Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-09-07

red haired fiend tracking him all over
the city, although up in the country,
where he had first got acquainted
with her, she had seemed as gentle
and meek as q roadside flower.
Gertie would learn the relation of
Eloise to himself before Eloise reach
ed the farm.
The SCHNEIDER family would find out
what had been going on between Ger.
tie and himself, and then there would
be Mysteries and denunciations and
oh! it was a mess! simply mess.
He could feel his fever rising in
waves as he thought about It, He
tossed and pitched on his bed until,
toward evening he heard the doctor
coming, whereupon he made believe
to be asleep.
Ages afterward 1t seemed to Blame,
there came to his ears the sound of
wheels scraping on the gravel of the
road.
A moment later Mrs. Schneider bus
tied in to leave a lamp and give a
last touch to the arrangement of the
room.
"She's here!" she announced, seeing
him stir. Then without waiting for
comment, she hurried out, leaving
Blame in daze of anxiety.
Suddenly Oscars deep voice drawl-
ed forth just outside the door.
"She amt his aunt" it proclaimed
scornfully. "She's his wife"
s,,t, 10
Gertie the voice had spoken, even be-
fore he heard her give a little cry,
broken at the end as If stifled by the
Juick steps which now sounded in the
corridor.
SIS it this way?" inquired the clear,
familiar accents of Eloise.
Then there was a scuffling noise as
If several people were crowding to-
gether.
Over this in a strange quavering
tone, rose the inevitable words for
which Blame had been waiting:
"Are you Mr.. Blane's wife?"
1t was of course, Gertie who had
spoken. She had been unable longer
to contain her doubts. With sinking
heart Blame strained to catch the an
swer.
For moment there was silence.
At last, as If aware the pause was
getting awkward, Eloise gave a lit
tie forced laugh and replied hurried
ly:
"Yes, certainly. Whom did you
Think"
"Why,'' gasped Gertie family, we
we-he's told us so much about you!"
1t seemed then as IL the walls fell
away from about Blame, as If all
around him were the vast, glad sky.
"Gertie!" he was silently crying
deep inside himself. "Gertie!"
But he knew he must give no out
ward sign of his great jubilation.
There before him in the lamplight
leaned the 1.-THE figure of Eloise, while
in the doorway beyond, intent on wit
Messing the touching meeting Of the
sick man and his wife. crowded the
Schneider family.
To Eloise he weakly held out his
hand, but strive as he would, he could
not look at her.
He had eyes only for Gertie. who,
shrinking and pale, was leaning beside
the door, her hand at her throat.
"I'm sorry you bothered" he man.
aged to murmur. you needn't have
come way out here. It's nothing. And
I've been well taken care Of"
He broke off suddenly,
To the gaping CONSERVATION of her
fallen in heap on the floor.
'Why, G-Gertie!' stammered Oscar.
Eloise turned swiftly.
what Is the matter with the girl?"
she exclaimed. 'Why, she has tainted!
Get some water, somebody!'
Old man Schneider and his wife
were now bending over their daugh-
ter.
Oscar had the presence of mind to
fetch the water-pitcher.
"Shes worn out, that's all" Blame
found himself explaining, while his
heart pounded as if it would burst
from his breast.
She had a hard pull getting me
out of the marsh, and she's been look
ing after me night and day ever since
It's nothing. She's just all in.. It's
nothing at all.'
At that moment the girl, her face
streaming with the water they were
still showering upon her, opened her
eyes and tried to smile. AS If in the
echo to Blane's words she said weak
ly:
1T amt nothin'. Don't ma! 1t amt
nothing at ALL"