Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-07-03

out.
His wife said no more about the
gladiator and his cestus. But she
watched her husband depart without
relaxing her countenance. The cestus
stuck in her throat. With sepulch.
raj air Of piety that always sent a
chill through the remainder of the
family she turned to Laura and said:
Laura, you know, there is COM
mittee meeting at Mrs. Davidson's
tonight, do you not?"
"Yes, ma" returned the daughter
wearily. "I'm ready when you are"
1t was nearly an hour before the
two ladies went, however. Mean
while, Jack wandered about like an
uneasy spirit. He could not forget
the little girl next door and the gall
liant way in which she had handled
the gigantic horses of the express.
wagon.
Are you going out, Jack?" his
mother inquired as she and Laura
stood at the from. gate.
mo, I'm too tired. l didn't sleep
we'll last night. I'll stay out here on
the porch with cigar. It's a beauti.
full evening""
The cigar lasted long time. He
was still thinking of the little girl
at No. %. 1t had grown dark; the
lamp down the street had been going
for some time when he got up from
the railing and went indoors.
I.
ris chair behind the curtains at the
bay window and looked out dreamily.
He was in a sentimental frame OF
mind. 1t suited his humor to sit in
the dark.
"Therese Darney!" he murmured
Pretty name! But not any prettier
than the girl. l wish she'd come
out"
He had his wish. The door of No
23 opened and Therese appeared
She closed the door behind her with
slam and pushed it to make sure
the spring-lock was secure.
Jack jumped up from his chair.
His first impulse was to run out and
speak to her. But he didn't do it.
What should ! say to her if did
go out?" he asked himself. There
she goes up the street! For groceries.
l suppose, like last night"
Through the bay windows and
veiled by the curtains he followed
her with his eyes until she turned
the corner. AS she vanished he NUT
tered:
Perhaps it would have been only
commonly polite to offer to go with
her and help carry her parcels"
Then, recalling the way in which
she had lifted one end of the piano
and how she had stopped those
powerful horses, he laughed at his
own simplicity.
1t was half an hour before she re-
turned. She carried even larger
bundle than on the previous night;
also, as before, bottle of milk.
Jack was just foolish enough to
imagine she looked more attractive
as she glided along with all these
things in her arms than when she
had nothing to carry. Again he was
moved to go out to her, and again
he decided that he had no excuse
for intruding.
She went up to her door and, put
ting down the parcels, felt in a little
handbag on her wrist for the latch
key. Jack knew that was what she
wanted, because his window was
open and he heard her say in tone
of vexation:
Good gracious! I must have left
the key on the table when / went
out; there's nobody in the house to
let me in. But l must get in some
how"
She tried the door, but of course
it would not yield; she had made
sure of that before she went to the
store.
How Jack wished he could assist
her! But he could not think of any
available suggestion, although he
tried hard enough. So he remained
where he was, plying her unseen.
For few moments the girl stood
still, evidently cogitating. Suddenly
she seemed to see way out.
Running down the steps to The
gate, she looked up and down the
street. There was no one in sight.
II has been already remarked tha,
Teak Street was thoroughfare very
little used.
"There's only one thing to be
DONE" she muttered with shrug ol
her shoulders. which Jack thought
most fascinating. o,r t3f
She went up the steps again and
looked at the, ceiling Of the porch
Then she took off her hat with the
black veil. From the top of the steps
she again gazed up and down the
street. She seemed to want to make
sure she was unobserved.
Jack was looking at her hair. lie
saw that il was light, and he remem.
bered that he had always admired
blondes. In the faint glow Of The
distant street-lanp her tresses shont
like FURNISHED gold.