Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1907-03-08


He was young, romantic, and just
out of college, Unconsciously he
thirsted for the fullness of life and the
essence of things. In the meantime,
cognizant only of vague craving for
something undefinable, he was sell
ing his birthright for song.
She, also, had heard the beck of un-
explored wilds. Obeying the call, she
had voyaged across the ocean, leav-
ing her home in sunny Andalusia to
assuage the craving of heart which
rebelled against the monsters which
held it in bondage
She was tall and slender, and her
dark eyes mirrored all the expectancy
of unborn worlds. The plain black
dress which she wore adequate
ly emphasized the sinuous graceful
curves of a vivacious womanhood.
Around the white, slender throat
she wore a curiously wrought neck
lace from which was suspended a bril-
liant object of fantastic shape. He
fingered it in an absent-minded fash
ion as he gazed into her dreamy eyes
and poured into her willing ears the
old story of many failures and few
triumphs. The world had been slow
to recognize an art in which he gave
vent to all the dreams and fantasies
of his eagle heart. And in her dark,
fathomless eyes, as he told his story,
he read pity, sympathy and immature
love.
She quivered violently as curl of
his wavy hair came in contact with
her burning cheeks. Like surging
river, the electrifying current of joy
rushed through her veins-joy that at
last her journeyings had brought into
her life one who understood.
Suddenly, under the nervous ma
nipulation of his fingers, the tiny or
nament she wore sprang open and dis
closed a miniature silver vial. She
removed it from its case and kissed
it passionately.
1T is relic my mother gave me
when left home" she murmured in
explanation. 1T has history, have
been told, and it possesses wonderful
qualities"
"A love charm?" he ventured,
vaguely, as one in trance.
1T performs MIRACLES she con-
tinued, and her eyes grew more
fathomless. 1T soothes your heart
when you are tired and weary-when
the world mocks you and the dark
ness is heavy around you. My moth
er-oh, how beautiful she was!-gave
it to me just before she died. When
the sun has gone out of your life,' she
said and your heart is weary unto
death, then drink its contents. 1t.
will drive away your sorrow and make
you extremely happyn
A violent sob shook her slender
form as she concluded. With specula-
tive wonder in his eyes he gazed on
the mysterious talisman; then he
drew her violently to his side and COW
cred her mouth and cheeks with burn
ing kisses.
They met frequently after that.
Under the magic touch of his ca
resses, her soul grew by leaps and
bounds. All the fiery devotion of her
temperament she drowned in her love
for him.
The world began to talk about him.
She heard his name above the surg
ing maelstrom of the great city, the
masses whom he despised sang his
| plaudits-and she was extremely
| happy. Had he not admitted that she
had awakened the living spark of fire
in his heart; had he not thrown his
proudest laurels at her feet?
And the magic charm was almost
forgotten.
Then, after months of delirious
| bliss, she noted the absence of fire in
his kisses; the tenderness of his
words which had fascinated her in
bygone days was no longer there to
thrill her senses to ecstacy; his ca
resses were cold and passionless.
One night when the rain and sleet
were beating against the windows,
she followed him. His path was devi-
GUS, but brightly illumined. And then
she returned; she threw herself on
the bed and wept until she thought
her heart would break.
The months rolled past, and he did
not return. Still she heard the world
murmur its admiration for his art;
the papers related his escapades
among the gayest of the gay set, but
she sought him in vain. Then came
time when the tormenting gnawing
at the young heart ceased; she re-
solved to mourn him as one dead.
She burned her bridges behind her;
she flung her adieus to the old life.
She surrendered herself to gay aban-
don; she had gold, silks and jewels,
and only in the silent hour of the
night did she wake at times to mourn
the gods who had fed from her heart.
Once again Fate brought them to.
gether, 1t was during one of Bo-
hemia's gay affairs, and she had been
escorted to her destiny by a rising
young writer. 1t was during one of
the pauses in the dance that she
caught sight of his face. He was