Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1907-05-10

In love or affection. Mrs. Lombard
paid little heed to the child.
At the age of 16 she was still gajng
to school because she was less in the
way there than she was at home.
IL was late in the autumn when Yer.
beny was 16 that the new teacher
came to the school. The mans name
was John Cox, and he was as uncom.
promising as the name. He was tall.
iong hmbed and broad.shouldered.
WIN every muscle tense and rigid.
lie made but short address to the
school, and then he called the roll
from the old list made by the old
teacher.
We will take moment to change
this" he said I'VE will make a new
Io,i' ana as l call these names you
VIII each step up to my desk.
Beeny Lombard" The firm voice
hesltated, a puzzled look glanced
across the, stern eyes.
Beeny Lombard" Verbenv rose
slowly and moved to the edge of the
platform.
Are You Beeny Lombard? And
What does Beeny stand for?"
Why-why, Verbeny."
"Verbenye"
Yes, Verbeny," she faltered
oh, Verbena!" He smoke ouick,v
almost curtly, and yet the voice that
rechrlstened Verbena opened for her
lhe way into new world. a world
that was all faith, all love. all adora.
ton.
IL was late that afternoon when Yer.
Dena reached home. If Mrs. Lombard
mad looked at her daughter she wou1d
nave seen that the dreamy. listless
eyes were wide awake; that the child.
isu' open lips were closed, but closed
IN smile that dimpled at the cor
ners. WI
1t was not easy to say. Verbena
wanted the best room: she wanted tho
1edding up of the best room; she had
Drought the roses for the vase in the
pest room; all the girls she knew
mad the best room for-for their
beauX
Hev it eff yo' want it," her mother
iauShingly answered. Mind that vo
an yer beaux don't hurt it though"
I'LL only have one beau" Tho
words were whispered as Verbena
crossed the kitchen.
On the calendar, the DAYS that fol.
loweu would have been called month |
IN Verbenas mind they stood for all
OIL llle' Tor all time. In the school, or
der was being brought out of chaos.
i5ut she only worked at night. only |
III the late afternoons and early morn d"
lhSs. All through the school hours
her eyes never left the masters face
ana. all the while he seemed quite I'm. 81
conscious of the wistful eyes that fol. 81
lowed him. ne
The morning that ended it all .beqan ca
ISL IKE other mornings of the month.
Verbena was at her desk in the school br
'ome ten minutes before the first bell TO
ang. John Cox, absorbed in the pa- frc
'ers before him, had hardly noticed ca
Ter entrance.
suddenly there was sound of run. tn
ins Ieet and voice, big and deep 40
Win excitement, cried: It's a re- we
'ard for murderer. An they're goin' yo
put one on the schoolhouse. too
hey think ther feller's out here An, bu
Killed man back east He's named ins
area Conkiln and the sheriff'll be Jol
ere to-day to look for him" req
The words were being repeated now clio
ack and forth. They were almost in. did
but Verbena had p
card them all once, and she had n
zen John Coxs white fingers closa lonI
ira on the desk in front of him 1
efore he could make the slightest run
oVement, her hand was on his "J,u aftt
de you where they'll never find Won pa2
II he hesitated, Verbepa did not eMt
low 1t. 1t was the girl who led the Ast
~ in the shadows of the hedges that 49,
e knew SO well, down close to theE,,ilie
ent farmhouse. Subconsciouslv. sbd ,,at
d remembered that her father auf Stoo,
'ther had gone that morning irSb hast
Fn' but breathlessly she ordered he onan
IN to wait until she had been INTO En 10
house, until she had unlockef the nat
'r OF the best room, her roof haa,,
/ cannot stay herep 'I,
'n 9'ay mere ana be fiIe un- bena
STI 1ou away, Fropilse me low
t you will stay" Il prohise," he hena
"'li|' 49,
was Verbena who rang the morn III
bell at the school, some ten min as :,
late, it was true but the boys and Jare,
Is were all too excited to note the ouar
e. She listened to the wondering save
oa VIZ Hu Ine schoolihaster's alb mis-
W." 'ne others she hurried back
,ondo5 80 me iotice Wheh IL was pay
=, t,'s on ene scnooihouse door. now
IN the others she read the descrip- We
OF the murderer, She compared lv n
description with their teacher. sinco
own heart echoed the conclusion scbol
was whooped from the other lips. HE n
n Cox and, Jared Conklin were but ,an,e
and the same man! sohnr
he search in that part of the .coun, sbouI
for Jared Conklin was only a mat. MARI
of days Then word came that he ~,