Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-04-19

She cooked her head on one side
and smiled at him whimsically, hop
ing for some response to her humor-
GUS picture. A faint ghost of smile
was 1t, or was 1t not?-flickered on
the old mans lips; but he gave no
sign Of grace.
Hepsey sighed and paused for an In
stant. "Well-we can't sit here talkin'
till midnight, or shall be compromis-
in your reputation, I suppose. There1l
be meeting OF the parishioners call.
ed at the end of this week, and the
rector won't be present at 1t; 80, War.
den, suppose you'll preside. I hope
you will. I've got to do my part-ana
that is to see that the parish under.
stands Just how their rector's placed.
right now, both about his house and
| bis salary. He's workin' as laborer
to get enough for him and that little
wife of his to live on, and the town
knows it--but they don't all know that
| it's because the salary that's properly
his is bein' held back on him, and by
those that pay their chauffeurs more
than the rector gets, by a good piece.
i shall call on every one at that NEE,
in to pay up; and l shall begin with
the poorest, and end up"-she fixed
Bascom's eye significantly-"with the
richest. And if it seems to be my duty
to do it, l may have somethin' more
to say when the subscriptions closed
but l don't believe-no,' she added,
opening her bag and rummaging about
among it's contents till she hit upon
letter and brought it forth, mo. 1
don't believe I'll have to say thing.
I've got hunch, Sylvester Bascom,
that it'll be you thatll have the last
word, after ALL"
The old mans glance was riveted
upon the familiar handwriting of the
faded letter, and without word Hep
sey started to read it, date and all, IN
j clear voice:
Willow Bluff, Durford.
September-,19-.
Hepsey Dear:
1 suppose you will never forgive me
| for making the move from the old
house to Willow Bluff, as it's to be
| called, while you were not at home TO
help me. But they got finished sooner
than we thought for. and Sylvester
| was as eager as a child with a new
toy to get moved in. So here we are
and the first letter l write from oui
new home is to you, who helped more
than anyone to make the old homa
/ hoD min q
| and bless you.
| Everything is out of the old house
1.-THE Rectory" as l shall call it now
except such pieces of furniture as
we did not want to take away, and We
| thought might be welcome To the par
son Cor parsons, suppose) who may
occupy it. Sister Susan thought il
slighting to Pas generosity to give
| the house to the church: but | dom
look at it like that. Anyway, it's done
now-and I'm very happy to .hink thai
the flock can offer proper home q
its shepherd, as long as the old place
stands.
If you get back Thursday | shall jua
be ready for you TO help me with tht
shades and curtains, II you care 10.
Your friend,
Marion Anderson Bascom
P. s. Ginty sends her love to Aun
Hepsey, and says, Ito come to Boston
quick" She's a little confused som,
way, and can't get it out of her heat
that we're not back home in Boston
since we left the old place. hope yol
are having a nice visit with Sally.
AS Hepsey read, Sylvester Bascon
turned, slowly, away from her, hi
head on his hand. gazing out of th'
window. When she had finished read
ing, the letter was folded up and re
placed in the bag along with her knit
ting. Then, laying her hand with
gentle firm pressure on the old man
shoulder, Mrs. Burke departed.