Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1908-01-24


gold from Californian gulIies in the
sweat of his back, would have made
John Mellin his heir?
Mr.. Mellin soon became interested
in his neighbors. The lady in the gar
den hat who occasionally came from
the cottage next door was more than
passably fair. A backyard alterca-
tion between his dog and her cat one
day served as slight introduction.
The acquaintance thus brought
about by Browser and Mouser
progressed as naturally as the grow
ing things of that early summertime.
Mr. Mellin good-naturedly repaired the
rotting palings through which Browser
had made so rude an entrance, and
this time he was prettily thanked by
lady in another style of garden-hat
and lavender dress, apparently the
sister of his first acquaintance. He
began to wonder how he had endured
his prosaic life before this interesting
episode,
Next, Mr.. Mellin's good Offices were
acknowledged by the presentation
through the lady in green-of a few
choice flowers made into a stiff pyra-
midal bouquet and tied with pink
| cord. The gentleman was, of course,
| pleased to return the compliment
TO her in lavender-by a dish of
strawberries from the old bed he had
been so glad to find.
Then one day when Mr.. Mellin had
heard the sisters voices in the gar
den deploring a windstorm which had
broken down their Canterbury bells,
he was non-plussed to find himself
| offering his services to a lady in a
neutral tint of gown and with brown,
uncovered hair.
Il have brought few stakes, Miss
Cummings" he said-for at least he
had learned the family name. IF you
will just allow me-oh, no trouble at
all. Down, Browser, sir! / think
| your sister has spoiled him little,
madam, with the bones. And neither
Cummings" With this explanation
he proceeded to make himself useful.
The lady laughed so gayly that he
was sure it was the lavender one.
Il am Miss Hope" she said. Call
my sister Miss Desire if you choose" "
And so throughout that charming
summer Me. Mellin grew daily more
interested in his fair neighbors, or
rather neighbor, for the two he never
, saw together, nor ever quite felt he
! knew them apart.
At last came an October evening
when an almost summer heat hovered
In the air, and large, golden stars
peeped through shriveling vines at
Mr.. John Mellin on his piazza.
A wooden screen at the end of his
balcony cut off the sight of the CORE
spending excrescence on the other
house, but gentle rustic of feminine
skirts had already been heard there
on, bringing wild and daring
thought to the mind of the lonely
bachelor. If he only could-if he
only might-just make a neighborly
call, and for once compare the sisters
side by side.
But now there was the sound of
china and glass adjusted upon hard
table. The Misses Cummings were
evidently about to refresh themselves
in some dainty feminine way It was
too late, even had he dared to venture.
Suddenly the grave voice of Miss
Hope broke the mellow silence.
"And, dear, we must have patience
to endure this as other trials over
which We have been SO lovingly
guided but l admit it is hard Some
retrenchment indeed we could bear
without complaint, but to think OF
leaving this house, this garden where
we have been so happy this summer
oh, it-is-hard. You have been such
dear, good, patient sester, such an
angel in all that we have been called
upon to bear; sometimes it makes
me feel very foolish when l think OF
your fortitude and courage"
The voice, which had begun with
such trustful exhortation, trembled
more with each succeeding clause
finally breaking into stified sobs.
Mr.. Mellin, an involuntary caves
dropper in the perfect quiet of the
night, clinched his hands and gritted
hard his teeth, while beads of mois'
ture not directly traceable to the
heat stood upon his brow.
Could it be that she-they-were
going to leave their home? Could II
be that next summer there would be
no neighboring with Mouser's sweet
mistresses? impossible! Insuffer'
able! But what was he to them
And which was she. the siren. who
had so strongly drawn his heart?
Miserable Mr.. Mellin! Never had
/ ntatraefad lnvar a hardar nrahIaun IN