Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-04-20

With sigh of relief She nestled in
he corner of her section. trim little
figure in long cloaf. 1t was not
without pang of rcmorse that she
realized how truly thankful she was
to he rid of the eXpostulating rela-
tives and friends who had seen her
off Notwithstanding the early hour of
leaving New Orleans. They had been
so persistent in deploring he depar-
ture "just before Easter" AS the
train moved slowly through the mar
row streets of the old-fashioned quar-
ter of the city, through which a brisk
March wind was blowing, merry-fac
ed, dark-eyed children yelled derisive
ly from the banquettes, and a smile
came responsively to the mobile fact
of the girl whose heart beat high with
the thought of freedom.
She was flying from "the man she
ought to marry" She was conscious
of the futility of her fight, for there
must be the inevitable return only to
| face the situation again, and perhaps
indeed, most probably-to capitu-
| late, after all. Yet even temporary
respite was sweet.
Now that she was alone she could
face squarely the problem before her.
Love once more seemed real thing,
not a fleeting dream of early girlhood,
an idea to be abandoned in maturer
visions of the ideal. She was twenty
five and still unmarried. So she told
herself with little pang at her heart
NOT because -maidenhood with
crooked finger and unsmiling visage
beckoned from the not far distant fu-
ture, but because she had the loving
impulses of the true woman. She
wanted her mate. She had sacredly
cherished from her earliest girlhood
the dream of home, where there
should be warmth and light and love
her own home-where she and her
King" should reign supreme. But
the heart that throbbed beneath the
big buttons of her cloak at the sweet
thought of love remained untouched
And she was growing old. Soon she
would cease to be attractive. But
what could she do?
She was.sorry. She sighed so deep
ly that kind-faced old lady in the
next seat turned and looked at hel
anxiously. He was such an excellent
man. But, alas! he showed tend
ency to take on flesh with advancing
years, and his hands We're white ant
soft. He talked great deal of hi:
: family tree, and he was apt to tel
the same story twice to the same per
son. His personal peculiarities wer'
displeasing to her. He had way O
struggling his shoulders and fumblint
: with his eyeglasses which she dis
liked. In fact, she did not love him
Because the situation had becom
unbearable and she could not see he
, way clear to resist the pressure be
! ing brought upon her from every side
; she had suddenly announced her in
? tention of making an Easter visit t
| ner only brother in Alabama. He an
mis- wife dotted upon her and she long
ed for the peace of their home.
{ She selected magazine from pill
Of periodicals by her side and bega
p 70 turn it's pages. 1t was, a period
| ical she liked and always took tim
q 10 read, but it could not hold her at
! tention to-day. Her fellow passenger
were few and uninteresting, for
c was not yet the season for travt
n North.
4 1t was after short stop at way
!, station that the sleeping-car conduct
or, followed by man with a sma
satchel and gun-case, entered tn
a car. They paused at the section OF
posite hers.
"You can have this" said the cor
ductor.
The man was young and Of athlet
build, tall, and with back that lacke
perfect straightness because of tn
muscles across his shoulders. II
wore suite of dark gray and woi
it well. His rather lean face e,
pressed strength and kindliness {
character. Unconsciously the gi
leaned forward and gazed at hi