Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-03-14

that, looking at the opposite wall, her
glance was caught by q large clock
to which she drew her fathers atten-
ton:
"Half-past ninel How fashionable
we are! And when are you going to
get us up to Antelope. Mr.. McVeigh?"
McVeigh studied the clock ponder
ingly as he felt in his breast pocket
for his toothpick.
Well" he said, IF we leave here
at ten and make good time the hull
way-it's up hill pretty much with
out break-Tll get you there about
midnight"
She made little grimace.
And 1t will be much colder, won't
it?"
Colder n colder. You'll be goin'
higher with every step. Antelope's
on the slope of the Sierra, and you
can't expect to be warm up there In
the end of January"
IF you hadn't wanted to come"
said her father, you'd have been
just about getting ready for Mrs. Ry-
ans ball Isn't this about the magic
hour when you begin to lay on the
first layer of war-paint?"
The girl looked at the clock, nod
ding with faint, reminiscent smile.
Just about" she said. "Td have
been probably looking at my dress
laid out on the bed and saying to my
self, Now l wonder If it's worth while
getting into that thing and having
all the bother of going to this ball.
On the evenings when l go out.
there's always a stage when that hap
pens"
McVeigh, with his toothpick in full
operation, looked at her, admiring and
half comprehending, for the first time
feeling himself an outsider. She
caught his eye, read it's meaning, and
with the quick tact of delicate ma
ture, said:
Its Mrs. Cornelius Ryan in San
Francisco. She has a ball tonight
and 1 was going, but I came up here
with papa instead. don't care for
balls"
Sort of late to be primping up for
a ball." said Mcveigh, restoring the
toothpick to his pocket and pushing
back his chair. "I'll go and have a
look at the horses. And, Governor,
if you'll be ready in fifteen minutes
I'll be round at the porch waiting"
Cannon nodded, and, as the driver
clumped off over the board floor, said
to his daughter:
Il wonder if Dominick Ryanll be
there-at the ball, mean. His moth
er's made up her mind not to recog-
nize the woman he's married, and to
freeze her out, but wonder IL she'll
have the nerve not to ask her to-
night"
Il don't see how she could do that,
said the girl. This is one Of the
largest balls ever given in San Fran
cisco. She can't leave her son out
and she couldn't ask him without his
wife"
Couldn't she?" said the old man
with a narrowing Of his eyes and q
knowing wag of his head. "You don't
know Della Ryan. l do. I've known
her forty years, ever since she was
first married and did washing on the
back porch of her shanty in Virginia
City. She was a good deal of wom
an then, strong, brainy woman, ant
she's the same to-day, but hard as
nails. I'll BETA hat she hasn't asked
Dominick's wife to that ball."
What do you suppose he'll do?'
asked the daughter, somewhat aghas
at this glimpse at the Ryan famil!
skeleton.
Don't ask me such conundrums
I'm glad I'm not in it, that's all
know. When two women lock horns
I'm ready to step quietly down ant
out. l never to my knowledge saw
Dominick's wife, but I've heard abou
her, and take it she's a pretty hare
kind of a proposition. They say sh'
married the boy for money and posi-
ton, and hasn't got either. Della
who has the money, hasn't given then
a cent since the marriage; made VI
her mind, people say, to force Mrs
Dominick out. She doesn't seem t.
have done it, and l guess it's beel
sort of aggravating to her. Just tn
same I'd like to know if she's ha
lHG HSINS llOl " SSllu luS WOludn
invitation to the ball. That would b
pretty tough"
1--WE never seen either Dominick O
his wife," said the girl. 1T seems cd
when | know Mrs. Ryan and Cornell
so well. But he married the year
came back from Europe. and he
never been anywhere since. don
believe he ever goes to his mother'l
There's Mr.. McVeigh in the doorway
we'd better be going"
Once again in the carriage the
were soon clear of the last stragglin
shanty, and speeding along the pail
ascending road. The silence ths
held the trio before their arrival 6
Rocky Bar again fell on then
Wrapped in overcoats and rugs, Bi
s Cannon appeared to slumber, ever
now and then-8s the wheels jolte
I over a piece of rough road-bed-shal
!. en- into growing wakefulness. NJ
a Weigh also rolled sleepily in his sea