the way of it, and / man.
aged to drag him backward just as
the immense mountain of snow came
laundering down, and crashed into
ravine. almost alongside of us. An
other moment, it would have struck
him and carried him down along with
it,"
"Good gracious! How romantic!"
exclaimed Edith. "Then you saved
his life?"
Gle chose to think So" said Bcrta,
coldly. "But it was mere chance.
If anyone else had been there, it
would have been the same thing"
She turned away, and presently left
the room. and Edith saw very plain
ly that she would not be questioned
further on the subject.
"She's in love with him, and doesn't
know it," thought the more expert
enced girl, "and be careful. Some
one says pity is akin to love, and
already she has the enormous claim
upon his attention of having saved
his life. But gratitude isn't love, and
I don't believe n man likes to feel
that woman has saved his life Any
way, 1 must devise some means of
keeping them apart"
"To think you should have been
right about Berta being engaged"
said Edith that same evening to Oh
iyer Blount.
They were on the veranda, and the
shadow of the vines made the dusk of
twilight so deep that Blount's sudden
start was not seen by his companion;
but had the light been less dim she
might even have oticed slight paling
of his handsome countenance as he
said:
as she really engaged, then? I'm
sure l wish her all happiness. knew
her slightly last year when l was
abroad, and l think her lovely char.
acter. But who is the happy man-if
it is not an indiscreet question:"
"Ah. l can't tell you that just yet!
She hasn't given me her entire conf
dence; but she wears his ring. have
seen her kiss it again and again, as If it
contained the whole world for her in
that little heart that is carved on the
stone. Such a curious ring it isl"
divers own heart gave a sudden
bound as he listened.
"Then it is to the giver of the ring
that she is engaged?" he asked.
"Why, certainly-to whom elseP She
wears it on her engagement finger:
and no girl ever kissed ring "a have
seen Berta kiss hers, unless she was
crazy in love with the giver of it,"
Blount made no remark; but Edith
did not doubt that she had produced
the right effect on his mind, and per-
haps she had; but she would have been
tolerably mystified if she could have
known just what this effect was. To
her amazement the revelation she had
made to him had not the effect she an
ticipa ted. Oliver neglected all oppor-
tunity of devoting. himself to the fair
Edith, and was constant as her shadow
to the shy, brown Berta.
"The man must be going crazy.
, believe the sly creature has bewitched
l l., nj in do.
spair, as she watched him walking
along beside Berta one day, his head
bent low to catch the murmured words
Her gaze followed him till they disap
peared within an arbor all overgrowr
| with honeysuckle; and then curiosity
not untouched with jealousy, overcame
all other feelings, and Edith few to-
: ward the arbor, and, hidden by the
wild growth of vines, listened to the
, voices within.
= "You wear my ring, Berta, dear,
Oliver was saying, sand you promised
to wear it forever as token of my
= gratitude. You would not let me say
+ more at that time; but now you mus
listen to me, darling, and promise tC
E wear another ring-a plain gold one
E as token of my hearts devotion to tn,
. only woman / can ever love-"
! "Oh, Mr.. Blount-Oliyer!" falteret
, Berta; but she did not draw away from
1 the encircling arm, "How can you car,
S for me? And Edith always though
t I'm sure she thinks, too"
I, Edith's cheeks began to flame will
e rage and modification. She felt dis
e position to strangle her cousin befor
she could say anything further, and sh
!, had to bite her lips to keep from cry
d ing out.
n "Oh, no; the fair Edith knows bette
e than that; besides" added Oliver, sei2
ing Berta's hand and kissing it, "bu
t for her / would never have dared t.
c tell you the secret of my heart; it wa
c Edith herself who told me that sh
had seen you kiss this little ring O
" mine in such way that she knew yo
loved the giyer."