Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-04-25

| feTley himself, LutTe piiidi VI "i"p
pings, drove them, squatted on soap
box in front of the two passengers.
There were cries Of farewell from the
porch and tappings on the windows as
the sleigh started and sped away to
the diminishing jingle of bells. sad
ness fell on those who watched It,
The little idyl of isolation was over
On the following day Bill Cannon
and his daughter were to leave. A
telegram had been sent to Rocky Bar
for a sleigh and horses of the proper
excellence to be the equipage Of a
Bonanza Princess. Rose had spent
the morning packing the valises, and
late in the afternoon began a down
stairs search for possessions left in
the parlor.
The dusk was gathering as she en-
tered the room, the corners Of which
were already full of darkness. the fire
playing on them with warm, vary
ing light. Waves of radiance quivered
and ran up the ceiling, here and there
touching the glaze on picture glass
or china ornament. The crude ugli-
ness of the place was hidden in this
unsteady, Transforming combination
of shadow and glow. 1t seemed a
rich, romantic spot, flushed with fire
that pulsed on an outer edge of mys-
terious obscurity, center of familiar,
intimate life, round which coldness
and the dark pressed.
She thought the room was unoccu-
pied and advanced toward the table,
then started before the uprising of
Dominick's tall figure from a chair in
shadowed corner. 1t was the first
time they had seen each other alone
since their conversation of the day
before. Rose was startled and agitat-
ed, and her brusk backward move
ment showed It, Her voice, however,
was natural, almost easy to casual
ness as she said:
Il thought there was no one here,
you've hidden yourself in such a dark
corner l came to gather up my books
and things"
He advanced into the light, looking
somberly at her.
It's true that you're going to-mor
row?" he said almost gruffiy.
"Oh, yes, we're really going. Ev
erything's been arranged. Horses ant
sleigh are expected any moment
now from Rocky Bar. They rest here
all night and take us down in the
afternoon. l think papad go crazy
if we had to stay twenty-four hours
longer"
"I'!l follow in day or two" ht
said, probably go down on Tuesday
the doctor says"
She began gathering up the books
reading the titles, and putting aside
those that were not hers.
I'm SO sorry it's over" she sait
in 8 preoccupied voice without an!
particular regret in it. The Mill ol
, the Floss is Mrs. Perley's, I think.
I'm sorry, too" he commented
very low.
r She made no reply, selected anothe
= book. and as she held 1t up looking
: at the back. said.
But it's not like a regular gocd
e by. It's not as If you were going Il
S one direction and we in another. Wei
- see you in San Francisco, of course.
. 81 don't think SO, he answered.
She laid the book on the table an
:. turned her face toward him. He stoo
r looking into the fire, not seeing tn
!. face, but conscious of 1t, Of its expre'
t sion, of it's every line.
/ DO you mean that we're not goin
s. to see you down there at all?"
t "Yes, that's just about what
y meant" he replied.
l. "Mr. Ryan," 1t was hardly MOI
J. than breath of protest, but it wa
r as stirring to the man as the whi
O per of love.
/, He made no comment on it, and st
d said, with little more Of insistenc
e and volume:
But why?"
:" Its best not" he answered, ar
g. turned toward her.
t, His shoulders were squared and
y held his head as man does wi
prepares himself for a blow. H
Of eyes, looking straight into hers. e
" veloped her in glance soft and bur
n ing, not savage glance. but the e
Id folding, possessive glance. caressil
l." and ardent. pleading and masterful.
re lover
er The books that she was holding Il
u to the table, and they looked at ea
ra other while the clock licked.
9: TITS best for me not to come"
III said huskily, never to come"
II "Very WELL" she faltered.
He came a little nearer to her a.
e. said:
ra "You know what / mean"
lie She turned away, very pale, her II
To- trembling.
he "And you'd like me to come II
rt- could-if / were free?"
i'd He was close to her and look
er- down to see her face. his own ha
lie the bones Of the jaw showing throu
the thin cheeks.
its you'd like me to?" he urged,
# She nodded. her lips too dry
NJ .cnaak