Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-07-23

a forgery. My name is Polly and
have right to send any man val
entine, by all the laws of the country
and II 1t fails I'll never confess on
earth"
Slipping the tender missive back
into the box she addressed 1t to
MR.. JAMES PIPER,
Crag's Pass,
Virginia.
Then she went to sleep, and dreamed
she was arrested for mis.using the
mails.
She had always been attentive to
Miss Polly, but after this, she haunted
her, watching for some change in the
placid face, and finally. at the end of
ten days, she reaped her reward, for
Miss Polly had curled her hair. There
could be no possible doubt about 1t.
do you think 1t would be proper"
asked the invalid, 'for me to receive
a gentleman in my room? Mrs. Gibbs
parlor is SO cold I am afraid 1t would
bring on another spell of neuralgia IL
sit In there"
Mary clutched at her heart to the
detriment of the laces on her gown,
and 1t was a moment before she could
reply with equanimity
"Invalids are always supposed to re-
ceive in their rooms, Miss Polly, and
II you expect any one to come l think
can make things look better in here.
I'll bring screen from home and
hide the bed. You must let me know
when he is coming"
The brown eyes were cast demurely
upon the bare floor.
Il look for him tomorrow on the
five o'clock train, and l reckon he will
come up before he drives out to his
old home. He used to live here be-
fore the war, but he has not been back
since, and he wrote me he wanted to
see me on some business"
The news spread through the circle
in an hour and each girl contributed
something for Mr.. Piper's entertain
ment.
Never had her heart beat more
wildly than when, peeping through the
blinds with Madge, she saw Mr.. Piper
with his oil-cloth satchel come up the
little street and turn the corner to-
wards Miss Polly's home.
Up the bare, narrow little stairs he
thumped, and, leaving his bag on the
landing, tapped lightly at Miss Polly's
door,
A slow, uncertain football within
and then the bolt turned and her soft
thin hand was in his hard enc.
1t was a very embarrassing moment
for both, for silence of 20 years is
not easily broken and they felt in
vague way that this was crucial
moment.
She was the first to speak, and as
she was casting about In her per-
tubed mind for something to say,
Mary's suggestion occurred to her.
: Before let you talk at ALL" she
said, I'm going to make your tea,
for l know you are hungry" and hav-
ing once spoken it seemed easier for
her to continue.
When the little luncheon was over
and the mince pie was a recollection
only, her guest drew his chair closer
to the fire.
well, Polly. he said, giving his
scraggy red beard a determined pull
to settle matters, you see I've kept
my word. told you l would never
come back to you unless you sent for
me-"
If she told him she had not sent he
might go away without saying any
thing. She tried to speak, but some,
thing choked her, for down beneath
that pain in her side, below the mus
tard plasters and flannels. in be-
numbed spot she called her heart, Mr..
Piper's name was inscribed, and in
sheer desperation she covered her face
with her hands and two tears trickled
through the slender fingers.
He moved over and sat beside her.
You needn't take on about 1t.
Polly. was glad enough to come,
but I've been living by myself so many
years l may seem very rough to any
body as gentle as you"
Sometimes of night" he contin-
ued, retrospectively, when ! sit by my
fro with nobody to keep me company
but just my little Cuffy dog, get
mighty lonesome, with the snow piled
up outside and the wind whistling,
and inside nobody but just Cuffy and
me-Cuffy and me-"
Miss Polly sighed too.
$50 you see l need a companion.
Polly, and ! want you to go back
with me Thursday; but you're fixed
30 fine here maybe you will not be
willing to give 1t up for me-"
Then she told him about the Kings
daughters, and how dependent she
was, and that she did not have cent
in the world, and, strange to say. he
seemed to like 1t.
When the news spread that she was
to be married intense excitement pre-
vailed and presents poured in. Madge
Braxton divided her wardrobe, the
rugs, the screen, the cushions were all