Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1904-08-19

tally injured in a trolley accident day
or so ago, and expressed desire to talk
to some one-some one he knew-before
the end, was sent for. For some unex-
planned reason he spoke of me con-
tinually during his illness"
Mrs. DreXel was sitting still and
white in the moonlight, her breath COM
ing and going in little jerliy way.
"DreXel, poor devil-by the way, he
has the same name as yourself-couldnt
be any connection, could he? Well,
from everything he told me, l conclude
that he must have had pretty bad time
of it in this world. Married young
too young, l reckon, as lots of us do
and his pretty young wife Chats what
he called herr led him regular dogs
life, as the saying goes"
Mrs. Drexel bent forward suddenly,
her interest appearing to expand with
an almost absurd abruptness. "Well?"
she said, "well?"
"Well, when he was dying, he got to
thinking that perhaps, after all, she had
not been entirely to blame; tried to ex-
tenuate certain-er-reprehe ac-
The woman was so close now that the
warm breath coming quickly through
her parted lips famed his cheek. Her
eyes sparkled strangely from their pal
lid background. But what?" she de-
manded, sharply
sim inclined to think, from what went
beforehand after-that she really
couldn't have been much"
'She may have acted unwisely-even
foolishly," Mrs. Drexel suggested. with
sudden revelation of feeling. "and re-
pented. She may not have been alto
gether-hopeless."
Allison shook his head. Women Of
her stripe don't change" he observed,
with conviction.
Mrs. Drexel stared at him mutely for
the half of minute. you believe
that?" she asked, slowly, the light dying
her eyes curiously. at is really re-
freshing," she went on, in n little burst
of bitterness, "to hear mems opinions
on the sex, sometimes"
81 happen, l think, to know women
pretty WELL" returned Allison, with a
slight uplifting of his brows, "and I
know that kind better than any"
$50 you don't concede that women are
capable of reformins-even when there
is no actual harm to be undone-"
"Outwardly, most anyone can reform.
People may even go so far as to deceive
themselves in regard to their own feel
ings and actions, but your are familiar
enough with the saying about leop-
ards"
Mrs. Drexel interrupted him with a
swift gesture of dissent For Heav-
ems sake, let's not fall into platitudes
to back up our arguments" she cut in,
shortly. After second she laughed
in a half-moclling little fashion that
struck oddly on Allisons ears. Now,
for the first time, he noticed her emotion,
and an unnamable pang shot through
him. He bent toward her impulsively,
in the old familiar way, and tried to draw
her hands into his. But she shrank away
from him quickly and, rising, walked
to the opposite end of the veranda with
out word.
Allison watched her with bewildered
eyes, and after little, got up and fol-
lowed her. Dear" he said, gently.
what is it? Tell me-surely you can
tell me. Is there anything wrong-any
trouble that you are hiding from me?
Are you ill.," He reached forth again,
and tried to take her hand, but she flung
off his touch sharply and buried her face
in her hands.
After little she looked up, white and
| moveless as a statue, but with all fur
| ther traces of emotion vanished from her
face SIS he dead-now?" she asked,
coldly.
Allison stared at her in sudden alarm.
| "I'm sorry I ever told you of that af-
fair" he broke out, in self-vexation.
Had dreamed that you would take 1t
so to heart"
SIS he dead?" she reiterated, calmly.
'He died while was with him"
Mrs. DreXel drew in her breath with a
long, quiyering sigh. After seconds
silence, she drew the ring from her fin
ger and held it out TO him. 81 was his
wife," she said. DULY.
"Millicent!"
Eyes, 1t is quite too terribly true. I
learned only yesterday that he was still
alive. Several years ago l had-or
thought l had-reliable information of
his death. 1 sent for you this morning
that l might be the first to break 1t to
you-to-"
Allison stood as though frozen, his
eyes fixed in a sort of dazed fascination
on the glittering bauble she had thrust
into his fingers.
But, sweetheart" he said, his voice
little hoarse and trembling, "I-you
don't understand. The man is dead"
The woman looked at him with dull
eyes. Il know" she said.
This thing has unnerved, unsettled
you. After awhile you will be better.
Try to remember, dear, that saw him
dead with my own eyes. Every barrier
to our happiness is removed now. There
is no barrier, Millicent."
Mrs. Drexel stood motionless for an