Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-03-30


you intrude on me here? if you wish
an interview, have nothing to say"
"Pardon me-" 1 protested. 81 do
not wish an interview. In fact, my
reason for intruding, as you call it,
is to bring you message"
Her entire face underwent change
"a message?" she repeated eager
ly. "You have message for me I?
Won't you sit down."
/ took chair and she seated her
self nervously upon the edge of an.
other.
| noticed that she looked older, al
most haggard, in the light from the
western windows, and also that her
hands were trembling as she waited
for me to speak. The day had made
ravages on her beyond my expecta-
ton.
She was finding it hard to wait.
"My message even, is contingent
upon my coming to the hospital to
get something which Dr. Sommers left
here for me. But thinking that you
would be here, it seemed pity not to
see you-
"Wait," she interrupted. "You say
you came here to get something which
DR.. Sommers left for you? Was it
something which has bearing on
this dreadful happening?"
eyes. At least l think so. My
friend, of whom 1 spoke to you, sent
me here to get it, and also told me
to see you and give you the message
for him."
"Then," she leaned forward. ale
has found out something. Mr.. Glace,
tell me quickly. What is it that he
has learned?"
She was fairly painting.
i almost began to fear that the re-
action which would follow my words
might be too much for her to bear;
that she might collapse utterly when
she heard what had to say.
Then / steadied myself, for felt
sure that if Semi had told me to
come he must have felt sure that only
good could come from my act. Still,
l felt constrained to say a word to
make the girl who sat before me
win back little of her old poise.
"You must not grow excited" l
cautioned. "All l have to say is
good news. If you let go of yourself
now it can do no good Miss Burton.
YOU"
'Oh," she rose. "Tellme- / know
all those fulsome things you would
say to girl whose soul is tortured
by fear. Can't you understand that
it is my anxiety that is tearing down
my control? If your news is gaad,
for Gods sake speak it,"
She stood tall and slender against
the light from the glassed-in room,
one hand on the back of the chair,
the other at her breast.
Her eyes were wide, her lips slight
ly parted. She was breathing now,
slowly and deep. There was nothing
to do save tell her.
"My friend told me to find you and
say to you, that your sweetheart is
innocent of all wrong doing, and that
he will survive"
She didn't faint, but she closed her
eyes and stood white and silent, with
the hand on the chair back gripping
the wood until it's knuckles whitened
and the finger tips purpled, and her
figure swayed slightly.
Her lips came together adm
Strengthened into pale line, and the
hand against her side pressed inward
over her heart. Suddenly the tension
oroke-she sank into the chair.
"Oh my God" She whispered the
age-old cry of suffering life and be-
gan to weep.
half rose to go to her, say some
ching to stop the storm of sobs which
shook her. and she gave me another
surprise. AS suddenly as they had
come her sobs ceased.
She lowered her hands from her
face and sat up on the chair and
/ smiled. And it was as if that flood
Of tears had washed out much of the
worry and terror from her face.
"Do you know" she said slowly,
that my brain feels loose. All day
| it has felt as though tight hand
were gripping it and crushing it in its
,ircle. Now it feels free-easy."
She shook her head as though to
test the truth of her words.
"Who is this friend of yours who
sends me such message, Mr.. Glace? :?
How can he know that Gustav will
live?"
"His name is Semi DUAL" | re-
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