Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-04-16

|
me-to come back to Washington. l
told her l could get her employment
in one of the departments of the gov
ernment where she could live quietly
and earn enough to be comfortable,
but she refused my every suggestion,
| insisting that she was perfectly well |
and happy as she was. She was called |
| then for the second act, but as she left |
the room she turned and spoke to me. |
'Tom,' she said in her old, soft |
voice, didn't mean to be rude, and l |
know you intended it for the best, but |
| can't take your advice-don't ask it |
of me. / couldn't live in Washington |
after all that has happened, really
couldn't. I'm all right, indeed / am,
and making money fast, and I'm glad
to have seen you, Tom, but don't re-
call old days; / want to forget il can.
Think of me, sometimes, please. Good
by"
The Doctor paused for a moment as
he knocked the ashes off his cigar
81 remember every word of that last
sentence" he said; somehow l never
forgot it. never shall"
The Senator turned suddenly to the
Doctor.
And you left without seeing her
again, suppose" he said. Did it
never occur to you that she was only
waiting to be urged to come home;
that she must have been heartsick for
her own country and friends?"
'She had no friends here" said the
Doctor quietly You forget the cir
cumstances, think. was sailing in
few days, but / tried several times to
! see her again. Each time 1 was re-
fused admittance."
When did you next see her?" in
! quired the Senator.
Two weeks ago, at the vaudeville.
She did skirt-dancing turn on globe,
, such as you have often seen. When
: she tainted went to offer my services,
and woman back there told me about
: her. 1t is pitiful tale of illness,
want and debt Once started down.
/ hill, it is curious how rapid the de-
| scent can be-
Il took her home, to my house." re-
| sumed the Doctor, land my wife nursed
her, but she never rallied. Just at the
last, however, she regained conscious
A ness and said one word-a mans
4 name"
|l The Senator leaned forward with an
II eXpectant expression, while the Mem
Il ber of Congress complacently caressed
N his mustache.
Il And the name was" said the
n Journalist
A Mine" said the Doctor quietly.
q You see, was bending over her when
!: she opened her eyes, and she recog-
: nized me. 1t was quite natural. You
4 are not going, Senator?"
: But the Senator had remembered q
"A pressing engagement, and so, it ap
I peared, had the Member of Congress
"a most interesting story, Doctor
and remarkably well told. 1t would
write up famously," said the Journal
list. Have your permission to use il
as copy?"
But the Doctor was looking after hi.
departing guests.
Il thought it just possible" he sale
absently, owing to the similarity o
m names, and yet. wonder"
He turned suddenly to the Journal
ist.
- NO, ue Sdiu, yO
w didn't publish, if you don't mind"
1g
The Senator and the Member of Cor
b. gress walked few blocks together
ne then the latter, remarking that b
really must go to work at his speec
ed on the tariff question, turned off in tn
M direction of his rooms, while the Ser
er ator walked slowly home
he The Member sat down at his des
and went carefully over the matter a
es ready prepared on the tariff.
pa II wonder" he said aloud, why h
told that story tonight, whether it wa
ed accident or design. l wonder how muc
en- he knows. l wonder"
He wrote several pages rapid.
lat which were consigned to the vast
ne basket when read, then absently fiji
In, gering his pen. while the clock on tn
mantel licked monotonously on as th
l hands travelled over it's face unn
Ia ticed.
be- "Oh, WE'LL" said the Member of Co
ou gress, rousing himself abruptly as I'll
OF hour chimed, its all in lifetime,
nu suppose"
lily After which he applied himself re
olutely to his speech.
tor
ler The Senator sat In his library ar
gazed into the fire. After while
list, drew bunch of keys from his pock
Sc, and unfastened drawer in his writiI
the table; evidently 1t was not often use
for the lock was rusty.
led He took out small velvet case, al
ind opening it gazed intently into the ey
me which smiled up at his. The Senator
dis own eyes grew rather misty as
me looked, and he passed his hand hasti
ter across them. Something fell from u
My case, and he stopped to pick 1t up;
of proved to be ring of soft, brov
out hair, and he drew 1t gently throui
1t his fingers before replacing 1t.
The Senator closed the case and !
| a